Email letters, June 25, 2012

By Staff
Monday, June 25, 2012

Henry acts for welfare of valley, not for special interests

After seeing the well-organized letter campaign in recent issues of the paper, I was reminded that when one group intends to elect a specific person to an office, others will likely then follow their suggestions and sometimes, mandates. To help restore some balance, I find I need to write this letter.

I would hope voters support Ken Henry, a former Fruita councilman and two-term mayor. He has proven that he will actually listen to people and that he does have the welfare of our valley in mind, not the special interests that seek to come in, win big contracts and do their thing regardless, as they make money for those outside our state.

When one candidate’s “bank” reaches double everyone else’s, then I begin to wonder what corporation or group stands to gain by the election of their “choice.” When one candidate seems most worried about his property and what affects him and he has strong ties to all those politicians, some in the valley now have begun to question the motives thereof. That should be a warning sign.

Vote for Ken Henry for county commissioner.

VERA MULDER
Fruita

PACs should incorporate as newspapers to gain more political clout

In her column on June 21 Ruth Marcus bemoans a $10 million contribution to a pro Romney PAC (three times) as something that needs to be stopped. She also says, “…the money that poured into Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, in limited donations, reflected his immense popular support.”

I don’t think she’s deliberately lying here. I think she’s just so face down in liberal ideology she really can’t see guys such as Bill Gates, George Soros and a list of Hollywood fat cats longer than my arm who are pouring millions into liberal campaigns.

(My favorite is something Eli Pariser of MoveOn.org, a wholly owned subsidiary of Soros.gov, said about the Democratic Party in 2004, “Now it’s our party. We bought it, we own it and we’re going to take it back.”)

Here’s my solution to the problem: Congress should stop messing around and pass a law requiring all PACs to incorporate as newspapers. Then, like The Daily Sentinel or The Washington Post, they could spend unlimited corporate funds pushing the candidate of their choice.

PAUL KELLY
Delta

Pass the buck store to Orchard Mesa

Hey, Dollar General, if Palisade doesn’t want you, come on up to Orchard Mesa. We would love to have you.

JAKE FAVERMAN
Grand Junction

Acknowledge border agent’s death in Fast and Furious operation

In your editorial of June 22 you talked about all the political aspects of Fast and Furious and how one party versus the other party is making this a political debate.

You forget to mention—even once—that border agent Brian Terry was killed. You did not even make note that maybe, just maybe, someone in our federal government is trying to resolve the case and who is at fault for his death so justice can be brought forward. Wake up!

Congressman Issa has been trying to resolve this for more than eight months. Why won’t the Justice Department release the needed information so Agent Terry and his family have some sort of resolution to his death?

It is a shame that our local newspaper cannot acknowledge his death in its editorial.

ROD MARTINEZ
Grand Junction

Pugliese’s qualifications make her the best candidate for commissioner

In following the campaign for county commissioner in District 3, a few things have stuck out for me.

The Democrat nominee for the seat has recently endorsed the write-in candidate for the primary election over Republican nominee Rose Pugliese.

Democrat and liberal Sentinel columnist Jim Spehar has expressed his tacit support for the same write-in candidate.

Tom and Sheri Bjorklund, the two who delivered House District 54 to Democrat Bernie Buescher six years ago, have received more than $6,000 for running the write-in candidate’s campaign.

Rose Pugliese is the most qualified, most conservative, most knowledgeable and most focused candidate in the race. These facts are very compelling reasons to vote for her on the Republican Primary ballot.

DENNIS WHITE
Grand Junction

Silent majority will no longer be silenced over Agenda 21

What happened to the once-balanced newspaper that people trusted? When did it become permissible for a reporter to editorialize? Gary Harmon’s information was opinionated, slanted and highly inaccurate. The headline was not only wrong but only was presented to incite people’s anger by misinformation and further widen the division in our country.

Jim Spehar’s contempt for an opinion he opposes was beyond the pale. I would expect that type of rhetoric out of a ten-year-old schoolyard bully, not a grown man. His biting criticism of the audience based on only what I believe is leftist ideology left me with the feeling he was determined to intimidate others in an effort to make himself and his political allies feel superior. It’s too bad he never bothered to investigate from real sources, not “blogs,” what the attendees have been doing all along. I guess in his eyes conservative opinion should be stifled.

I would suggest before more scathing and inaccurate articles appear in the Sentinel, the hierarchy, reporters and columnists of the Sentinel at least investigate from real sources what was presented instead of ridiculing the presenters. Agenda 21 is a reality, and the United Nation’s plan for the U.S. can be proven by their own writings. Presidential gun agenda? Take the time to review Obama’s own words in speeches and executive orders.

