Block this threat to public lands from heading the BLM
Re: “Western senators cannot support Trump nominee who wants to liquidate public lands,” Dec. 3 commentary
Coloradans appreciate and value our protected public lands upon which a natural balance and protection of wildlife depend. We are angry that Trump has nominated Steve Pearce to run the Bureau of Land Management. Pearce is simply an unapologetic and unabashed public lands pillager.
Pearce has consistently worked to privatize and undermine our public lands. As a New Mexico Congressman, he sponsored several bills to dispose of our national public lands. If confirmed, he could conduct massive sales of our natural lands in fire sales to corporations, developers, and land speculators intent on destroying these important lands for private profit.
As reported in the opinion column published by The Post, his intent is amply demonstrated in his 2012 letter to House leadership where Pearce declared that the federal government owns vast land holdings that we do not need and called for a massive sell-off. Pearce’s vision for our public lands is liquidation. The columnist is also correct in stating that Steve Pearce’s nomination is a referendum on whether Congress believes our shared lands still belong to all Americans.
It is absolutely time for Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate, who care about our public lands and wildlife, to draw a red line that this nomination will be rejected and if not, that not one piece of legislation will pass the Senate be it a CR, budget appropriations, or any Trump appointments until the nomination of this public lands pillager is reversed!
Jessica Talbot, Arvada
Pissarro’s dedication and integrity on display in exhibit
The scope of the Pissarro exhibit at the Denver Art Museum is unique in showing the progression of his dedication to the art of painting and its manifestations along the course of his life. Equally impressive is his dedication through the travails of an aspiring artist to provide sustenance and guidance for a growing family. His wife, Julie, is equally admirable. The exhibit is titled “The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism,” which the paintings reveal well. The understory of his life is one of determined human integrity.
Robert Porath, Boulder
Touching surprise while shopping for children in need
While shopping with my wife recently, I spoke to the approaching store manager about how we were filling our cart with gifts for children whose parents are in prison. The manager responded softly, “Oh, that is nice; others shopped for my kids while I was in prison.” In that moment, my 73-year-old heart was touched, and I felt compelled to hug her.
Mike Sawyer, Denver
Take it easy on white-collar criminals
The state of Colorado and the entire U.S. should change how felons are punished.
Murders, rapists, violent criminals, and repeat offenders must be sent to a prison at an approximate cost of $50,000 per year to us taxpayers.
But there are some crimes that are not a physical or dangerous threat to others. This includes making a wrong decision against our laws, embezzling, money theft, Ponzi schemes, etc.
Two cases that bring to mind are the former governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich for trying to sell the former U.S. senate seat held by Barak Obama. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison at an approximate cost of $700,000 to us taxpayers. Rightly so President Trump pardoned him during his first term.
Another is Tina Peters, the former Clerk and Recorder of Mesa County, CO. She was sentenced to prison for 9.5 years at a total cost to us taxpayers of approximately $475,000. She was sentenced to prison for allowing a friend to have access and examine the internal workings of the election process in Mesa County.
The right solution to both of these cases along with thousands of others is to punish the convicted criminal with a substantial monetary penalty along with community service. This would punish the individual and save substantial money for us taxpayers. The person should be required to work as a productive part of society. This person would also pay different kinds of taxes from their work.
It is a disgrace that the U.S. incarcerates more people per person that any nation in the world. .
It is time that our entire judicial system in all states and our country make these changes immediately since they would be best for the taxpayer and the convicted felon.
Jim Welker, Loveland
Editor’s note: Welker was a state representative for House District 51.
Get rid of the presidential power of pardon
President Donald Trump started his 2nd term off by pardoning thousands of January 6th rioters, and has continued a steady pace ever since. However, the flurry of recent ones — former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández (convicted on drug charges), David Gentile (convicted of swindling thousands of investors), and now, potentially, Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar (a Democrat) and his wife (charged with money laundering) are even more troubling. The stench of corruption hangs over these pardons. Has money been paid to someone, somehow, for them?
Regardless, it is now obvious that the power to pardon is too powerful to bestow upon any president — especially Trump. Therefore, the time has come for we, the citizens, to amend the U.S. Constitution to delete the presidential pardon power (Article II, Section 2, Clause 1).
At the moment, Republicans will obviously oppose such an amendment, but a long-term perspective is needed for this or any constitutional amendment. Democrats should discuss – and hopefully embrace – the idea, with candidates and existing office holders asked to take a position. And once a Democrat takes the White House again, Republicans will quickly get on board.
Perhaps this may seem like an overly simplistic approach to curbing the exploding powers of the American president, but it is an important one. It is time to amend the Constitution to delete the Presidential pardon power.
Bradley Cameron, Denver