Mixed ballots not a coincidence

A very interesting article talked about the County Clerk receiving almost 600 cases where primary ballots were cast for both parties’ candidates by the same people. While the ballots state in several different places to only vote on one ballot, Democratic or Republican, almost 600 people voted in both, knowingly, in violation of election law.

Since I am a registered Republican, I only had one ballot. I only sent in one ballot, therefor I will not be charged with voter fraud and prosecuted accordingly. Will the election fraud perpetrators be prosecuted? What is the true value of integrity in elections? What happens when we have a liberal clerk who likes that or someone who doesn’t pay attention? You know what happens then? Voter fraud and compromised elections, that’s what.

I would most strongly encourage District Attorney Dan May, who is not on the ballot this year, to refer charges of voter fraud to a grand jury for indictment. If we allow this to go unchecked, we are inviting more of the same behavior in the future. Do we actually live by the law or just say we do?

Once, sure, that can happen randomly. Twice, maybe a coincidence, although I do not believe in coincidences. Three times, that’s called a pattern. Almost 600 times? This is not some innocent mistake by one or even a few voters. This is a brazen attempt by Independent or unaffiliated voters to skew election results.

Think about this over your morning coffee, and if this bothers you do, something about it. To me, voter fraud is a heinous crime that needs to be prosecuted. We’re Americans, remember?

Mark Rozman

Colorado Springs

Shameful spending in America

Yes, it is a shame that America — the wealthiest country ever — can’t afford to take care of its seniors citizens as Robert Samuelson suggests in his June 11 opinion article. Lest I forget due to a senior moment, I’ll quickly recall that we just gave a $1.5 trillion tax break to our destitute corporations so their management could do record-breaking stock buybacks designed to provide for their impoverished stockholders and needy CEOs. And when the financial industry criminally ruined the whole world’s economy, we somehow managed to cough up a trillion dollars, not only to bail them out of the mess they created, but to reward them for doing so.

Somehow, Americans managed to come up with $4 trillion expended to create peace and stability in the Middle East while at the same time making sure that hundreds of thousands of Middle East people don’t have to worry about their old age. Nope — there is no money available for our roads, bridges, environmental protections, or hungry schoolchildren. No money for fulfilling our social contracts. However, thankfully there is $700 billion annually for our Defense Department to guard us against the invading hordes. Shame on us. If and when we manage to make it to retirement age, after only working 30-45 years, we become another excessive societal burden.

James Jordan

Colorado Springs

Some things are just indefensible

I completely agree with Nicole Vera and Janet Geisz in Monday’s paper. There are some things in life that are just indefensible and separating children from their parents is one of them and should not be what America represents. At some point, we all have to stand up and say enough is enough and we will not accept this action that is simply wrong and those responsible cannot blame the liberal media or Hillary or fake news or the Democrats or cherry pick verses from the Bible — please put aside your political views for just a minute and look at this from just a human view — taking children from their parents without justifiable cause such as abuse or neglect should never be condoned. Is this making America great again?

Benny Terry

Colorado Springs

Someone should show maturity

In 1979, I worked at the Transpiration Test Center, northeast of Pueblo. The test center had various programs. Some were testing the rail, some how the equipment handled, etc. For a while, I worked for an engineer that ran one of these programs. And when you would have a complaint about the program, he would say write it out, making your points one by one.

So I was puzzled when he called me in with a complaint from some people working on his program. I come from a heavy construction background, and had determined to handle the dispute myself. But the engineer I worked for had other ideas. The first being, “you cannot call those SOB’s SOB’s!” I then asked, “what would you have me call them?” With a shrug and his voice very low, he said “I was hopeful that someone would show a little maturity.” So I bit my tongue and got the work done.

I bring this up because the NFL season is about to kick off. Roger Goodell and the owners have come up with the fix to the anthem protests. Do you really think this plan will work? Not since Trump jumped into the fray and the Colin Kaepernick message was lost.

The president has already started to double-down on the anthem protests. If these protests were about change, that would be one thing. But the president has pitted himself against the players. I would give the players the same advice given me. Someone has to step up and be the mature one. You have already snubbed the President by not going to the White House. If it is too much for to stand for the anthem, then get out of the game.

James Winland

Colorado Springs

Support for SNAP bene f its

One in six children in Colorado struggles with hunger. As a resident doctor who grew up in Colorado Springs and currently cares for children, this number is always disheartening to me. Fortunately, there are anti-poverty programs in place to aid hungry children. SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) provides families in poverty with access to food. In my work as a pediatrician in Colorado I have seen firsthand how essential this nutrition can be for families.

However, these important SNAP benefits are currently in jeopardy. The House Agriculture Committee is currently proposing changes to the Farm Bill that would reduce SNAP benefits for children and parents, as well as other adults. The proposed changes would reduce the number of Coloradans eligible for SNAP and increase food insecurity among Colorado kids.

We cannot afford to let any child in Colorado go hungry. Please consider contacting your congressman to tell him that you support SNAP and oppose the harmful changes to the program proposed in the Farm Bill.

Kenji Tanabe

Denver