Letters

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 23, 2005

RIGHT TO LIFE?

There's no comparison between Schiavo, Peterson

I was appalled to read the letter written by Rev. Bill Carmody that equated Terri Schiavo's husband to Scott Peterson ("No difference between Schiavo, Peterson," Letters, March 22).

Michael Schiavo is not trying to kill his wife. He is trying to respect her wishes to be allowed to die naturally. The Florida courts have repeatedly decided, based on evidence and the testimony of family, friends and doctors, that it would not be Terry Schiavo's wish to be kept alive in this vegetative state.

Schiavo is the husband and legal guardian and the Florida courts have respected his rights in representing his wife. What Congress and President Bush have done is unconstitutional and unethical. They trampled judicial and state powers to pander to the power base of the Republican party: the Religious Right.

Had Terri Schiavo created a living will prior to her brain damage she would have exercised her right to decide should this situation arise. She did not make this living will and as she has been in a persistent vegetative state since then the decision is now to be made by her recognized legal guardian, her husband, who is making the decision he believes she would have.

Jonathan Williams

Colorado Springs

Disconnecting feeding tube not comparable to murder

How in the world can Rev. Bill Carmody say there is no difference between Scott Peterson and Michael Schiavo? Peterson took the life of a vibrant, happy woman expecting a child. Schiavo is saying his wife wouldn't want to live with tubes. My mom had Alzheimer's and because of her wishes, we (my sister and I) decided not to allow the tube to be inserted. Is Carmody going to tell me that I am like Peterson? I can feel for the family, but I also am trying to put myself in Michael's place.

Before you judge Michael Schiavo, put yourself in his shoes. He hasn't divorced Terri (and gone on with his life) because he has feelings for her and is doing what he thinks she would want.

Jean Zell

Colorado Springs

COUNCIL PAY

High wages haven't given us better county government

Which cost model should we use to compare City Council salaries: local school boards or our local county board of commissioners ("Voters will decide on proposed raises," Metro, March 20)?

State law mandates that school board members not receive a salary. But is there ever a shortage of candidates or do our school boards perform any worse than the City Council? I think not, and sometimes they perform better -- a good reason for eliminating council salaries.

State law also requires county taxpayers to pay huge salaries to our commissioners. These inflated and unfounded mandates were put upon us by our rock-solid Republicans over the last six years. Thus county commissioners cost around 10 times more than City Council members. But are county operations 10 times better than the city's? I think not, and sometimes they are worse -- another good reason for not increasing council pay.

Bill Jambura

Colorado Springs

TRANSPORTATION SUBSIDIES

Asay is wrong; We need rail service

Chuck Asay draws forms better than he draws conclusions. His March 21 Amtrak cartoon was such a case. He's right that Asians subsidized American railroads in the 19th century with their underpaid labor, and that taxpayers subsidize Amtrak today. His analogy is wrong, though: Asian labor is still subsidizing American economic growth, and taxpayers have always subsidized transportation, including railroads.

I'd like a balanced transportation system, with adequate capital and operating funds for rails, roads and airways, decent pay for all workers (including reining in some CEOs) and protection from harsh working conditions. In short, I'm glad to see the 19th century past.

Balanced transportation does take money. President Bush and Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta propose starving Amtrak in fiscal 2006 in the interest of socalled reform. But wise congressional Republicans and Democrats know that would mean dismantlement. Continuing at the $1.2 billion level of federal funding, along with hard-pressed states' subsidies of a number of corridors, would allow us to proceed with the reforms already begun under Amtrak President/CEO David Gunn -- reforms Mineta denies but that exactly address the problems he wants addressed. Funding at higher levels would be desirable: we need passenger rail nationally.

Owen Cramer

Colorado Springs

THINK AGAIN

Column from Free Thinker lacked basic logic

The Free Thinkers of Colorado Springs' Web site defines "freethought" as "The use of logic and reason to evaluate the credibility of a claim or statement, especially when that claim or statement pertains to the supernatural affecting the natural or to the bestowing of a 'revealed' truth to an individual or group that can't be independently verified."

Interesting, since Marsha Abelman's lengthy tirade in the March 16 Gazette seemed to be totally bereft of logic and reason and devoid of fact ("Catholic hospitals don't have monopoly on medical ethics," Other Voices). It was just a long-winded attack on the Catholic church.