Todd McIntyre: Constitution: Let Congress do its job
Predictably, University of Colorado Chancellor Philip DiStefano sent everyone in the CU Boulder community his support of June 15th’s Supreme Court opinion, affirming LGBTQ rights under the Civil Rights Law of 1964.
Importantly, the three SCOTUS dissenters issued opinions to the effect that while gay and transgender individuals have made numerous and significant contributions to America and should be protected from discrimination, amending the Civil Rights Act, or any Congressional Law is the responsibility of Congress, not the judiciary.
Legislating from the bench is a bad habit that “helpful judges” find irresistible. While few would object to Congress amending the act for LGBTQ rights, much more contentious issues decided upon by unelected judges rather than elected members of Congress pose the risk of tearing this country apart.
Not surprisingly, Chancellor Di Stefano missed another teachable moment. One wonders why he even bothers to spend money on a constitutional law department.
And other Americans wonder why we are paying Congress, which enjoys a 9 percent approval rating, if it needs the courts to accomplish what it can’t achieve.
Todd McIntyre
Chester Springs, PA
Guy Lopez: Patriotism: More than just slogans
Patriots are made, not born. Patriotism is action, not talk. It takes work, effort, and sacrifice.
Waving a flag, wearing a flag lapel pin, and sporting a bumper sticker do not make you a patriot. Cheap talk, ignorance, and bigotry don’t make you a patriot. Supporting politicians who undermine democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and morality don’t make you a patriot.
Do your American duty. Seek facts, truth, and knowledge. Educate yourself. Use common wisdom and independent thinking to decide. Explore diverse views to support or validate your beliefs.
If you parrot the sayings of commentators, politicians, or political parties without testing their accuracy, you are not a patriot. You are nothing more than a political lemming or dupe. Instead, do your patriotic duty.
God Bless America!
Guy Lopez
Lafayette
Evan Ravitz: Direct democracy: Let’s have more of it
Jane Hummer, a member of the Editorial Advisory Board, wrote: “We don’t, nor do we want to, live in a direct democracy.”
Here in Colorado, since 1912 we do have a hybrid representative/direct democracy, with the most initiatives ever being that year, including successful ones “giving women workers an eight-hour day; providing pensions for orphans and for widows with children; establishing juvenile courts in major cities and counties; and granting home rule to cities and towns.” https://ballotpedia.org/History_of_Initiative_%26_Referendum_in_Colorado
Since 2000, Colorado has been on a direct democracy roll, passing 14 important initiatives in nine election cycles, including Amendment 27, one of the country’s strictest campaign finance reforms; Initiative 37, the country’s first renewable energy mandate; Amendment 41, the country’s strongest ethics in government law; and Amendment 64, the country’s first legal marijuana and hemp.
Details of all 14 are available via the links at tinyurl.com/Coloradoinitiatives
So why would a young progressive woman be against direct democracy? Is it the overwhelming media focus on the one successful problem initiative, 1992’s TABOR, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights? Why hasn’t someone fixed it – with a ballot initiative?
Because direct democracy in the United States is too hard for most of us because we require petition circulators to witness and notarize every signature, so it’s mostly wealthy people, corporations or huge coalitions that can hire circulators to get on the ballot. Boulder’s new online petitions, voted into the city charter in 2018, will level the playing field, make it much easier to read initiatives before signing – and prevent viruses from spreading.
As four-term New York Governor Al Smith said: “If there is a problem with democracy, the solution is more democracy.”
Evan Ravitz
Boulder
Susan Stephens: Racism: Police response wasn’t helpful
Concerning the article written by Anna Haynes for the Daily Camera July 2, I applaud all that has been done so far to enhance law enforcement integrity in our fair city and agree that we are ahead of the curve in many respects. I also look forward to what improvements our new police chief, Maris Herold, will implement in the near future.
Unfortunately, the tone of the statements made by Boulder Police Officers’ Association Union President Mark Bliley is rather defensive. He implied that the additional responsibilities of police are the fault of “legislators reducing or elimination funding to programs equipped to address them.”
These responsibilities, such as dealing with mental health, substance abuse and homelessness, are in fact exactly what police officers must expect to take on, since they are dealing with the public, warts and all. I believe that funding for police should not be reduced, but instead be re-directed. Less money should be spent on armaments and more on training and retraining in the areas of de-escalation, respectful behavior towards all people, not just us nice white folks, and such behaviors that cause the public to respect, not fear, our police force.
Susan Stephens
Boulder
David Chicoine: COVID-19: A revolution gone awry
Why won’t so many people wear masks, at Chautauqua, on Pearl, in our neighborhoods? In other words, why are so many so arrogantly selfish? Because it is an inevitable result of the decades-long, conquering march of the ideology of neo-liberalism in our land.
Since the Reagan “revolution,” many have shouted: “What is best for the individual is what is best for society!” That is, greed and selfishness, and only greed and selfishness, will save us all.
Hence, the proud hyper-individualism of so many. The laser-like libertarian focus on “my rights.” So now it is even “my right” to infect you with a deadly virus, because … it is “my right.”
The revolution needed above all at this perilous moment in our history is the realization that this belief is ultimately toxic. To people you pass on the street, and to American society as a whole.
David Chicoine
Boulder
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Letters to the editor: Constitution; patriotism; direct democracy; racism; COVID-19 - The Daily Camera
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