VOTER REGISTRATIONS 
  
Clerk's office dropped ball on central responsibility 
  
This is a response to Sandra Parcher's letter regarding El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Bob Balink's offices ("Clerk's mistake highlights holes in system," March 4). Parcher was not alone in being disenfranchised by the mistakes of the County Clerk's office. Following the Democratic caucuses there was an estimated excess of 100 or so individuals who were elected as delegates/alternates, but whose credentials were later challenged because of registration issues. They were challenged as either Unaffiliated, Republican, not in correct precinct or not registered at all. 
  
At the caucus, each of these individuals insisted they were registered properly, then signed a legal affidavit insisting on being a qualified voter. When the Democratic Party subsequently contacted them about their credentials being challenged, many were surprised or profusely disagreed. Some actually did go down as suggested to the county office, seeking to produce the original paperwork and receive a certificate for proper status. Some were able to prove their registration and were given credentials. Many others did not. Yes, some voters were mistaken about their registration status, but that was the exception, not the rule. 
  
In the future, the Democratic Party leadership will be even more vigilant regarding Balink's office. Isn't it curious that basic issues remain for real citizens to register with Balink's office, where he ironically has been focused on the phantom issue regarding the potential of a non-citizen registering? How many resources did Balink use conducting some biased survey on registration instead of using taxpayer resources making certain his voter registration system was in order? 
  
Bob and Sue Nemanich, Colorado Springs 

  
PUBLIC EDUCATION 
  
Charters drain resources from kids who need them 
  
The Gazette has printed several opinions responding to issues Lisa Mieritz raised about D-12's Blue Ribbon recommendation to close a charter school. Charter schools are at odds with taxpayer interests, a fact which charter interests can no longer mask. Mieritz' study uses empirical data to prove what is common sense: if you buy all of your toothpaste in 2 oz. tubes instead of 10 oz. tubes, you're going to waste a lot of money on toothpaste. That's what we're doing in Colorado with charters: they cost more per pupil, just like smaller tubes cost more per ounce. 
  
Sean Paige concedes the higher cost of charters, suggesting that Colorado taxpayers compensate districts for extra charter costs ("Severing charter ties wrong move for D-12," Other Voices, March 2). Paige apparently thinks taxpayers should pay this $100 million per year cost in increased taxes. I don't want to subsidize schools like charters that don't improve achievement. 
  
Mieritz wants to meet the needs of our at-risk children - and all our children - by deleting wasteful charter programs, over time, to save up to $100 million per year. We currently get $100 million less in instructional dollars with charter schools than without charter schools, educating the same number of students. This money is a taxpayer asset: charters have no right to deplete this asset without producing quantifiable benefits, which they don't do. 
  
Finally, the parental friendship groups which charters tout as producing "parental satisfaction" are by no means unique to charters but exist in every single public school: just ask any public school parent. 
  
Elizabeth Mieritz, Colorado Springs 
  

NATURAL GEMS

National parks need support from us, Congress 
  
America's national parks are in unfortunate disrepair. Visitation is down. Budgets have been cut. Job opportunities for rangers are tight. Signage is damaged or missing. Security is compromised. Trails are eroding. 
  
Local and federal government should step in to help preserve all our parks. In Colorado alone we have Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Curecanti National Recreation Area, Great Sand Dunes National Park and the Colorado National Monument. 
  
Colorado is incredibly rich in national parks and monuments. An annual national parks pass is only $80; it's good for every national park for a whole year. I encourage, even challenge, Colorado residents to visit these gems. Take your kids and your camera. 
  
Contact your local representative about The Centennial Initiative. It can help combat these trends and revitalize the National Park Service for its 100th anniversary in 2016. 
  
Amy Rutkowske, Fort Carson 


FISCAL MADNESS 
  
Our children will pay for administration's folly 
  
Does America know that the Bush administration carries a credit card with a limit approaching $750 billion? Congress just received Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' $515.4 billion budget request for fiscal year 2009. 
  
At that rate, the U.S. would spend more on defense than all the other countries in the world. But according to some congressional watchdogs, some defense costs are not included in Gates' proposal. For the past five years of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the administration has requested supplemental resources. Gates is already asking for another $70 billion. 
  
Moreover, there are more items most people would call defense expenditures. These include the Department of Energy, for nuclear energy programs used by much of the Navy, for $16 billion. The Coast Guard is budgeted for $5.2 billion, included in the Homeland Security budget. 

The request for 2009 is far beyond our resources, and can only add to the deficit our children and their great-grandchildren may be paying off. This is the Bush-Cheney legacy, but they are not the ones paying for it. 
  
Paul Carpenter, Colorado Springs 

  
OPINION OR NEWS?

Story on Lamborn fundraiser needed some balance 
  
I was disappointed in the bias of the article regarding the fundraiser for Rep. Doug Lamborn to be held in New Orleans ("New Orleans fundraiser questioned," The Gazette, March 5). Out-of-state events are held for all members of Congress throughout the year and have been for many years for a multitude of reasons. The simple matter is the fact of needing to raise campaign monies as well as provide exposure and support for elected officials. 
  
Although there was no direct comment from Jeff Crank, the implication is that he agrees with Bentley Rayburn that such an event is "a little funny." Rayburn stated, regarding Lamborn, "I haven't seen him do many fundraisers here in Colorado." There have been numerous fundraisers here and I would be glad to invite Rayburn when I receive my invitation for the next one. I am certain that we can see that his name is placed on Lamborn's mailing list. 
  
The descriptions of the Council for National Policy were provided by far left groups, Center for Media and Democracies Source Watch. The background and bias of these groups is not referred to or any reference of research on them provided. But certainly the reader of this article is offered a treatise of the evils of The Council on National Policy and its nefarious founder, Tim LaHaye. We are also enlightened to know the despicable group Lamborn is associated with by speaking at this function. For heaven's sake, to be included with such an appalling and questionable group of previous speakers such as former "Attorneys General John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales, James Dobson, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and political activist Phyllis Schlafly." Indeed, a shocking indictment and a condemnation of character. 
  
An article with such obvious bias and lack of objectivity should be placed on the editorial page. 
 
James E. Caldwell, Colorado Springs