‘Voices & Thoughts’ Archives
Study Finds Stricter Gun Laws Mean Fewer Fatalities
By Allison Brito A study released last week by JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association): Internal Medicine shows a direct correlation between gun laws and gun-related fatalities. While the study is mainly based on the number of gun laws, not the type (it doesn’t, for example, specify which particular laws are the most effective), it confirms that generally speaking, stricter gun laws result in fewer deaths. The report, entitled “Firearm Legislation and Firearm-Related ... Full Story
‘Good Guys With Guns’ Will Not Stop Gun
By Bob Cesca On HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher last Friday there was an extended and heated debate about gun control. The participants included Newark, NJ mayor Cory Booker and author Sam Harris, who, in case you don't recognize the name, happens to be an insufferable marketeer of the "both sides are awful" false equivalence. The debate mostly centered around Cory Booker arguing for a massive effort to seize illegally-obtained firearms, with Maher and Harris telling him he's crazy to ... Full Story
Social Security Trust Fund
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 ... Full Story
Obituary: Malachi Bilson
Malachi Bilson was born March 23, 1992, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Our Artist, Angel went to be with our Lord and Savior this past Friday, Feb. 15, in a tragic accident in Berthoud, Colorado. Malachi's charm, grace and humor lit up the lives of everyone he touched. His compassionate intelligence and exceptional talent and creativity helped him pursue his dreams in film and photography. He was so full of life. His million-dollar smile and passion will live on in those who will carry on his ... Full Story
The KKK glorified as Confederacy grows in the South
The Confederacy Making a Comeback in the South? KKK Grand Wizard Glorified, Civil Rights Heroes Ignored As Southern whites sink into economic despair, more and more are retreating into a fictional past. January 28, 2013 | On a windy afternoon a few days ago I went to a depressed section of North Memphis to visit an old clapboard house that was once owned by a German immigrant named Jacob Burkle. Oral history—and oral history is all anyone has in this case since no written documents ... Full Story
Losing my religion for equality
Jimmy Carter Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God. I HAVE been a practicing Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, ... Full Story
Obituary: Brent Andrew Lind
Brent Andrew Lind, 54, of Berthoud, died on January 22, 2013 in Berthoud. He was born on May 29, 1958 in Boise, Idaho, to Wyland Herman and Alice Marie (Bradshaw) Lind. He served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints for the Milan, Italy mission for 2 years. Brent graduated from Capital H.S. in Boise, Idaho. He received his Associates Degree from Ricks College and his Bachelors and Masters Degree in Certified Public Accounting from Brigham Young University ... Full Story
Obituary: Mary Wall
Mary Evelyn Wall of Loveland Colorado and longtime resident of Berthoud, passed away in her home on January 19, 2013. Mary was born in Harlan, Iowa, the daughter of Melvin and Ethel Groves. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing. She worked as a public health nurse early in her career and later in nursing homes. Mary enjoyed her Bridge clubs, her P.E.O. sisters and her time volunteering at the Berthoud Public Library. She is survived by her ... Full Story
Can We Have Sane Gun Control?
Yes, We Can Have Sane Gun Control Without Trampling Gun Owners' Rights The NRA is a problem for sane gun enthusiasts. By Joshua Holland, AtlerNet, December 14, 2012 | Editor's note: a version of this piece originally ran after the Minnesota Sikh Temple shootings in August. The United States is not the only country to experience the horrors of mass shootings. We are, however, the only society in which a serious discussion of tighter gun controls doesn't follow incidents like the ... Full Story
The Christian Right’s Failed Prophecies
Notable (and Hilarious) Examples of the Christian Right's Failed Prophecies The people who claim to be the conduits of God's will are scam artists. By Adam Lee, AlterNet, January 21, 2013 | The Christian right in America, like all organized religions, claims to have a correct and exclusive understanding of God's will. To hear them tell it, the almighty creator of the universe has strong opinions about corporate tax rates, firearm ownership and what consenting adults do with ... Full Story
