Letters - Tuesday

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Clinton offers our kids same opportunities we had

I am asking people to vote in the Feb. 5 caucuses on for Hillary Clinton. I have seen first hand the impact a government that does not live up to its promises can have on its citizens. I am very concerned that the America that will be turned over to our children is a far different country than the one in which I was born and raised.

Our personal freedoms are diminishing, our environment is possibly nearing the point of no return, our economic outlook is terrifying. I do not use the term “terrifying” lightly. I do not feel that my children will have the same choices I had as a young adult in this country.

I am passionate in my support of Clinton for president. She alone really understands the seriousness of our children’s situation. She has her own passion to effect change and return our country to the level of greatness in which we were raised. Future generations deserve this.

Clinton is strong personally, professionally and politically. She has seen our world and is respected in our world. She knows how people live in countries that do not have the benefit of strong, supportive leadership. She also has the compassion to recognize our needs and will be able to translate that compassion into effective governance.

Virginia Davis

Peyton

ONLY GAME IN TOWN

Comcast takes advantage of local monopoly

It would appear the monopolistic control we have experienced from the oil companies equally applies to the cable industry (“Satellite, cable will get a little more pricey,” The Gazette, Jan. 25). The law of supply and demand goes out the window when only one company supplies cable service to Colorado Springs.

The latest increase announced by Comcast figures our cable cost since 2000 have increased a whopping 60 percent. I guess the easy answer is to stop subscribing to the service. But that is not practical, so every year we have no choice but to pay the increase. I certainly would support the city approving a second cable supplier.

Ray Avischious

Colorado Springs

CREATING LIFE

Research indicates existence of intelligent designer

The report, “Researchers create entire genetic code from scratch,” claimed scientists have put together a genetic code for a bacteria as a first step toward creating artificial life (The Gazette, Jan. 25).

How did they do this? They accomplished it through intelligent design and deliberate creation. And they didn’t come up with the concept on their own; they used an existing organism to base it on. Yet they continue to believe by faith and without evidence that bacteria and all other life originated by chance or by the forces of nature.

Observable phenomenon would indicate that the forces of nature do not create order, they destroy it. Order occurs only through intelligent organization and deliberate causation, never by chance or random forces.

That these scientists have assembled a genetic code only confirms that such feats require intelligent agents to accomplish it. Scientists who look at the universe and don’t see evidence for a creator are the same people who can’t see the forest for the trees; there are none so blind as those who choose not to see.

Steve Stuart

Colorado Springs

CHURCH AND STATE

Charities must follow law if they take tax money

The debate over Colorado HB 1080, which would prohibit religious organizations using government funds from engaging in discriminatory hiring practices, superbly illustrates the importance of the separation of church and state (“Bill irks religious leaders,” The Gazette, Jan. 28).

This principle serves the dual purpose of keeping religion out of government and keeping government out of religion. By violating this separation to accept government funds, religious organizations are explicitly allowing government into their domain and opening themselves up to government interference. Along with the money, the religious organizations must accept the nondiscrimination laws. It’s simply not fair for them to take taxpayer money, then turn around and refuse to hire some of those very taxpayers. If the religious organizations don’t want that interference, they shouldn’t accept the government money.

They can’t have it both ways: Either they take government funding and abide by the employment laws the rest of us must follow, or they remain separate from government and hire whomever they want.

Nicholas Solter

Colorado Springs

OUT IN THE COLD

Bruce’s selection disenfranchised district

Rep. Douglas Bruce is not the only person who should be ashamed of his antics in the House. The local Republican party is just as blameworthy for advancing Bruce to the House seat vacated by Bill Cadman.

I’m not sure what they were thinking or what political capital they sought to gain but it cannot have escaped these ladies and gentlemen that Bruce is a poorly behaved, abrasive enemy of the government who has repeatedly demonstrated that he can’t play well with others. The end result is that District 15 has been effectively disenfranchised by sending Bruce to Denver.

Thanks a lot.

Timothy K. Roberts

Colorado Springs

VOX POPULI

Government should listen to wishes of the voters

The Gazette’s Jan. 25 Our View, “Right decision, wrong issue,” brought up the conflict between federal and state laws regarding medical marijuana. The concept of federal supremacy can be argued, but what cannot be argued is the supremacy of the people.

Medical marijuana was legalized with regulation, in California, Colorado, and other states by the direct vote of the people, not by the state legislatures. It is fundamentally contrary to the most basic principles on which the United States was established for the federal government to try to circumvent the results of an election. The persistent denial by the federal government of the voice of its citizens, not to mention the supporting science, is treasonous.

There has been only one example in U.S. history in which the results of an election were overturned by Congress. How ironic that the legally expressed will of the people in our nation’s capital was denied by congressional action after people voted to legalize medical marijuana in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Robert Melamede

Associate professor

Biology Department

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

WHO’S PAYING?

Helmet laws save lives, taxpayer dollars

I found James Davis’ letter regarding his objection to a possible helmet law to be quite self-centered (“ State has no business mandating helmet use”). If Davis or likeminded motorcycle riders think it is no one’s business if they wear a helmet or not, I would like to ask them if they have insurance to cover their recuperation. With the extended stay in the hospital, most policies have a limitation as to the amount they will cover. When this coverage runs out, the hospitalization and recuperation bills are transferred to the taxpayers.

About 15 years or so ago, actor Gary Busey espoused the same rhetoric until he convalesced for many months, then he changed his tune.

I am a taxpayer and Davis has no right to make decisions that make me take up the slack because of your irresponsibility.

Addy Michaels

Colorado Springs