How those lying climate scientists keep their stories straight?
It appears that the majority of climate scientists agree that climate change is man-made and we have a climate crisis. Yet, there are several local Open Forum writers that tell me we are being duped; we are in the midst of a conspiracy against fossil fuels. How difficult it must be for all those participating scientists to keep their stories straight. Is there a central clearinghouse for all the lies? Conspiracies are tough to hold together and to what end is this ploy? Is it all lies to rid us of the oil industry? I ask why this would be their motive when it looks like technology is going to do it anyway.
They say that all the horrible things that we are witnessing are a natural cycle of Mother Nature. I sincerely hope the locals are correct, but I am skeptical.
If climate change is not man-made, and our efforts to stop the unstoppable are unnecessary, what would happen? We could wind up with clean renewable energy and infrastructure with the ability to carry the variable wind and solar energy, with total energy independents. Is that a bad thing?
And what if we follow the contention that global warming is a hoax, a total liberal sham? These men tell us they have the answers, the data, but what if they’re wrong? Say it slowly, word by word, and think about it: What if they are wrong? If they’re wrong and we do nothing, they have released the four-horsemen to devastate this planet and it will be a true Apocalypse. If we do nothing to stop it, what do we tell our children and their children? What do these guys tell us, what do they tell the world, oops?
Jim Davies
Longmont
Keep in mind the importance of oil and gas industry to Colorado
As the Air Quality Control Commission begins its first rulemaking in the aftermath of SB-181, I am reminded of a quote by Gov. Polis after the passage of the bill. At a press conference, he stated: “This bill is good for the energy industry. This bill is good for workers.” He also said the oil and gas wars in Colorado were over, and that, “You’re going to see permits continue to be approved.”
Yet, our state now knows that the oil and gas wars are not over, they have simply moved to a new battleground in state agency rule-makings and local city council chambers. This is concerning as it is has become apparent that activist rhetoric is overshadowing the benefits our state receives from the oil and gas industry.
The overall economic activity in the oil and gas industry totals billions of dollars and represents a tremendous amount of business activity in the state. This increased business activity translates into greater purchases and movement of a wide range of goods, which improve our quality of life in Colorado. Like it or not, the oil and gas industry is a big part of the state’s economy. If our elected leaders and state officials choose to implement further regulation to an already heavily regulated industry, then we run the risk of significant economic damage and hardship for many middle-class Colorado families.
The statements made by the Governor are not consistent with actual happenings in the state government. The fact is the oil and gas war wages on and there has been a significant drop in permit approvals since the enactment of this legislation. I am not seeking a reduction in regulation from the AQCC, I am simply asking for fair regulation that keeps the livelihood of the industry in mind while making these regulations.
Gillian Smith
Fort Lupton
Rep. Buck doesn’t represent this corner of the 4th District
Ken Buck provides a clear majority of Longmont voters with zero congressional representation. He plays strictly to his GOP, ignoring anyone that isn’t a Republican. I first saw this four years ago when I moved into the district. He avoids face-to-face town halls and instead uses a rigged phone town hall where he picks the questions he will answer. One nice woman caller changed her question from Obamacare to fear of right-wing terrorists and Ken had some rude comments about that not being her question and quickly cut her off. The next caller asked Buck to answer the prior question and he barked — ask your original question or get cut off!
Most of my life, my representatives would put down the partisanship after the election and would do their job of representing all the people of their district (earning their $177,000/year). Not Ken. He has time to go from interview to interview with rightwing media outlets, be chairman of the state GOP (dishonestly announcing this after his reelection), but no time to represent all of his district.
Ken’s 2018 opponent, Karen McCormick, won 65% of the 4th Congressional District in Boulder County. I and the other 65% of 4th-District-Boulder County voters are just out in the cold while Ken plays politics.
Blaise Stephanus
Longmont
Codify the impeachment process now
The impeachment process has been abused. That abuse has to be forestalled in the future by codifying the process.
Here is a good start:
Only current, readily articulated, statutorily defined crimes may be used for impeachable offenses.
Nebulous, ambiguous terms such as abuse of office, abuse of power, violation of oath of office shall not be considered impeachable offenses without the support of statutorily defined crimes.
High crimes shall only be defined as felonious criminal conduct as defined by law.
Misdemeanors shall only be defined as non-felonious criminal conduct as defined by law.
All investigations shall be conducted pursuant to the federal code of criminal conduct, federal rules of evidence, code of criminal procedure, and rules of jurisprudence.
All parties shall have the power to call witnesses, rebut testimony, have legal representation, and question their accusers in person.
Secret, closed-door testimony, except in cases of national security and classified information and documents, shall not be permitted.
Anonymous witnesses shall not be allowed.
Jim Peel
Longmont
