Minneapolis concerns for GOP: Human toll or political cost

The response from many Republican politicians to the violence committed by federal immigration agents in Minnesota has been telling. The loss of life has prompted large protests across Minneapolis and is spreading to other parts of the country. Yet for many Republican officials, recognition of these deaths has been cursory at best. Their focus seems less on the human toll and more on the political cost. Rather than directly addressing the violence or the federal policies that have contributed to it, they worry that their messaging isn’t resonating with the public.

They seem to perceive the issue as a communication and public relations problem, not a policy issue. They ignore accountability and the prevention of future violence. They prefer to blame others, including the victims. They appear to think that they just need to reclaim the narrative and the problem will disappear. This is what happens when messaging becomes a priority, and real-world impacts become secondary.

We must demand more from our political leaders. It is time for accountability and solutions that work.

John Wells, Leadville

Slowed growth is a good thing if it’s slowed immigration

Re: “State’s growth slowest since ’90.” Jan. 28 news story

There was a lot of good news in The Post’s article on growth. Colorado’s growth rate dropped by two-thirds! Less illegal immigration means more jobs for legal workers, along with a lower number of workers willing to work for slave wages. That also could translate to lower car insurance rates.

It’s no surprise that California, of course, leads the exodus along with Vermont and New Mexico. Florida had one of the largest gains, along with Texas and North Carolina.

Other good news is that with the decrease in the growth of migrants, the birth rate has increased. Win-win.

The story reports “Slower growth should allow the state to catch up on its housing shortfall, and if population gains are weak enough, reduced demand could even push rents and home prices lower.”

Now for the bad news. “More established and wealthier households were picking up and leaving.”

One would think that any governor or legislator with a room-temperature IQ would look at that, wake up, and consider changing policy; unfortunately, we have neither one!

Larry Fries, Aurora

Glad to see Sen. Bennet representing in the protest crowd

I attended the demonstration at the Capitol last Sunday. I was extremely heartened to see Sen. Michael Bennet in the crowd. I have written to his office, as well as to other elected officials in Colorado, asking them to attend these demonstrations. It was the first time I had seen an elected official in attendance (and I have been to seven such events).

Unfortunately, a young man harassed the senator and ruined a good opportunity for him to witness how, generally, the crowds are very respectful (excepting, of course, the expletives directed towards Trump and ICE). We, the people, are increasingly reaching a boiling point in our frustration at the current administration’s destruction of the norms of our society. While it showed a high degree of disrespect on the part of the heckler, I am hoping that Sen. Bennet will take note of how impassioned the crowds are and will come again.

Even though there isn’t much they can do right now, Democratic representatives do need to see what is going on out in the streets. I hope Sen. Bennet saw that and will not only come to the next rally, but also encourage his Colorado colleagues to come too. We, at these rallies and protests, are the people, and maybe Sen. Bennet can use some of our energy to continue to fight for our democracy in D.C.

Mark Edward Geyer, Denver

Readers debate how to make taxation of residents fair

Re: “We need a graduated income tax because Colorado can’t rely on Washington anymore,” Jan. 24 commentary

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” ― John Kenneth Galbraith

Mirla Coronado de Low nailed the problem with TABOR: “TABOR is failing our families. TABOR requires a flat tax rate for every income earner in the state. That means that the majority of the families in Colorado who are barely making ends meet and those who are not are carrying a heavier tax burden than those who make $500,000 or more! How?”

TABOR exemplifies Gailbraith’s comment on morally justifying selfishness. Like too many Republican financial laws, TABOR was and always will be a Trojan horse. Those yearly state refunds sound nice, but they only keep the state of Colorado from needed funds to provide needed services, while enriching the wealthy. Does the term “trickle down economics” ring a bell?

TABOR has to be repealed.

Here is another Trojan horse, courtesy of Donald Trump. Remember those $2000 rebate checks we are supposed to get? Last month, the president gave a new timeline on when those payments could arrive for Americans, giving it “toward the end of the year.”

Yep, those checks will come in time for the midterm elections. Another Republican bribe.

