Letters - Friday

Simplicity more efficient

The present health care reform bill that is being considered has 1,990 pages. It appears there will be at least two amendments to this bill increasing the number of pages to 2,000-plus.

If I remember my history lessons, our U.S. Constitution was four pages, not counting the amendments. Also our Bill of Rights is on one page and our Declaration of Independence is only one page.

It is very evident that our leaders in the past were much more efficient than those of today.

Several people in my 79 years of life have stressed the Kiss Principle, also known as “Keep it Simple, Son.”

Perhaps we should tattoo the initials KISS on the foreheads of all elected representatives as they are sworn into office.

Ralph Huber, Colorado Springs

A walk in the dark

This week, I was walking my dogs after dark. Because of a budget-cutting move to let street lights stay dark if they burn out, I was more aware of street lights than I had ever been. There were more in my neighborhood than I realized. Then I started thinking about darkened lights across the city, coupled with a reduction of 50 police officers on the ground. Darkened streets, fewer officers and let’s say you are out of town… you see the story.

Then, let’s think about economic development. Do companies want to relocate to a community without adequate fire and police protection, coupled with cuts in community programs like the community centers and parks? Further, proposed cuts to the Convention and Visitors Bureau would put added pressure on one of our top industries, tourism. Does it seem like the City Council is bluffing about cuts? I don’t see it that way.

I would like to applaud Councilwoman Jan Martin and her team for having the guts to put forth a proposal to help our city, despite the state of the economy. The phased in tax over a period of years would not have unduly burdened most homeowners. I thought about this the other morning as I noticed how many people were wasting gas in their giant SUV’s while waiting for expensive coffee in a drive through line. Are we so penurious that we can’t sacrifice very little for the greater good?

Finally, the ultimate irony. Doug Bruce, supposedly the champion of lower taxes and less government, seems to do nothing but cost taxpayers money with his petty grievances, petition fights and court tie-ups. Most recently, he tied up a courtroom for hours, to include the time of our city council. Is this someone who cares about our city? What do we value in Colorado Springs?

Becky Truelove, Colorado Springs

Recalls cost too much

I’ve been reading about a possible recall for the Mayor and Vice-Mayor. I am wondering where the money will come from for such an undertaking.

Recalls are not in the budget and it would take hundreds of thousands of dollars, (yes, your taxpayer dollars) to conduct one, and then there would be the suit to follow if the recallers were not successful. I would think since there is a budget shortfall the monies Colorado Springs has would be better put to use toward police, parks, and the creature comforts we have all come to enjoy and expect.

If folks are unhappy with the present council, wait for an election and do it right. In this economic time a recall is very irresponsible.

Claudia Whitney, Monument

Don’t need hate crime laws

In every state of this country, it is already a crime to murder anyone — white, black, Catholic, Protestant, Jew, idiot, genius. All lives are considered equally sacred, except of course for those of innocent fetuses in their mothers’ wombs, who can be killed with impunity, thanks to our federal Supreme Court.

Now, Obama and the liberals want to use the “hate crime” theory to make it a federal crime to murder a homosexual. The federal government does not deem it necessary to get involved if someone murders an ordinary person with normal sexual urges. Why should it consider the lives of homosexuals to be more precious than those of the rest of the population?

This proposed “hate crime” law is not only useless and unnecessary, it is an insult to 90 to 95 percent of the American people.

P. J. Bourgeois, Woodland Park