Police put lives
on line each day
Let’s not be so critical of our police department. Recently, we have had two officers get in trouble with the law. Police administrators took immediate action to remedy the problem. One officer tragically ended his life and the other must deal with the court system.
During the last four years, I have served as an unpaid volunteer at the police department. Most of the officers choose to put their lives at risk for the betterment of our community. These men and women work nights and weekends in all kinds of weather so we can have a safer place to live.
Every day our officers go on duty, not knowing what or who they will be dealing with. How would you like to have the responsibility of making a split-second decision whether to wound someone or end their life?
I’d just like to say thank you to our excellent police officers for doing a very difficult job. All you have to do is dial 911 and help is on the way.
JERRY BLANGSTED
Grand Junction

Mix public and private
insurance on health care
An Aetna insurance representative recently explained that my premium had jumped 15 percent because the policy was six months old and I am a year older. “All insurance companies do this,” she added.
No, not all. In years of living in Europe and Canada, countries where citizens do not fear the cost of disease, pregnancy or birthdays, I’ve had all health problems treated quickly and efficiently by excellent doctors. These countries have long made health and security national priorities.
We have, for the first time in decades, a chance to do the same, using an American approach of mixing public and private insurance to ensure that the present monopoly cannot continue to literally bankrupt both individuals and the nation.
Now is the hour of crucial negotiations on Capitol Hill. Now is when insurance companies are spending $7 million a week on lobbying. Now is the time to call Sen. Mark Udall, Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. John Salazar and tell them what you support.
Millions of people are raising their voices throughout the country. Join the groundswell.
SANDRA DORR
Grand Junction

Solid reasons to support
term-limits extension
I’m supporting the extension of term limits for the offices of Mesa County sheriff, district attorney and coroner to three terms.
First of all, these three positions do not involve public policy. They are about public safety.
Secondly, voters retain the freedom to vote in someone else if they don’t like the incumbent.
Thirdly, it costs a lot to train a new person in these jobs. The cost to taxpayers will be greatly reduced when it is paid out every 12 years instead of every eight years, if the incumbent is retained.
I would like Mesa County to join the 50-plus Colorado counties that have extended term limits for the position of sheriff, district attorney and coroner.
SUE BENJAMIN
Grand Junction

Where do we draw line on religion and government?
What is apparent from recent debate over religion’s role in government is that a considerable number of local citizens want religion to be more prominent. This being the case, I am intensely curious how these citizens envision commingling religion and government.
Like the theocratic Alliance Defense Fund (www.alliancedefensefund.org), would these citizens restrict the civil rights of those they don’t agree with? For example, would Christian prayer be required in public schools and at public meetings? At what point would religion be excluded from government, if at any?
These aren’t merely rhetorical questions. They are practical considerations that religionists consistently fail to address.
Instead of personal attacks and impassioned references to scripture, please elaborate on how you envision a truly democratic nation under only one god.
JOHN JENKINS
Grand Junction

Utah water is threatened
by nuclear-plant proposal
The Oct. 20 article “Nuclear-plant proposal draws fire: Groups protest idea of taking 24,000 acre-feet of water from Green River,” discusses the concerns of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding impacts to threatened and endangered fish species in the Green River.
The article states that Aaron Tilton, the CEO of Blue Castle Holdings Inc., said the “company is planning an on-site reservoir that could store water to be released when needed to support sensitive fish species.”
It is true that BCH is planning an on-site reservoir, but that would provide water to cool the nuclear reactor and any emergency needs.
The water-right applications that were submitted to the Utah Division of Water Rights by San Juan County and Kane County Water Conservancy Districts make no mention of returning any of almost 48 million gallons per day of water to the Green River to benefit sensitive fish species. The applications say the water would be 100 percent depleted, meaning that no water would be returned to the source.
Several thousand gallons of water would have to be withdrawn from the river and/or reservoir every minute to replace the water that evaporates to cool the reactors. If BCH wants to protect native fish species, it can just not withdraw the water in the first place.
At this time, the amount of water actually needed for the reactor units and other technical information has not been made available. BCH has not held any public meetings in Green River to explain its intentions and answer questions from the community. Press releases on the BCH Web site provide inaccurate information, stating that the company owns the site for the proposed reactor. In fact, it does not own the site and does not have a purchase option on the site.
SARAH FIELDS
Moab, Utah

Atheism disappears when
one’s life is in danger
I have been reading the pros and cons about the atheists’ billboard in Grand Junction. May I share an incident aboard our ship, the USS Rixey, at Guam during World War II.
It was said there are no atheists in foxholes. Aboard our ship there was a young man who said he didn’t believe in God, but still came our Bible studies to argue his point of view. He went ashore in Guam and bullets started flying all around him. He wrote me later, “I found a big rock, knelt down and made my peace with God. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and save my soul as well as to protect me.”
To me this says it all. I know by experience that God has been with me, not only to protect me, but as only who have given me great hope and peace.
ELDON COFFEY
Grand Junction

This entry was posted on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 8:13 am and is filed under Printed letters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.