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The letters to the editor Feb. 24 captured several parallel themes running through public policy discourse in Mesa County.
I might agree with David Pipe (“We need a break from religious feud”), that cacophony would disappear if our elected officials started their meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance – followed by a “Moment of Silence” to honor our troops in combat (during which everyone could pray to whomever their conscience dictates).
Wesley Yeager (“’Cultural provincials’ don’t harm our economy”) substitutes the bugaboo of atheists and freethinkers for facts. The strength of our local economy is driven by employment in health care, education, and construction, and by retirees seeking to enjoy the quality of life our unique environment offers – while the oil and gas industry has contributed an important but still marginal impetus.
Yet, Yeager objects when columnist Bill Grant observes that younger and highly educated entrepreneurs in high tech and “green” industries are reluctant to locate in communities where learning is subordinated to religious fundamentalism. And, rather than cite Reagan’s deregulation, Bush’s tax cuts, Republican profligacy, and natural gas over-production as root causes threatening to “destroy our economy”, Yeager blames “laws” and Bernie Buescher, even if the downturn occurs on Josh Penry’s and Laura Bradford’s watch!
Therefore, Laura Cummins’ observations (“Mesa State doesn’t need to fund more sports teams”) are particularly timely. If expansion of Mesa State’s sports programs can pay for itself by attracting more money and higher caliber students to the campus, then it makes sense. If the end result is merely to bolster administration egos at the expense of enhancing academic achievement and/or promoting the community college option that many local high school graduates need to land jobs, then the move may ultimately reinforce the very “backwater” perception Bill Grant warned of.
BILL HUGENBERG
Grand Junction
One Response to “Letters parallel public-policy discourse”
Posted February 25th, 2009 at 5:56 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I tend to stay out of the unending argument between atheists and believers where Mr. Hugenberg carries the flag for the former. But I wish that Mr. Hugenberg would stick to something he understands because he displays total ignorance of what brought about our current economic problems when he writes:
“And, rather than cite Reagan’s deregulation, Bush’s tax cuts, Republican profligacy, and natural gas over-production as root causes threatening to “destroy our economy””
The first three of these are standard liberal lines which do not apply to this recession, but he can be excused for simply regurgitating them.
But to say that “natural gas over-production” is a cause of the current economic problems is quite a stretch.
I guess he just had to throw something like that in to show his disaffection with the energy industry.
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