Letters to the Editor https://www.the-journal.com/feeds/letters-to-the-editor/ 2026-04-27 09:57:51 -0700 en-us https://www.the-journal.com/articles/invoke-the-25th-remove-trump-now/ The strain on cherished friendships over the present president of the United States has been so profound in my life that it’s caused a pain and angst I’ve never experienced before. His recent depictio... 2026-04-26 05:00:00 -0700 5bf551cf-ddcf-476c-8471-afb7fbb02b87 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/do-your-job-on-iran/ An open letter to Congressman Hurd: How many glaring signs of madness does a president need to show you before you initiate action to remove him? Your inaction makes you personally deserving of whatev... 2026-04-22 05:00:00 -0700 b41b5b5b-10ed-470a-99e7-41778253e5b3 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/greatness-requires-honesty-about-our-history/ Make America great by being honest, facing the truth and owning our history. Some leaders and citizens want to erase and rewrite history. Many whites think their race is superior and refuse to admit a... 2026-04-19 05:00:00 -0700 8bd41cee-d875-4630-b84f-9a74561cb096 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/why-im-supporting-naomi-riess/ I am proud to support Naomi Riess for House District 59. I have known Naomi for more than 20 years through our shared work in agriculture, the County Fair, horticulture programs and sustainable agricu... 2026-04-17 05:00:00 -0700 4a4765ec-7b71-423c-9e0f-51b2585ed623 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/who-owns-montezuma-countys-blighted-properties/ As reported by KSJD, Commissioner Gerald Koppenhafer said some people are living on properties where there are “generations of stuff” needing to be cleaned up. Which “generations”? The Old Guard that ... 2026-04-15 05:00:00 -0700 35e27014-e922-4f07-9c56-f4a3fd8f0f6e https://www.the-journal.com/articles/trump-promised-much-delivered-the-opposite/ I would like to address this letter to MAGA/Trump supporters. Here are some things Trump said he was going to do: rebalance the scales of justice, bring back peace and prosperity, make MLK’s dream com... 2026-04-12 05:00:00 -0700 f9d7916b-3f56-4894-9a75-841f78466fde https://www.the-journal.com/articles/naomi-riess-is-the-right-choice-for-hd59/ Residents of House District 59 deserve capable, experienced leadership representing Southwest Colorado at the State Capitol. In my view, Naomi Riess is the right person for the job. Naomi has a deep u... 2026-04-08 05:00:00 -0700 643be112-9a2c-49e8-a131-d3fe5c1454b5 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-animal-control-has-its-priorities-backward/ Apparently, there have been recent issues with off-leash dogs in town. Animal Control is patrolling and making sure even elderly, semiblind dogs sitting by their owners – like my mother-in-law’s – are... 2026-04-03 05:00:00 -0700 e84a0353-082c-42d9-bbd4-acdd9d522f19 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-amenities-are-failing-so-is-city-hall/ Did the people of Cortez decide that the recreation center, the ball fields, the park and other amenities are expendable? That City Hall is doing a great job while these are going deeper and deeper in... 2026-04-01 05:00:00 -0700 aa492792-1dff-4729-a27f-9ba1dc476619 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/when-will-americans-see-whats-happening/ What does it take for Americans to realize that the president of the United States is unwell and needs to be removed from office? Venezuela, Iran, Cuba – the interventions keep coming. From redecorat... 2026-03-27 01:36:10 -0700 df02afe5-37d6-4296-be3c-79acfb16e3e6 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mr-president-stop-this-war/ I hope and pray for the safety of our troops fighting against Iran on our behalf. I have no sympathy for the Iranian regime – but this war is unwarranted. It is contrary to everything our president st... 2026-03-27 05:00:00 -0700 d408082c-1530-411b-ac5d-5aa32afe8cda https://www.the-journal.com/articles/tax-relief-for-97-of-coloradans/ Initiative 195 calls for a graduated income tax in Colorado. If enough signatures are collected to qualify for the ballot, it will be assigned an amendment number and require a simple majority to pass... 2026-03-25 05:00:00 -0700 a4f3dd5b-ef84-4be2-ac16-8c803a3c5954 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/putin-please-kidnap-our-president/ In light of the recent kidnapping of a president of a sovereign nation, the murdering of innocent fishing people, the stealing of oil properties and, most of all, the general destruction of our democr... 2026-03-22 05:00:00 -0700 b6b0ca44-cc93-4542-87e6-3d6dd9c8b8b0 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/when-leaders-lie-children-learn-it/ Do you remember Ronald Reagan's “Trickle Down Theory?” The concept promised broad economic benefit, but in practice it only benefited the wealthy and never reached the middle class or the poor. That m... 2026-03-20 05:00:00 -0700 57aea39c-7f25-48bf-bced-9700d290313b https://www.the-journal.com/articles/colorado-stands-up-for-our-public-lands/ At a time when our public lands are under greater threat of privatization than ever, I was heartened to see the state legislature pass SJR26-015, for the second year in a row, a bipartisan resolution ... 