Paved paradise

When I saw a picture of the white house lawn where the rose garden used to be, I was reminded of the 1970’s Joni Mitchell song. “They paved paradise, put in a parking lot”. Now he is planning to add a $200 million ballroom. That seems like an odd way to cut government spending. I guess he thinks having lots of room to dance is more important than feeding children who are literally starving to death.

Mary Lovato, Woodland Park

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In Response to Mr. Craig

Mr. Craig’s letter of Aug. 6 was rather curious, using loaded terms like “deep state.” He mentions a whistleblower, but the facts surrounding parents at school boards don’t match his inference. No parents were targeted by law enforcement simply by voicing dissent at school board meetings. But really, it was the last sentence of his letter that required I write. He states, “Finally, the only four Fascist governments I know of (Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan) all had leftist socialist governments.” This is historically completely wrong, but a common misstatement among the right wing who try to disassociate from fascism. It doesn’t work.

Fascism is a right wing form of government, by definition. As Oxford defines fascism: “An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.” There is nothing leftist about it. It’s defining characteristics are nationalism, disdain for human rights, creating scapegoats to unify the society, suppression of labor, disdain for arts and intellectuals, and cronyism, among others. These characteristics and authoritarian nature fit the right, not the left. 1930s/40s Germany (the classic fascist nation) was not leftist. The name they chose, National Socialist German Worker’s Party was chosen to appeal to voters at the time, but was no more accurate a descriptor than the People’s Republic of China (not a republic), or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (not democratic or a republic). Franco’s Spain was similarly right wing.

Simply, when someone claims that authoritarians, nationalists, fascists, etc., are a leftist construct, they are disingenuously ignoring the facts of history.

Michael Eaton, Divide

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Dear cow owner

Dear teller county cow owner:

I know who you are but I’m not going to say it here. I’m sick of your cows. I just spent two hours getting them out of my fence because they couldn’t remember which part of my fence they destroyed to get in. I’ve dealt with this for 36 years and frankly I’m tired of it. You do not own or lease all of Anges Drive. My land is fenced, it’s not free range and you do not lease it.

A few years ago my brother-in-law’s cows got out and got mixed with your herd and you got mad because they were eating grass you leased but how long have your cows been eating my horse’s grass after they destroyed my fence/ You need to be sued for property destruction. Free range laws are a little outdated for private property. In short, keep your cows off my land.

Amber Lamb, Cripple Creek

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LETTERS POLICY: Letters are published on a space-available basis. Letters must be 250 words or less. Guest columns will be published, space allowing, with a firm limit of 500 words. Both must be received by noon Friday for publication the following Wednesday. Please email your submissions to Courier Editor Doug Fitzgerald at doug.fitzgerald@pikespeaknewspapers.com. The Courier reserves the right to edit or reject submissions, which should have the author’s name, address and phone number, for verification purposes.