Release Vizguerra
Re: “Detained activist says that she feels ‘vulnerable’ six months after arrest,” Sept. 30 news story
Jeanette Vizguerra, an activist detained by ICE for 6 months, should be released immediately. She is a working mother who paid taxes supporting the government at the time of her detention. Being held, she is costing the government and taxpayers money.
D.T. Dodson, Denver
Shutdowns demonstrate wrong priorities
So, let me understand: We are continuing to pay members of Congress, but not air traffic controllers and active-duty military members? Our priorities are turned upside down. Can anyone govern in America?
Scott Bridgford, Highlands Ranch
The political shutdown of the federal government is nothing new, but no less of a disgrace. It goes beyond just hurting the economy. Shutting down the government should be illegal. The first expenses cut should be with Congress, the president, and high-level political appointees. They are probably not concerned about mortgage payments or health insurance.
Using government as a political whipping post is a libertarian ideal for some, but to disregard the impact on people’s lives is unconscionable. Republicans can stop pretending to be standing up for the interests of common people. They are doing what they do best, and that is advocating for trickle-down economics under a false flag of patriotism.
The reasoning that “waste, fraud and abuse” only occurs in government is not factual, patriotic or justified. There is no excuse to subordinate public safety and the general welfare to a political ideology. The American standard of living for the middle class defines us, but the wealth gap between the rich and poor could destroy us, and democracy is at the crossroads.
I certainly understand why most Democrats opposed the budget, but too many of them, past and present, also supported Taft-Hartley laws to appease private enterprise with legislation like the Railway Labor Act and right-to-work laws. They broke rank to protect power and profit. They have us fighting a culture war to stop us from fighting a class war. Let’s hope the next president signs legislation to outlaw government shutdowns and pass the pro-act.
Timothy D. Allport, Arvada
Denying climate change, history doesn’t make it so
Re: “EPA may stop collecting data from polluters,” Sept. 13 news story
Mother Nature doesn’t care who won the last election. Climate change denials stop neither flood nor fire. Hurricanes fueled by heated seas will crash ashore despite any executive order. Cutting FEMA funding just makes suffering worse.
Killing clean energy credits does not stop progress; it just gives it to the Chinese.
Halting the agriculture department from tracking hunger feeds no one.
Disparaging vaccines does harm now. Canceling cancer research kills later.
Presidential pronouncements can’t change history. Removing slavery’s sins from museums or history books unbeats no slave nor unlynches one runaway. A broken treaty is not honored by its denial.
Donald Trump was elected to the most powerful office, but his pen doesn’t change reality.
H. H. Cochran, Centennial
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