To the Editor,

Is the Social Security Trust Fund empty because Congress borrowed and spent the money?  No.  The Fund invested the money in U.S. treasuries, and it will be repaid as needed.

Suppose you were in charge of the Fund.  Once the current year’s payments were made, what would you do with the billions of left-over dollars needed to fund future payments?

Would you stuff them in a coffee can and bury them in the back yard, where they would earn no interest and thereby lose purchasing power?

Would you perhaps invest the money in the stock market, where it would be nibbled away by brokerage fees and vulnerable to market crashes?

Or, would you safely invest it in U.S. treasuries, where it would earn low to moderate interest, but you know it would be there when needed?

Did Congress spend it?  Of course they did.  When you borrow money, you do so to spend it.  Would you borrow money — and pay interest on it – just so you could run your fingers through it?  Or, would you borrow only to buy a house or start a business?  …and pay it back, a bit at a time.

The U.S. government borrows money, uses it, and pays it back.  It never has reneged on a debt; not one borrowed from China, or a pension fund, or its own citizens.  Unless Congress does something even stupider than their current doddering, it will not renege on this debt either.  The money is there.

Ann Harroun
Loveland, Colo.

 “Follow the money.” That is good advice for many topics, including gun regulation.

When someone steals your guns and you buy replacements, who benefits financially from that theft?

When rival gangs have a shoot-out — killing innocent by-standers — and then they replace the weapons they just threw in the river, who benefits from the slaughter?

When guns are easily purchased by felons and the mentally ill, who prospers?

When the massacre of twenty first graders results in thousands of people rushing out to buy assault weapons, who benefits?

Decades ago the NRA’s priority was hunter safety. Has it now changed to guaranteeing profits for themselves and the manufacturers and dealers of guns and ammunition?

Will these babies’ only legacy be those profits? Or, this time, will Congress take significant action? If not now, when?

Ann Harroun
Loveland, Colorado

Apoplectic: of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke as in an apoplectic rage; also: greatly excited or angered as in she was apoplectic over the news. Hegemony: the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group. These are my new favorite words of the week.  They perfectly define the GOP and the right’s feelings, and the cause of those feelings, after last Tuesday’s re-election of President Obama.

It has been quoted that the Romney camp was “shell shocked” by the election results. They were so confident in the outcome; Gov. Romney didn’t even bother to write a concession speech. Oops! Live by the bubble, die by the bubble.

The Fox Noise machine had been adamant about ignoring the polls, declaring that they were skewed by liberal media. The GOP and Fox’s internal polls were more accurate and reflected the true spirit of the electorate. The Romney team drank the Kool-Aid as did all the loyal Fox viewers who are apoplectic about the actual truth:  Obama wins. Again!

As Malkin, Coulter, Limbaugh, Rove, Morris, Barnes, Barone, Hannity, Huckabee, Cavuto et al. all trumpeted the demise of the democrats, a funny thing happened. Romney listened to them, a majority of voters didn’t.   Talk about hegemony. The ironic thing is, most of them, except Romney, now have four more years of job security slamming the Obama administration (except for Rove and Morris). Heck it has made most of them rich. The Fox family of pundits will write more books and the Fox viewers will buy them.

Under-reported, but especially interesting to me was the effort put into the campaign by President Clinton.  He spoke until he was hoarse, even on election eve. And where was President Bush in support of the republican candidate? President George W. Bush was rubbing elbows with the global investing elite, including billionaire Richard Branson, at a conference in Romney’s favorite tax shelter, the Cayman Islands. As a keynote speaker.  I hate to say this was “rich” with irony, but no other word fits. Mitt can attend next year.

Craig S. Chisesi
Rifle, Colorado.

What a privilege we have in this country to vote for the person who is arguably the most powerful head of state in the free world.

Those of us who enjoy personal involvement in politics find these campaigns driven by high spirits, high expectations and even higher emotions. However, there has been a new element introduced to the election this year – that of hatred. This isn’t just “simple” hatred but rather the kind that is so intimidating that even those of us who recognize the hate-filled lies bandied around by the Republican Party for what they are can be intimidated.

The political hatred, lies and manipulation by the Republican Party has truly made me heartsick. The joy of exercising my role in a government I have studied and loved for so many years is being methodically stripped out of my hands by people who either don’t know the facts or are just too excited to take part in a Republican-sanctioned lynch mob.

