Letters to the Editor, January 27

Friday, January 27, 2006

Tired of corruption? Vote for Libertarians

It should not surprise anyone, as it surely does not surprise the two main political parties' representatives in Congress, that big money is attracted to big government's (extended) powers. Our representatives sell favorable legislation to cronies, highest bidders and appetizing voting blocs. The Constitution was to ensure that our government, property and liberties were not saleable items. The Republicans and Democrats have been the gatekeepers of our government and have been selling us out for years.

Representatives are consistently voted back into office despite their overstepping of these legal restraints. The courts, despite knowledge that we are a constitutional republic designed to protect the individual from the tyranny of the majority, the wealthy and the unified, have allowed representatives to do so through legislation. Our government was expected to protect citizens from force and fraud, not to initiate force against its citizens.

If you prefer to get big money corruption out of American politics, reassert the limits on federal government powers by voting for Libertarian candidates who understand the appropriate functions of government and do not sell government power and citizens' rights to those willing to buy it. What special interests, other than self-ownership, nonaggression and liberty, are going to buy that?

Marc Guttman

Chairman, San Miguel County Libertarian Party

Telluride

Many charges beyond hospital's control

Bill Johnson's Jan. 11 column questions emergency room costs related to care provided at a local hospital ("Who's to blame for outrageous ER bill?"). I'm glad Johnson obtained care and is recovering. His case was an emergency, the most expensive treatment. Emergency departments are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - even on Christmas - saving lives. Any patient would receive the same care, regardless of ability to pay. All emergency patients receive medical screening and treatment to stabilize their condition.

Salaries are 50 percent of hospital expenses, and maintaining equipment and facilities is expensive. Caring for uninsured patients adds to the cost. In 2004, Colorado hospitals wrote off $1.4 billion in charity care and bad debt for those unable or unwilling to pay. This costs insured people. Medicare and Medicaid don't pay well either; in 2004, Colorado hospitals received $670 million less than cost to provide care. The less the government pays, the more we pay.

Each hospital must set its charges to meet its financial requirements, but many factors beyond the hospital's control contribute to the prices charged.

Larry H. Wall

Greenwood Village

Mayor should finish his term of office

I voted for Mayor John Hickenlooper and I think he is doing a fabulous job. He has begun some important work in Denver on key issues that have plagued this city for years. I am especially impressed with the work he's begun on police oversight and reducing homelessness.

I sincerely hope he will complete his term and finish the job he started. I am gravely concerned that if Denver switches mayors midterm, the work he started will not be completed.

Hickenlooper was elected, in part, because he was perceived as an "accidental" politician - a businessman stepping up to the challenge of participating in government. If he runs for governor before completing his term as mayor, that perception will change dramatically. Instead, he will be seen by many as an ambitious politician who hasn't really earned his stripes yet.

Mayor Hickenlooper, please don't sacrifice your hard-earned political capital and the goodwill of Denver voters to the siren call of personal ambition!

Marjorie Allison

Denver

Lesson in liberalism

Vincent Carroll can't seem to figure out Sen. Edward Kennedy's political philosophy in his On Point piece of Jan. 10, "Ted's turnaround." Maybe if Carroll understood the philosophy of liberalism, he'd understand liberals better.

Liberals, like Kennedy, support big government when big government advocates individual freedom, such as Roe v. Wade. But when big government does not support individual freedom, liberals oppose big government.

That's why Kennedy and other liberals oppose the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

Ken Spooner

Littleton

Keep Ivins, Stein

Please keep syndicated columnist Molly Ivins and News editorial cartoonist Ed Stein! We bleeding-heart liberals need regular doses of their clever, incisive and on-target perspectives.

For those too humorless to appreciate this witty pair, try my approach to reading Mike Rosen: I read a paragraph or two of his column until I get wound up and aggravated at his nonsense, then I turn the page.

In this manner I preserve my fierce affinity for the First Amendment and sense of fair play.

Dan Eberhart

Denver

Hands-free solution

It is impossible to eliminate distractions while driving ("Talking, chewing, driving," Jan. 20). Although billboards, loud music and arguments while driving do cause distractions, the driver can still have two hands on the steering wheel.

Most accidents and near collisions occur while the driver has one hand on the wheel and one hand holding a cell phone.

Colorado should have the same law as New York, requiring a hands-free headset while driving and talking on the phone. This would greatly reduce accidents and save lives.

Jay Lillien

Denver