Taking Action
The drastic measures taken by Razz Gormley and fellow activist to stop the Fennica icebreaker from traveling to Shell’s drilling sites in Oregon are inspiring (Re: “Taking Action,” Aug 13). And as a young professional living in Denver who hopes to raise her children in Colorado, I believe their attempt to delay the fracking was necessary, considering the fact that during the fracking process our surrounding groundwater was contaminated with an abundance of methane gas and toxic chemicals that seep into our drinking water.
It seems convenient how the police didn’t seem to mind that the protestors were dangling from a bridge for what they believe in, until they became an obstacle standing in the way of Shell’s profits, almost as if they were influenced by a greater power to do something to get the protestors out of the way. It’s also interesting how such great strides could be made in passing voter fracking bans in Lafayette and Longmont, but when they make their ways into Colorado courts they’re quickly overturned and appealed. Colorado legislators should have fought harder to make sure the fracking bans followed through. It’s thought provoking that in a state of democracy, change is only obtainable when it doesn’t interfere with a multimillion dollar corporation. A corporation that only takes into consideration the short-term benefits of fracking, for instance the profit that is generated from oil. While ignoring the monumental damage it’s having on our environment, which in turn affects every one of us. Shell should care about their consumers because they need us to buy their products and work for their company. Since they haven’t gotten that message yet, we need government to intervene. Shell needs to be held accountable for their negative impacts on our environment. Call your state representative and tell them that they should not overrule voter fracking bans, so big corporations like Shell are forced to develop more sustainable business practices.
Samantha Ennis/Denver
Forgive them
After living, learning and loving in (The People’s Republic of ) Boulder for the largest portion of my 65 years, and observing an increasingly conservative bent for the last 30 years in many recent transplants, all I can say is: “Where do these people get their scruples (or lack thereof )?” They are totally conservative; you can’t even talk to these folks. They refuse to reason. They seem hysterical with religious fervor, selfishness and/or greed (a bad proven mix for America).
In addition, the conservative circusclown-car spate of presidential choices is a perfect example of why the Republican Party may soon go the way of the Whigs.
May the Great Spirit bless the reasonable, tolerant, Liberal-minded people of our beautiful city, no matter how long they may have called Boulder home, and forgive those who have strayed from compassion, grace and tolerance.
Tommy Holeman/Boulder
Bernie Sanders, not corporate rule
This past May, 10 days after President Obama stated, “No trade agreement is going to force us to change our laws,” the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that our laws requiring country-of-origin labels for meat violated NAFTA. These laws hindered Canadian and Mexican meat companies’ profits.
The United States had two choices: change our laws or pay billions in fees. The U.S. Congress chose the former, and our hard-fought-for laws were jettisoned.
Such is the fate of democracy when it meets international trade agreements.
We know what happens when jobs meet such agreements — they flee. And the U.S. deficit? Before NAFTA, we had a trade surplus with Mexico. In 2013, we had a $100 billion deficit. Labor agreements? We now know they are not enforced.
Despite this, both Colorado Senators Bennet and Gardner, as well as Representative Polis, voted with the Republican majority on June 24, giving President Obama “fast track” trade authority to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
The TPP involves 12 nations. It would impact 40 percent of the world’s trade and instantly become the largest trade deal in history. It’s NAFTA on steroids.
This trade deal, negotiated in secret by corporate executives, would impact democratically enacted laws in every arena, from prescription drugs and financial regulations to food safety, labor laws, and environmental regulations; from the internet and service industries to health regulations to copyright law.
Since NAFTA, “trade deals” have been exposed for what they are — bold faced attempts by corporate elites to subvert democracies the world over in the name of ever greater profit. It is time to say enough is enough.
The fight over final passage of the TPP will likely be decided by the next President. We need a President representing Americans, not corporations.
U.S. President hopeful Bernie Sanders, Independent Senator from Vermont would be such a President. Senator Sanders has fought tirelessly for working families for decades. He champions a living wage, paid sick leave, free college tuition and taxing Wall Street. He opposed fast track and opposes the TPP.
His growing campaign recently drew a standing-room only crowd in Denver. Hundreds of thousands of supporters are making donations, and his poll numbers are steadily climbing.
Join the majority of Americans who want to see our economy work for working families and not just millionaires and billionaires by visiting berniesanders.com and make a difference.
David Sherman/Boulder
Vote for?
With the presidential field growing daily, voters would be wise to keep past performance in mind.
Do we want our president to be a recently resigned board member of a multi-national corporate entity that profited from yet another war? See: Barclays, The Carlyle Group, Halliburton, Blackwater, etc. etc. etc. (One could conclude that certain exboard members are trying to distance themselves from the associated death, destruction and greed necessary to show a profit.)
Or do we want a president that helped usher in eight years of peace and prosperity in America?
I vote for peace and prosperity.
Tommy Holeman/Niwot
