Democrats did the right thing
Editor:
John Riddell asks how Democrats can support a party that in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contained Southern Democrats (Dixiecrats) who passed Jim Crow laws.
Very simple. In the mid-20th century, the Democrats repudiated the Dixiecrats and, over their opposition as well as that of the Republicans, passed the Civil Rights Act and have fought to end racism ever since.
Immediately the Dixiecrats changed their affiliation to the Republican Party, who welcomed them with open arms.
Democrats knew that would happen: “We have lost the South for three generations,” said President Lyndon Johnson when he signed the act. But they were willing to lose those votes to do the right thing.
In contrast, Republicans, to keep those votes, adopted the “Southern Strategy,” embracing racism through code words such as “states’ rights” or “local control” or today, “voter fraud” nod, nod, wink wink. That continues; witness Trump declaring there are good people among the white supremacists chanting hate in Charlottesville.
Democrats are proud to be the party that had the integrity and courage to change and to take steps at great political risk to themselves to do the right thing. The question for inquiring minds, Mr. Riddell, is why you are not ashamed to be part of the party that didn’t?
Sara Gadeken
Evergreen
Initiative 97 will undermine environmental progress
Editor:
The increased use of natural gas to generate electricity has driven significant environmental progress in the United States. Emissions of carbon and other air pollutants have fallen as our nation switches to natural gas power plants.
As the nation’s fifth largest producer of natural gas, Colorado has helped clean the air — locally and around the country. But now Initiative 97 threatens to take us in the wrong direction.
If put on the ballot and passed, 97 will gut Colorado natural gas production, limit further environmental gains and damage our state’s economy. It is a poorly planned proposal — and voters should refuse to sign the petition to place it on the November ballot.
Backers of Initiative 97 ignore the fact that Colorado natural gas has helped clean our air.
Natural gas burns cleaner than many other fuels, and it supports the expanded use of solar and wind power.
When the wind is calm or the skies are cloudy, natural gas power can kick in rapidly as an always-available energy supply. Ultimately, Initiative 97 is environmentally shortsighted.
Even though Colorado and our nation continue to increase our use of renewable power, natural gas will be needed for decades to come. Colorado should not turn its back on local and national energy needs. Let’s continue supplying our nation with natural gas by keeping Initiative 97 off the ballot.
Judy Merkel
Highlands Ranch
Former Evergreen resident