For the sake of the future of the GOP, preserve democracy

“Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance, it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again,” Ronald Reagan said.

I have been a member of the Grand Old Party and have voted Republican from 1984 through 2016. My Party has been hijacked by a party of narcissists stealing the mantle of Lincoln, Reagan and the great Senator from Maine Margaret Chase Smith. I have joined with Adam Kinzinger, Liz Cheney, Joe Walsh and at least 60,000 other Republicans with whom I participated in an organizational online meeting last night to prevent the ascension of a dictatorial regime which could well make all parties irrelevant, and will be voting Harris-Walz. Country over party! If you are a disillusioned Republican, know that you are not alone and have a great number of colleagues who are going to take the brave step to vote for a Democrat.

It’s hard to cross the line, and I am only doing so to save the integrity of the GOP and a robust two-party system that existed through the 20th Century.

Although I may profoundly differ on the Harris-Walz platform in a number of ways, the only issue important to me today is the preservation of our great republic, the rule of law and the Constitution. Mr. Trump has thumbed his nose at all of these pillars of the American social contract.

Fellow elephants, for the sake of the future of the GOP, join me! In doing so, we will live to fight another day.

— Matthew Finberg, Boulder

We can all take steps toward a better future

For many of us on the northern front range, the recent wildfires that blazed up over only a few days in early August, threatening homes, livelihoods and wildlife alike, were terrifying.

These fires occurred due to the high level of drought in this area, combined with a climate-change-exacerbated heat dome that hung over the middle of the country.

Though the climate future looks scary, there is hope. Many actions taken by everyday people will impact the planet for the good. For example, Canary Media recently published an article discussing Colorado’s Clean Heat Plan, approved in May of this year, which both funds and requires Xcel to increase home “electrification and energy-efficiency measures that are meant to reduce reliance on the gas system and cut annual emissions by 725,000 tons.” This money will soon be available to consumers, likely as rebates for items such as electric heat pumps, upgrading electrical panels and switching to electric appliances. This is in addition to the Inflation Reduction Act money available now.

My wife and I invested in fully electrifying our home last year, including a cold weather heat pump, water heater and solar panels.

My wife also loves our new induction range top which cooks faster than regular electric and gas ranges. Not only is our indoor air cleaner and our carbon emissions lower, but we’re saving money on our monthly utility bills as well. https://goelectriccolorado.org has more information and support to help consumers make a plan.

There is more that our elected representatives can do. We need to elect people who will take positive action on the climate crisis this fall. There is hope. And we can all take small (and large) steps towards a better future.

— Tasha Hill, Boulder

Earth belongs to all beings, not just wealthy humans

OSMP has done a wonderful job restoring Sawhill Ponds. TOO BAD WE CAN’T ENJOY IT! I was there this morning from 8-9:15 and there was NOT ONE SECOND of silence. The private planes flying overhead were nonstop. The Earth belongs to all sentient beings, not just wealthy humans. Show some respect. Quit dumping your leaded fuel and noise in our nature preserves. I once did not want the Boulder airport to close because I thought all those planes would just come over to Broomfield. WE STILL DON’T WANT YOU IN BROOMFIELD. But now, after seeing and hearing the destruction of our treasure, Sawhill Ponds, I’m all for shutting it down.

What can be done about this? Limit the number of planes that can take off in an hour? Don’t allow them to fly over Sawhill Ponds? Who or what can address this travesty?

— Kate Roberts, Broomfield