Letters - Tuesday

THE PEOPLE’S SERVANT

Bruce doesn’t think about results of his cuts

I attended the Saturday morning Vacancy Committee meeting as a guest and I have to ask: How was Douglas Bruce selected for Colorado House District 15 (“GOP chooses Bruce to fill House seat,” The Gazette, Dec. 2)?

When are we going to learn, no matter what level of government, that slash-andburn politics with no consideration for the implications is terrible for the public and individual well being of all citizens? It would be great to pay lower taxes, but a good representative of the people considers all the what-ifs that would impact his/her constituency before putting forth legislation.

It takes a lot of hard work to research the right places to cut taxes and be sure the cuts will improve the economy and not hurt our citizens. We can save a lot of money if we don’t think about the impacts on safety, education or infrastructure. I just don’t think Bruce is thinking about the people and our well-being and he shouldn’t be a state representative of the people.

Steve Jacobs

Colorado Springs

No-nonsense politician what Legislature needs

Opinionated and sometimes hard to get along with would describe Douglas Bruce, but that is exactly the kind of person we need in office to keep the career politicians in check. For too many years the politicians have considered us to be an endless source of money without any constraints as to how they spend our tax dollars. Even now they are constantly coming up with ways to try to get around TABOR by using certificates of participation or calling a tax a fee. If they are this brazen about it with TABOR, one can only imagine what it would be like without TABOR.

We see a lot about how TABOR is making it increasingly more difficult for the local and state governments to function. The problem here is the state’s inability to convince the voters to approve the necessary funding for what the state wants. TABOR is simply the tool that gives us some control how much money the state can have.

We all have to live within a budget and make some painful choices along the way to make ends meet. Our government needs to learn it has to do the same. If you think taxes are bad now, then maybe Bruce needs to step aside and we can all watch as the taxes levied against us sharply rise.

Fred Sexton

Colorado Springs

Commissioner’s exit gives district new hope

Douglas Bruce was chosen by a Republican vacancy committee, not by the majority of voters from District 15. While speaking to one of the voters after the meeting, it was apparent to me that some want to stir the pot in Denver and others just wanted Bruce out of the county.

I believe that during the next primary election there will be many voters who will replace Bruce with any legitimate candidate who will work for the people.

The only redeeming factor is that Bruce, whom I am sorry I voted for, will no longer be an El Paso County commissioner. Now someone will address our issues, not just the ones Bruce thinks are important.

Roger E. Shambaugh

Peyton

A RIGHT TO ARMS

Amendment must be changed by people, not high court

The text of the Second Amendment reads, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and hear arms, shall not be infringed.”

The basic, declarative statement is “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” In support of this right, the authors of the amendment gave one reason — the need for a militia for security — but that was not the only reason they could have cited. At the time there was a need for arms for hunting and personal safety, but, having just fought for many years and shed much blood, the need uppermost in their minds was the preservation of that freedom that had cost them so much, hence the emphasis on security.

If it is the will of the citizens of the United States today to change the clear meaning of the amendment as adopted at that time, it ought to be done by amending the Constitution by a vote of the people rather than by a single vote of an unelected judge on the Supreme Court.

Bernard H. Dell

Colorado Springs

GETTING IT RIGHT

Rayburn could have been longtime resident of state

Joshua Green mischaracterized Daniel Cole’s position (“Rayburn’s military experience prepared him for Congress,” Letters, Nov. 26). Cole argued that Bentley Rayburn “doesn’t know Colorado” because he “spent his entire adult life a resident of Missouri,” not “because of his time spent away in the service of his country.” It’s disingenuous to pretend that Rayburn’s service overseas forced him to establish his home in Missouri, or start running for Congress mere weeks after moving to Colorado.

Anne McDowell Wadman

Colorado Springs

REINVESTING PROFITS

High oil prices good for economy

The timing of The Gazette’s Nov. 29 Our View about oil profits was rather coincidental as I’ve just read an article in the Cut Bank, Mont., paper that I believe has some relevance (“Follow the money”).

A (relatively) small oil producer has just wildcatted an oil well that is projected to produce 100-125 barrels per day. He also wildcatted a large natural gas well in the area recently.

This means a shot in the arm for the local economy as he uses local drillers and the company is based in the town nearby. That’s good news for an area that’s lagged economically for years.

Could or would he have done this with $9 per barrel oil as it was only a few short years ago? Probably not, as costs run $500 per hour for a drilling rig and $200 for a service rig, plus the costs that our government adds for recordkeeping, etc.

The editorial reinforced how simple economics works. The money that’s available doesn’t sit in someone’s pocket; it’s put back into the economy and generates more revenue for everyone.

Dana Neidhardt

Colorado Springs