Letters - Friday

FOCUS ON THE FACTS

Report mischaracterized Dobson’s role in politics

For The Gazette to write that Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family and former New Life pastor Ted Haggard “worked to turn Colorado Springs into a center where political candidates come for their anointing” shows either a disinterest in or disregard for the facts (“A new voice,” Aug. 13). Over the last 30-plus years, Dobson has talked far more about issues that affect the family than about candidates running for office. In fact, he’s only endorsed one presidential candidate in his life, in 2004, when he urged — as a private citizen — the reelection of President Bush. And, no, the president did not visit Focus on the Family for an “anointing” — or for any other reason.

It is true that Dobson has the respect of millions of Americans who trust his views on the cultural and public-policy issues facing our nation. When he talks about those matters, he is listened to because he has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening families at every stage of life. His insight and counsel have helped couples build strong marriages and raise godly children; that’s the reason for his influence, not the coarse motive ascribed to him by The Gazette.

Jim Daly

President

Focus on the Family

Colorado Springs

HOME SWEET HOME

Myron Stratton trustees help nonprofits help others

The Myron Stratton Home trustees deserve kudos and praise for the investment they recently made in this community. Building on the Winfield Scott Stratton legacy of 1902, the trustees spent $6.2 million to renovate buildings on their property to house three nonprofits whose work meets the intent of Stratton’s legacy.

Now known as the Myron Stratton Consortium, Partners In House, TESSA and Peak Vista Community Health Centers, will be working with the Myron Stratton Home trustees to further enhance and improve the service we individually provide.

On behalf of the Peak Vista Community Health Centers and Foundation boards of directors, our 300-plus employees and the 50,000-plus patients we serve, I thank the Myron Stratton Home trustees for demonstrating through this significant contribution their commitment to care with compassion and dignity for those less fortunate. For Peak Vista, this allows us to deliver one of our most heartfelt goals — health care with dignity — to more people in our community.

B.J. Scott

President & CEO

Peak Vista Community Health Centers

Colorado Springs

MORTGAGING THE FUTURE

Government’s actions will again cost taxpayers

Syndicated columnist Thomas Sowell’s column, “Politicians escape blame for role in housing slump,” details the usual sickening role our national politicians play in so many of the economic disasters in this country (Other Voices, August 15).

This was equally true in the severe real estate crunch and accompanying savings and loan crisis of the late ’80s and early ’90s that Congress was so deeply involved in creating. One aspect of this which seemed to get little attention was the role of Jim Wright, then speaker of the house, who left office in the midst of all that and escaped much blame. Among other acts, he let his saving and loan buddies talk him into hiking the increase in the government guarantee from $40,000 to $100,000, (big money on those days) in each loan, relieving the saving and loans of much of the risk, resulting in their shoveling risky loans out the door as fast as they could.

The fallout of that debacle was borne, per usual, by the taxpayers, in amounts in the billions, to bail out S&Ls, from problems mostly caused by our government in the first place — just as the present housing and financial problems are going to cost us all.

Tom Stockman

Colorado Springs

NOT QUITE RIGHT

‘Tax-and-spend’ Gazette has collectivist tendencies

The Gazette’s Wednesday our View, “Grab your wallets,” was deceitful and hypocritical. It referred to the 2005 tax increase called Referendum C, in which the state asked to keep about $3 billion of our TABOR tax refunds. That retained amount is now closer to $6 billion, as I had warned. The Gazette then shed crocodile tears over future tax increase proposals. It wailed, “politicians are counting on us having a case of mass amnesia.”

I don’t have amnesia. I remember The Gazette endorsed Referendum C, that largest tax increase in state history. In 2004, The Gazette also endorsed the largest tax increase in county history, $70 million yearly for that new layer of unaccountable government called RTA.

Consistent with its Big Government philosophy, The Gazette opposed last fall’s city tax cut and balanced budget petitions. In 2000, The Gazette opposed modest statewide tax relief. In 1999, The Gazette opposed selling even one of the dozen enterprises now part of our city's socialist empire. In 1991, The Gazette opposed a voter-approved city tax relief petition. The Gazette even opposed phasing out those noxious downtown parking meters, which charge taxpayers again for using our own curbs and streets.

In my 21 years here, The Gazette has never endorsed any Colorado ballot issue to lower taxes.

Now The Gazette, counting on our “amnesia,” wishes to insinuate itself with taxpayers and pose as our friend and ally. Whom does it think it is fooling? The Gazette is not part of “us,” meaning taxpayers. You are part of “them,” meaning taxand-spend collectivists.

Douglas Bruce

Colorado Springs