A major economic force

I’m sorry that Eric Stair (Letters, Aug. 22) disagrees with some of Colorado’s agricultural laws, but he may be living in the wrong state if he thinks they’re archaic.

Agriculture is still a major economic force in Colorado. This is especially true for the areas east of Colorado Springs, including the area where the tragic accident happened. Some places in Colorado, like Larimer County, publish a “Code of the West” to remind people of this fact. The code includes reminders that the state has “right to farm” laws that allows farmers and ranchers to do their jobs providing the rest of us with food.

Open range may seem like a free ticket to allow your animals to run amok, but it’s quite the opposite. A rancher’s cattle are his source of income, and they’re not just set out onto a plot of land with the hopes that they’ll know to stick around. The fact is that cattle get out of pastures sometimes, usually because somebody left a gate open or cut the fence.

As a member of a long-time ranching family, I have to take offense to the implication that cattle owners are somehow not as “responsible” as dog owners, although the suggestion that cattle owners have “too much power” simply makes me laugh.

Chad Johnston

Colorado Springs

Into the light of day

U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin’s recent espousal of the quaint notion that forcible rape rarely results in pregnancy has done a great service by bringing Dr. John C. Willke, M.D., under general public scrutiny.

Dr. Willke has been one of the prime movers in the “Right to Life” movement, which has been very influential in formulating Republican party positions on social issues. He endorsed Mitt Romney’s prior presidential candidacy in 2007, and Mr. Romney embraced that endorsement.

Dr. Willke’s 1999 essay “Rape Pregnancies Are Rare” concludes that only 2 or 3 pregnancies result per thousand forcible rapes. From reading the essay, I concluded that it is based more on wishful thinking than facts. Actual medical studies of rape cases conclude that forcible rape is about as likely to cause pregnancy as consensual sex.

The notion that “rape pregnancies are rare” clearly creates the presumption that if a woman reporting a rape becomes pregnant, then, ipso facto, it wasn’t actually rape. This is not what I would call compassionate.

I do feel some compassion for Todd Akin. He was, after all, merely agreeing with the opinion of a doctor well regarded by the Republican Party, only to have party leaders turn on him because they were shocked — shocked! — at that opinion.

Or, perhaps, shocked at this influential man’s actual opinions being brought into the light of day. And for accomplishing that, I thank you, Mr. Akin.

Kurt Foster

Colorado Springs

An overexposure to “Rush”

Sunday’s Opinion section was filled with so many well considered and written letters with a similarity to a point that was hard to miss. It was almost as if there was a group effort to flood the paper with one sentiment. It is hard to imagine a city the size of Colorado Springs totally represented by angry followers of Rush Limbaugh, the self-described entertainer, who has plainly asked not be looked to for truth.

A sad aspect of overexposure to “Rush” and his cronies is the lack of information that would make a person a well-informed voter as envisioned by President Thomas Jefferson. A full understanding of the term “objectiveness” and a real understanding of how a “oligarchy” government comes into being. That’s just my suggestion as a concerned citizen.

Richard Lundh

Manitou Springs