Printed letters, Feb. 3, 2012

By Staff
Thursday, February 2, 2012

It’s time to stop the grousing over the president’s Keystone XL Pipeline decision. This pipeline was to be built to benefit Canadian oil companies, who might use Canadians in its construction.

It was planned to pass over the heart of not one, but two unique resources: the Ogallala Aquifer and the Nebraska Sandhill. The aquifer irrigates 27 percent of U.S. farmland, including some on the eastern Colorado plains and provides drinking water for 82 percent of citizens within the 8 states in its boundary. The Sandhills are a Nebraska treasure, both for their unique ecology and as the heart of much of Nebraska cattle ranching, and as precious to Nebraskans as our Dominguez-Escalante NCA is to us.

This poorly planned project is not well received in Nebraska. Last November, the Nebraska Legislature voted unanimously to re-route the pipeline from Keystone’s current plan and passed two bills signed into law by their Republican governor, Dave Heineman, to re-establish state control over pipeline regulation.

I have family and farm connections in my birth state of Nebraska, which is not a liberal state. I can assure you the decision to reconsider the route of the pipeline was not unpopular there.

In addition, may I be so bold as to offer Kerr’s law: all pipelines leak. The most critical question when we must build them is where to we place them to make sure they leak in the most salvageable areas. This one has not yet passed that test.

Finally, it is despicable for us in Colorado, where states’ rights are such a sacred precept, to be attempting to dictate to another state.

LORALEE KERR

Grand Junction

Letter writer displayed her own class warfared

In her Jan. 22 letter, Clare Boulanger asserted that “less-wealthy” people may recognize the value of an education, but may not recognize it for themselves. What, then, could better explain, for example, wide support from the Latino community regarding state legislation introduced last year and again in 2012 promoting in-state tuition for illegal immigrants?

Also according to Boulanger, “What really makes the difference (in achieving success,) generation after generation, is not the values that are passed down, but the money.”

The apparent implication is that those attributes are mutually exclusive. Thus, in her worldview, you can be a filthy rich, worthless lout and nevertheless be wildly successful. Otherwise, you are and will likely remain one of the great unwashed. In the latter case, abandon all hope for success, regardless of your moral character, skill, energy, intellect and effort, to name a few.

Boulanger’s views represent a thinly veiled example of the class-struggle theme, and by extension, the mentality of victimhood. It is a denial of people’s opportunity — with or without higher education — to achieve that to which they aspire and for which they are willing to work and risk.

It is, in short, an insulting, back-handed slam at those for whom she professes such empathy.

BUD MARKOS

Grand Junction

 

Why weaken PERA, which is an economic stabilizer?

The Pacey Economic and Fiscal Impacts Report released in November states that “PERA payments are a critical source of reliable predictable income and provide an ‘automatic economic stabilizing effect’ on state, regional and local economies, especially in economic downturns as these monies provide important stimulus in market activity.”

The research conducted by Pacey and McNulty further states that “PERA provides $3.03 billion annually” in benefit payments to Colorado residents. “These monthly benefits represent 3.3 percent of the total wage income of the state and as much as 12 to 14 percent in some rural counties.”

When a household receives PERA benefit payments, it represents an infusion of income into the local economy that creates a chain of economic activities whose total impact is greater than the initial benefit payments. A ripple effect takes place where a recipient’s spending becomes someone else’s income.

Some legislators and other elected officials would have us believe that PERA should be again reformed, ignoring the comprehensive legislation enacted in 2010 that returned PERA to long-term sustainability. The 2012 legislative session has seen several bills introduced that would weaken and eventually dismantle a system that has worked for over 80 years.

The question we should all be asking is why would they want to weaken and eventually eliminate an economic stabilizer that is vital to every business in the state, generates $230 million in tax revenue, and creates more than 23,000 jobs?

ROGER FULKS

Delta

 

Central High was right to address ‘freaking’

There are four traditional high schools locally. Make no mistake, the dance move known as “freaking” happens at all dances at each school.

Kudos to Central High’s Student Senate, teachers and Principal Jody Diers for directly addressing a behavior that is unbecoming of all students.

If you find the informational video offensive, I suggest you chaperone a dance. Chances are good you would celebrate the fact Central took a stand.

I’m a proud parent of a Warrior.

MARGERY GRANDBOUCHE

Grand Junction