When I recently had the privilege to sit on the dais just a few feet behind President Barack Obama when he spoke at the Auraria Campus, I was struck by his humility and grace in the face of such overwhelming and undisguised hatred and indescribable odds.

Political affiliation isn’t nearly as important as political integrity. In my mind, I’d rather you cast a vote for any candidate at any level based on facts rather than blindly follow what the universal “they” have spewed in order to influence those who haven’t taken the time to do the research.

Democrats and Republicans alike deserve to have the joy and liberty of voting returned to us.

Clauda Todd-Young
Loveland, Colorado

Here are some things to think about, if you’re still thinking about whom to elect president. One of Mr. Romney’s criticisms about the President is the loss of certain “green” businesses that the administration backed. Of those receiving funds, about 8 percent went into bankruptcy. “The Wall Street Journal, aiming for a comprehensive assessment, examined 77 businesses Bain invested in while Mr. Romney led the firm from its 1984 start until early 1999, to see how they fared during Bain’s involvement and shortly afterward. Among the findings: 22% either filed for bankruptcy reorganization or closed their doors by the end of the eighth year after Bain first invested, sometimes with substantial job losses. An additional 8% ran into so much trouble that all of the money Bain invested was lost.” So much for business acumen.

Mitt’s claim of saving the Olympics neglects to mention the $1.5 billion in federal funds he requested. Mitt’s claim about turning around Massachusetts fails to mention its 47th place ranking in job creation or his 38 percent approval rating.

But if you’re still undecided, based on documented speeches and policy statements, a vote for the GOP will (in no particular order, except for Day One): eliminate the EPA, FEMA, Departments of Energy and Education. ObamaCare will be thrown out, as will Dodd-Frank (Wall Street regulations) and pesky drilling regulations. You will get the Bush-Cheney advisors, as 17 of the top 24 Romney advisors are from the Bush administration. Despite their claims, women’s rights, gay rights, worker’s rights will all be under attack. Ryan is against all contraception and abortion. Romney is against the minimum wage. Mitt said there are too many teachers, fire fighters and police.

Vote for Romney/Ryan if you agree that more war and military spending is a good thing. Or if you believe Iran is landlocked. Vote for Mitt if you feel converting Parisians to Mormonism qualifies as serving your country. Or that Mitt’s 5 sons should all have avoided the service.

Vote for President Obama because you understand that we are headed in the right direction. Because we are.

Craig S. Chisesi
Rifle, Colorado

Tom Donnelly has done exactly what he said he would do:

Tom Donnelly has guided the Larimer County government through several years of declining revenues and increasing expenses. His thoughtfulness and success have earned him another term. Tom Donnelly should be re-elected.

Because of the way Colorado property tax system works, there will be no appreciable increase in county property tax revenues until budget year 2016 at the earliest, and any increase then will depend on the promising trends we see in our real estate markets continuing.

Tom Donnelly understands the fiscal reality of today and that this reality will continue for the foreseeable future. He knows that making government smaller is far more difficult than making government bigger or even than maintaining the government’s status quo. Not every elected official understands that, as we know. Tom Donnelly is one who does.

Vote for Tom Donnelly and you can be confidant that you voted for a county commissioner who knows what he’s doing, who did what he said he would do when he ran four years ago, and who will take care of the county’s business honestly and capably in the next for four years.

Vote for Tom Donnelly and know you made your best choice when you cast your ballot.

Best regards,

Steve Miller
Fort Collins, Colo

Dear Editor,

My husband and I have been owners of a small business in Larimer County for more than a decade. We have felt the impacts of a slow economy over the past several years and very thankful we are still in business.

I support Tom Donnelly as County Commissioner. I served as a “member at large” on the Larimer County Open Lands Advisory Board with Tom for the past 3 years. Tom listens and cares. He understands the day to day issues Larimer County citizens and businesses are faced with as we work hard to support our families and our community. I appreciate that Tom doesn’t forget the basics and how important it is to balance budgets and cut costs wherever it make sense.

In order for my husband and I to keep our doors open it is vital that we spend less than we make therefore operating within a budget, managing costs and running things efficiently. Tom understands these principals and is committed to Priority-Based Budgeting, growing our economy, common sense regulations, or deregulating in some cases, will ensure an efficient and effective running County government.

Sincerely,

Patricia Brennan
Masonville, Colo.