Or are those who now represent the Sentinel so hidebound in their ideologies that they only want to present the hard-left position?  Are they hoping by ridicule they can cause the silent majority to go back to sleep, shut up and just accept the unacceptable as they have for more than 60 years? The silent majority is silent no longer and will not be silenced.

SUSIE ADAMSON
Montrose

Federal workers deserve thanks for contributions to Americans’ well-being

As a former federal employee with 32 years of service in the federal government, I consider the Fourth of July an important day. Since the dawn of our nation, federal workers have played a significant role in America’s achievements.

The contributions of federal workers will be very much in evidence this week as Americans prepare to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Millions of Americans will check a weather report prepared by the National Weather Service, grill meat inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and fly in skies kept safe by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration.

Others will enjoy time outdoors in our national parks, travel with children protected by car seats inspected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and visit post offices to mail letters and packages to loved ones serving in the military.

My fellow federal workers and I are proud of the jobs we’ve done for America for the last 236 years. We wish you, and the nation we love, a happy Independence Day.

THOMAS HALL
Parachute

Court’s Obamacare ruling may affect mandates such as Social Security

The Supreme Court will set a precedent no matter which side it takes in the Obamacare forced participation. If the justices rule “no,” than all other forced laws such as income tax, Social Security, state taxes and automobile insurance will be revisited,.

Allowing workers to opt out of Social Security would be a boon to the Republicans. They have been advocating choice for years. Car insurance is the only mandatory law that will survive—the ABA has strong lobbyists.

RICHARD L. STOVER
Grand Junction

Garfield commissioners should approve Bedrock Asphalt operations

You may remember that in February the Garfield Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted against allowing Bedrock Asphalt to operate on land immediately adjacent to Eagle Springs Organic Farm in Silt.

Commissioner Martin shared that the board had received more letters and emails from citizens about this issue than any other he could recall –  all in support of protecting the valuable asset that Eagle Springs is to our local food supply. Also, more than 50 citizens rallied outside the county offices before the vote, representing a regional groundswell of support to prioritize local agriculture.

Commissioners Martin, Jankovsky and Samson all expressed concern that the asphalt plant would adversely affect the ability of the farm to successfully operate its business. Then they stood together in affirming the existing code that disallows any land use that impedes existing business or agricultural operation.

Now Bedrock is back at the table, asking again for a land use change permit to allow a “contractors’ yard” that would include some “processing,” a “recycling processing facility” and “some crushing activity of the stored asphalt and concrete.” This is again the kind of harmful industrial activity from which the code is set up to protect existing agricultural operations.

Eagle Springs managers have already reported adverse effects from the substantial dust deposited on their crops (even inside their greenhouses) from Bedrock’s moving of dirt to build roads on the site. If this dust were to include toxic chemicals from asphalt processing and storage the Eagle Springs recently audited, exemplary, USDA organic status would be at risk.

The Roaring Fork Food Policy Council encourages citizens to weigh in with the Garfield County planning commission and suggest that they not recommend this application to the board for approval. Let’s not go through this again. With the climate stakes as high as they are, this occurs at a time to draw a line in the sand to protect our ability to feed ourselves locally and protect our agricultural assets.

GWEN GARCELON
Roaring Fork Food Policy Council
Carbondale

Must Boomers try riskier investments in light of low CD returns?

Is it just a mere coincidence that as millions of Baby Boomers begin to retire and search for a safe haven for our life savings the secure investment world changes?

Millions of folks who worked years and did save were ready to invest in secure FIDC backed CDs with a historical return of 5 to 6 percent. Now CD’s are essentially without investment value at .01 percent up to a staggering 0.5 percent.

Could Wall Street, the overpaid investment bankers and certain elected politicians manipulate the market in such a fashion as to force the Baby Boomers into more risky investments in the equities market? When there is that much money to be taken from the middle class folks, it makes a person wonder.

GARY ROBERTS
Grand Junction

Walcher’s comments better suited for ad, not letter to editor

This letter refers to Woody Walcher’s letter printed June 20. In this letter I do not agree or disagree with the content. Instead, I question the editorial board’s placement of his letter.

The board placed his letter in the Letters to the Editor section. Writers submit letters to the editor for a multitude of reasons – to comment on affairs, rebut printed articles, question government, etc.

Walcher’s letter did provide a bit of his background and a couple opinions, but the bulk of the letter articulated what he intends to achieve if elected. As evidence, count how many promises he made.

I fail to see how the placement of his position statement is entitled to consume newspaper resources designated for readers to comment on affairs of the community and the world in which we live.

I believe the editors provided Walcher with a platform to convince readers why to vote for him. As such, perhaps his piece would be better suited as a paid advertisement or as part of a series highlighting every candidate’s positions.

MARTIN KRAKOWSKI
Grand Junction