LETTERS: Ron Paul; The poor are city's problem; Messing with words; and more
At the bottom of the barrel
In regards to your editorial dated Feb. 9, titled “The poor are not the city’s problem:” They are, in fact, the city’s problem.
The local churches and charities you mention that are ministering to the poor are laying off staff, cutting positions, and making sacrifices to fulfill our God-given mandate to love our neighbor. The “community of individuals, businesses, churches and charities” you mention are scraping the bottom of the barrel. I understand the city is in a financial crisis as well. However, together, we can continue to minister to “the least of these” in a dignified manner.
As to Mayor Steve Bach getting $96,000 a year and feeling overpaid, I know several downtown churches that would welcome a tithe check for $9,600. That feeds a lot of people, and puts more than a few of them into situations in which they can thrive again.
Quoting “The poor will always be with us” out of context is myopic and counterproductive. I encourage you to open your Bible and read the over 1,000 other verses about how we should be ministering to the poor, and how we can, and will, alleviate poverty. It is part of our God-given mandate to work to do so.
Carl Holmes
Colorado Springs
Problems all solved
If “marriage” is not limited to a man and a woman, and if abortion and contraception are “women’s health,” then why don’t we just call the poor “rich,” the budget “balanced,” and the economy “flourishing?” Problems solved!
Gordon Beck
Security
Liberty needs protection
I would like to share something I witnessed at the Precinct 112 Caucus. In the process of discussing our preferred candidate a young woman in her 20s expressed her desire to have Ron Paul as her candidate. Being surrounded by her family, she said with passion, “We have immigrated to America from Russia, 20 years ago. We came here tonight because we are watching the right of the American citizen slowly being taken away. Liberty is precious and needs protection.” I have to agree, I see myself as a conservative who voted for Rick Santorum, but, I do have strong Libertarian views also.
This young lady touched my heart, because we don’t see the darkness as clearly as she does. We are living in a cave, and our eyes are slowly adjusting to the dimming light. Controlling lives, human nature, along with elitism, seem to be in both parties. Control breeds American socialism and the removal of freedoms. Elitism is why some candidates from Republican Party got knocked off their horse in Colorado.
Gene Van Essen
Colorado Springs
Value of political integrity
“Separation of church and state” is a commonly heard phrase in politics. And so is separation of the political and private lives of politicians.
Is this separation something society should accept, just as with other principles ingrained into our Constitution? I say, No. The now-common acceptance of immorality in our nation’s leaders is not only unacceptable, but infuriating.
The leaders of our country represent us to the world. And I, for one, do not want to be seen as morally compromised.
We should instead look to the first leader of our country, George Washington. In 1796, he stressed the importance of political integrity. Oh, how I wish that our leaders in 2012 had listened. I lament the de-emphasis of veracity within our political system, and I can only stress that through moral strength alone can we, as a nation, recover and continue on as a power within this world.
Reese Wold
Colorado Springs
PERA reform needs more review
Re: “Politicians look to citizens’ budget:” I agree that PERA needs reforming to make retirement benefits comparable to the private sector, as suggested by the Independence Institute’s Citizens’ Budget, which argues for treating public employees like ones in the private sector.
Accordingly, changing PERA without regard to thorough review of the total pay and benefits package of public vs. private employees is inappropriate. The Institute’s Budget noted the need for further study of the pay issue. It is disingenuous of the sponsors of PERA reform (carried by Republicans, as Laugesen noted) to ignore the total pay and benefits issue and focus only on PERA.
Bruce Fogarty
Colorado Springs