Having personal family experience with land surveyors led me to follow Tom Donnelly’s career through the years from land surveyor, Larimer County’s elected County Surveyor, and from his first being elected to serve as Larimer County Commissioner in 2008 to present. Through his career I have come to know Tom as a man I can trust with confidence to continue to protect taxpayers and property owners with his common sense regulations that protect our quality of life by conserving our tax dollars by using the economic growth to help pave the way.

The County Commissioners, including Tom, working as a team, have reduced taxes, ending the sales tax that constructed the County courthouse early, putting money back into the taxpayer’s pockets. I trust Tom Donnelly to continue to put people ahead of government, working to use our tax dollars as those whom he serves do by wisely budgeting our money and living within our means. I encourage you to vote for Tom Donnelley so that we may continue to have an effective and responsive representation.

Dr. Donna Walter
Fort Collins, Colo.

Tom Donnelly will get my support in this race for Larimer County Commissioner district 3. As a County Commissioner, Tom has been very open and accessible to listening to concerns of business owners and its employees. I have experienced and seen Tom working hard to represent the interests of all county residents is with his work on the Metropolitan Planning Organization and with the counties recent change in priority budgeting within the county.

Transportation challenges have been facing Northern Colorado for the last 20 years.  Tom is supportive of polices and projects that will enhance public safety on our roads and increase capacity on them. Tom recognizes that our current infrastructure is not adequate for the demands being placed on it and will work to represent our interests within the MPO.

Commissioner Donnelly has worked hard with all county departments to maintain the high levels of service that we all expect from our county with declining revenues during the economic downturn we have experienced. He values all county departments and the employees of the county and is an advocate for them. By not seeking an increase in tax funding he has been responsible to all of county residents by keeping the cost of county government low and the service level high.

Join me in voting to keep Tom Donnelly representing all citizens of Larimer County

Carl R. Maxey
Fort Collins, Colo.

To the editor

I am writing in support of Tom Donnelly who is running for re-election in District 3. The election is countywide so we all have the opportunity to vote for him. He has held several citizen meetings every month and listens to all concerns. He has led efforts to ensure Larimer County places a high priority on openness and accountability. I know Tom and can vouch he has worked long and hard hours to conserve our tax dollars and will continue to work for better and safer roads, protect and preserve our agriculture industry and safeguard our property rights. We need Tom to continue working for Larimer County citizens as our County Commissioner. Please vote to re-elect Tom Donnelly for County Commissioner, District 3.

Mary Carroll

Fort Collins, Colorado

If you were watching the Rocky Mountain PBS “Colorado State of Mind” Forum on Friday evening, then you also heard Congressman Cory Gardner state, “Nobody understands agriculture better than I do.”

As a farmer in Weld County, it’s not just the arrogance of that statement that offends me – it’s saying that and then letting the Farm Bill expire that really bothers me.

When I traveled to Washington DC earlier this month to talk to members of Congress about passing this bill for us farmers, I was told that they have the votes to get it passed, but leaders in Congress didn’t want the other side to win political points. So they won’t even let Congress vote on it. The Farm Bill expires on Sunday, and Congress is doing nothing.

Obstructionist politicking like this makes me sick, but more importantly, it prevents farmers from doing our job and providing food for our country. We plan our crops years in advance, and without a Farm Bill, we don’t have the stability we need to protect ourselves from severe droughts and crop loss.

I’m tired of politicians who claim they know everything, but do nothing. I’m proud to support Brandon Shaffer, someone who will actually listen to farmers.

Cory Gardner had the chance to sign a petition to bring the Farm Bill to the House floor for a vote. Did Cory sign it? Nope. Leaders in Congress are the ones holding up this bill, and he doesn’t want to fall out of favor with them. He cares more about what other politicians think about him than what Colorado farmers need to do their job, and that’s disgraceful.

Despite the fact that “Nobody understands agriculture better than” Cory Gardner does, he might not realize how upset Colorado farmers are with him.

Respectfully, 

Jerry Hergenreder
Farmer
Weld County, Colorado

With all the national campaign ads flooding our airwaves and media streams, don’t forget there are important local races going on too.  In fact, these local, often unheralded, campaigns are where the daily impact on our own personal lives is most felt in the future – where the rubber hits the road.

In Larimer County, we have historically embraced strong, conservative traditional values of family, friends, individual freedoms, free enterprise, and quality, locally controlled  education to raise the next great generation of American citizens.  Look closely at Perry Buck and Kevin Lundberg.  These are precisely the kinds of strong, conservative, elected leaders we need in the tough times facing us.

Joe Dion
Masonville, Colorado