Mike Filion, Lakewood

While I agree with the author regarding Washington’s unreliability of late, I disagree with their defense of the graduated tax proposal. This initiative uses childcare as a sympathetic front for a simple state revenue increase.

Regarding the “fairness” of the flat tax: the author’s argument overlooks the reality of the tax burden. Mathematically, a flat tax ensures that those who earn more already pay more. Under the current 4.4% rate, an earner at $500,000 pays $22,000 in tax, while someone making $50,000 pays $2,200. To suggest this isn’t a “heavier burden” ignores the $19,800 in additional revenue provided by the higher earner.

While childcare challenges are real, navigating funding within TABOR’s framework is exactly what we elect state legislators to do. We can debate the social utility of taxing the wealthy, but we should not confuse “ability to pay” with “fairness.”

Buzz Davis, Wheat Ridge

There’s one sure-fire way to effectively address, if not resolve, Colorado’s persistent budget woes, and that is by restoring a graduated income tax in Colorado’s tax code.

We now have a Democratic (DINO?) governor who talks openly about cutting income taxes. And I ask: Whatever happened to a fundamental plank in the platform of the Democratic Party since the days of Woodrow Wilson? That is, a graduated income tax, even a severely graduated tax. That’s right. The rich, who gain most from our economic and political systems, pay more and the rest of us pay less. The poorest among us pay nothing (but, like all of us, they pay sales taxes and a host of fees often designed to fill budget gaps).

Before supporting a candidate for state office, either financially or otherwise, ask them this question: Do you support and will you advocate for restoration of a graduated income tax in Colorado, either by legislative referendum or by citizen initiative? If the answer is “no” or an equivocation, look elsewhere for a candidate to support.

Allan Ferguson, Denver 

You don’t fight bullies with name-calling

Re: “No one can do it alone. We all must stand up together against our bullies,” and “Hepatitis B is a terrifying virus with life-long consequences. The vaccine saves lives,” Jan. 25 commentaries

I agree with the writer about needing to address the bullying that is happening in our current political scene. Needing to maintain “our calmness and resolve in the face of the chaotic physical and mental threats” is stated as a way to address bullying. Also, it is stated that “we must use public assertiveness against the nasty bullying words and actions.

Three types of bullying behavior are described: verbal, social/relational and physical.

Then, in the body of the piece, he negates the proposed appropriate responses by proceeding to use two of those three bullying types by using words such as “coterie of quacks”, “angel of e-death”, “Bully-in-Chief”, and “Horcruxes” to talk about members of the administration.

It is not helpful to address bullying by bullying back and stooping to the behavior level of the ones you are complaining about. We need to respond more appropriately and respectfully, even when others aren’t.
Additionally, in the article right next to this one (regarding hepatitis B vaccinations), some of the same name-calling tactics are used (blockheads & dumpster 47).

We need to respond more appropriately and respectfully, even when others aren’t.

Ellen Staton, Castle Rock

Candidates need to fight the ‘federal school voucher scheme’

Re: “Polis all in on Trump’s tax-credit scholarship,” Dec. 10 news story

I’ve been waiting weeks for reader response to the news that Gov. Jared Polis will opt Colorado into the federal school voucher scheme. Finding none, I’ve concluded that readers aren’t aware of the threat this decision poses to public education.

This scheme comes directly from the Project 2025 playbook. Polis said it would be foolish to leave the federal money on the table. Millionaires have never met a tax credit they couldn’t support, but the governor is foolish to believe this is free money. The nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates the annual cost could be nearly $51 billion. Those are federal education dollars that won’t be available to support students with the greatest needs, through Title I and IDEA.

You only need to look at these so-called “tax-credit scholarships” in other states to realize the intention. They are overwhelmingly used by students already enrolled in private schools. They also are used at schools that openly discriminate against LGBTQ students and families. They exacerbate the growing divide between rich and poor.

Attorney General Phil Weiser, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, is on record saying that he would not opt the state into this program if elected. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet has said he disagrees with vouchers but refusing the money could be short sighted.

Polis needs to back off this dangerous course, and Bennet should oppose the tax-credit scholarships. Going along with Trump to get along has not worked well for Colorado.

Karen Francisco, Littleton

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