Earth to Boulder
Northwest transportation issues: RTD has announced a second Southeast light-rail line. Boulder has a foreign-owned toll road. How is that working out anyway?
Earth to Boulder. Come in Space Cadets.
Kevin Sampson/Denver
TPP closes eyes to sex trafficking
Recently, Congressman Polis became a signatory to a letter calling on the State Department not to upgrade Malaysia’s status in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report. If Congressman Polis is truly concerned about this issue why does he support the TPP which includes Malaysia, a source of human trafficking for multinationals and a country with no interest in putting an end to this despicable practice?
Malaysia, one of the 12 member nations of the TPP, was cited by the State Department as one of the worst countries in human trafficking. In a transparent attempt to garner support and make the passage of the TPP more palatable the Obama administration issued a report on human trafficking upgrading the status of Malaysia.
Reports of the discovery of mass graves of undocumented workers in Malaysia point to the extent of human trafficking. Former victims describe trafficking camps in jungles with guards, barbwire and workers locked in cages. Other victims are forced into prostitution and domestic servitude. Estimates of over 80 percent of workers in the palm oil industry and 33 percent of those in the electronic industry are victims of human trafficking. Workers live under constant fear of beatings, threats and death. The Malaysian government is not protecting these workers and neither will the TPP.
The Malaysian economy as well as that of many other countries is heavily dependent on foreign labor, much of which is from undocumented workers. Because these workers have little protection, multi-national corporations and their subsidiaries and subcontractors violate human rights with impunity. The TPP is being hawked as a windfall for workers but in reality it is a windfall for greedy multi-national corporations and corrupt politicians at the expense of workers.
Congressman Polis, support the fight against modern-day slavery, vote NO on the TPP!
Isabel Olivera-Morales/Boulder
Tabor vs. the need for artists
It’s only been two months since Governor Hickenlooper admitted to looking for new ways to keep more of the taxpayer’s money in Colorado’s state coffers. Yet, an initiative from the Governor’s office is already proposing new and expanded government programs to spend state funds. This week, Hickenlooper unveiled a new initiative, Space to Create, Colorado. The new program will provide housing for artists across the state and according to the Associated Press:
“The definition of artist is quite generous — including architects, craft beer brewers and liquor distillers.”
Unlike other programs — structured as non-profits — aimed at providing affordable housing for artists, the Governor’s proposal will be structured as a public-private partnership with taxpayers footing at least part of the bill. Governor Hickenlooper is effectively taking a charitable cause and placing it under the umbrella of government rather than trusting in Coloradans to keep their own tax dollars to reivest in their communities as they see fit. From the same AP story: “The plan, announced Monday by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, carries an uncertain price tag. The program is a public-private partnership, but it’s not clear how much private foundations will pay and how much the state will cover.”
Accessible and affordable housing for artists, and all Coloradans, is a laudable goal, but Governor Hickenlooper needs to carefully consider what is and is not the proper role of state government. His role as Governor is not to force taxpayers to invest in his charitable pet projects. We’d all be better served if the taxpayers could keep their own money and choose for themselves the causes we each want to support.
Kelly Maher,%u2028Executive Director Compass Colorado
Yes to Shakespeare
Paul Danish on Shakespeare was right on [Re: “Shakespeare, like youth, is wasted on the young. Or is it?, The Danish Plan June 25]. A little more maturity under my belt made Shakespeare a pleasure rather than an exercise in frustration. I studied his works under an actor from the old Vic theater while at the American University in Paris. Best class I had. The teacher and maturity make all the difference.
I’d add one more specific reason to read it: much of our vernacular, word use, metaphor use is straight from the brilliant man’s plays. Check out an entire chapter in the invaluable reference book, Cultural Literacy. The bard ranks up there with the Bible.
PCism appears to be why Ms. Dusbiber thinks in such bigoted and black and white terms. How about teach G. Garcia Marquez and F. Douglas alongside Shakespeare? Her rhetoric, I suspect, of hanging around “guilty white folk” smacks of censorship. And would hold students back, as stated by Mr. Danish.
If I were her, I’d go back and study MLK. He didn’t put whites in a closet. He lifted minorities up. And lest it’s assumed I somehow find Europeans superior in some way, check it at the door. I chose a nonwhite, non-European man to marry, one who wouldn’t think of taking Shakespeare out of our minorities’ rich education. Maybe doing so at the college level would work better for some. Some can “get it” in high school. Assuming otherwise is deplorable prejudice in the guise of empathy and charity, a cruel drift to mediocrity. Maybe we in the education business should go back and watch Stand and Deliver again.
Karen Lin/Longmont
