Letters - Wednesday

Headline spun jobs issue

There goes The Gazette again, disguising opinion as news. The headline, "Item would aid economic development," in Saturday's paper was nothing but opinion disguised as news.

Raising taxes from the private sector in order to spend it on the private sector cannot create jobs, it can merely move them around. Can you fill a swimming pool by taking water from one end and pouring it into the other end? I think not.

A more truthful headline would have been, "Supporters of 1A believe it would aid economic development, but others disagree."

Furthermore, the jobs taken from the private sector in taxes would be replaced by jobs chosen by the public sector through political spending. Do we actually believe the City Council has the wisdom and expertise to decide just what jobs it should create? Again, I think not. Vote no on 1A.

Paul Prentice, Ph.D., Colorado Springs

Give help, not criticism

An especially unhelpful way to address social problems is to characterize them in ways that sanitize reality, which effectively exempts us from ownership ("Shop owners fear problem will not end," The Gazette, March 4).

The problem of homelessness, here in the Springs and nationally, is a classic case in point. One downtown shop owner in the article epitomized the unflattering tendency to dehumanize such problems by stating that homelessness "is one residual issue that needs to be taken care of."

Thankfully, Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs doesn't view the problem as a "residual issue," but rather as individuals we're all morally obligated to assist.

With the rare exception of fasting during Lent, most of us have never had to question how we're going to get our next meal, or how we'll provide clothing or shelter for ourselves or our families.

And, while the reasons for homelessness are varied and complex, every homeless person's story is as compelling as it is unique.

Although that doesn't justify pan-handling, it does demand that we move beyond our lives of relative comfort and recall Christ's edict: "Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."

So, the next time you see a homeless person you might say a prayer, and, you might consider supporting Catholic Charities, which is actively involved in lifting those in need from the grip of poverty and destitution. To donate, go to www.ccharitiescs.org. It will not only improve the lives of those less fortunate, it's good for your soul.

Philip Mella, Woodland Park

Putting profit above security

The March 1 Gazette article, "How did secret briefing end up on the Web?" was yet another in an habitual media practice of exposing government information, no matter what the potential cost, just to get that sensational headline and sell newspapers.

This particular article bothers me because of the headline claiming "secret" when in truth, the information was not classified "secret;" it had a handling instruction called "For Official Use Only," which in layman's terms simply means, treat this as if it's proprietary information not for the general public. Social security numbers and personnel records fall into this FOUO category.

I also understand the briefing may have been improperly marked and should have been classified at a higher level of protection, which brings me to my next point. If indeed the information found was classified "secret," why would the press want to advertise a mistake that could put the nation or American lives in danger? National responsibility, protection of our way of life, solidarity against our enemies - surely these take precedence over selling newspapers and selling out the country. Who's side is The Gazette on?

David Foster, Colorado Springs

Don't blame Bush for mess

President Barack Obama never misses a chance to blame our economic crisis on George W. Bush and the Republicans. But if my memory is correct, the economy was pretty good up until the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007.

This crisis was triggered by banks being pressured to grant home mortgages to people who couldn't afford to make the payments. But the pressure wasn't put on by Bush. The lenders were pressured by Democrats such as Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, who said home ownership is "the American dream." Frank and Dodd were in cahoots with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whose executives got bigger bonuses if they guaranteed more loans. And Barack Obama himself must have been in league with Fannie and Freddie, too, because they gave him even more campaign contributions last year than they gave Dodd and Frank.

Bush and John McCain made serious efforts to impose regulation on Fannie and Freddie, but Democrats in the Congress blocked it.

The other big problem in our economy is the automobile industry. But what is their main problem? It is the high wages and expensive health plans and retirement plans forced on the domestic manufacturers by the auto union, and unions are the main financial supporters of the Democrats. So Obama is twisting the facts again when he tries to blame Republicans for the crisis. They aren't completely innocent, but 95 percent of the problem has been caused by Democrats.

Earl Asbury, Colorado Springs