2026-03-18 05:00:00 -0700 0e441de2-6608-484b-a70c-0ed8244a15ad https://www.the-journal.com/articles/when-cost-overrides-care-animals-die/ On Feb. 21, I brought my 12-week-old Sphynx kitten, Mystic, to Riverview Animal Hospital’s Urgent Care Clinic in Durango in obvious medical crisis. She was severely dehydrated, lethargic and not eatin... 2026-03-15 05:00:00 -0700 97c6a752-e185-4544-aff4-8629d34f820c https://www.the-journal.com/articles/questioning-the-rush-to-war-with-iran/ I woke up, took a shower, stepped outside in the sun for a few minutes with tea, then went upstairs to my office and checked the news. And BAM!, the United States had bombed Iran again. My first react... 2026-03-11 05:00:00 -0700 b276c333-58a2-44ee-8ff6-bcc17f3de269 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/trump-moves-to-control-who-counts-the-votes/ The advantage of democracy is that voting gives the average person a small piece of real power – it is the bedrock of America’s strength. Any decree or law that takes away the vote leaves citizens pow... 2026-03-06 05:00:00 -0700 cbb501b0-79ed-4726-b987-9f618b6d7794 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/standing-firm-for-the-first-amendment/ The American Revolution didn’t end with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 – that is when the fight began. It ended in 1793, eight years later. To prevent “misconstruction ... 2026-03-04 05:00:00 -0700 8b41255d-78bb-406a-8cb8-bb57dd9c6774 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/americas-war-name-game/ We’ve just launched a bombing campaign against Iran and named it “Operation Epic Fury” – this, after Iran allegedly lost its nuclear capabilities for six months in the so-called “Operation Midnight Ha... 2026-03-04 05:00:00 -0700 7e284a83-7a48-49cf-87de-587f085b75c8 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/encouraging-american-citizens-in-cortez-to-be-informed-voters/ Republican women have had several luncheons recently. The last one was well attended. We had plenty of food for twice the number of people. This one was for those running for county commissioner. (Tho... 2026-03-01 05:00:00 -0700 acd5bf67-ca18-453d-895b-c892310decd5 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/the-chess-move-that-sold-out-colorado/ This is how freshman Congressman Jeff Hurd’s campaign is trying to explain away his vote to continue Obamacare subsidies for three more years: “This is a chess move … playing the long game … There has... 2026-02-25 05:00:00 -0700 9438f4c9-aaf6-422b-8aa7-58068e66d6ab https://www.the-journal.com/articles/they-will-never-get-over-that/ I will see my 74th winter solstice in 2026. I enjoy good health and have a lifestyle that doesn’t expose me to many serious risks. I am confident I will outlive the Trump administration, and for that ... 2026-02-22 05:00:00 -0700 22951d66-4674-45ab-8add-05d3552ae848 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/protect-mail-in-voting-and-voting-rights/ Rather than focusing on addressing the affordability issues Americans are facing, the Republican majority in Congress has instead decided to focus on dubious claims about election fraud and voting rig... 2026-02-20 05:00:00 -0700 d8c11460-63ac-454e-bdcd-3258f5cd4543 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/anne-franks-words-americas-moment-now/ From Anne Frank's diary, Jan. 13, 1943: “Terrible things are happening outside ... people are being dragged out of their homes.” I would appeal to every American citizen, including federal agents and ... 2026-02-18 05:00:00 -0700 643a37c3-ea62-40e0-bab0-cfa0a655c413 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/a-plea-for-civil-critical-discourse/ I like dark chocolate only, so does this make me a racist? I know, it’s a silly question, except maybe it isn’t if applied to the present state of affairs and divisiveness I see all around me. Perhaps... 2026-02-13 05:00:00 -0700 05638c7a-22a4-4338-ae95-c309f71317b4 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/will-republicans-nationalize-our-elections/ President Donald Trump stated recently that he wants Republicans to “nationalize” state electoral systems in 15 locations where he claims electoral fraud exists. Does “nationalize” mean only Republica... 2026-02-11 05:00:00 -0700 b0580c05-7de1-43e4-a9ca-8971892ab65d https://www.the-journal.com/articles/ice-actions-often-illegal-and-inhumane/ Why are the majority of people across the country outraged about ICE and Border Patrol’s behavior? We deport thousands of immigrants every year. What’s different now? While claiming to deport only “th... 2026-02-08 05:00:00 -0700 e8ae76b8-3894-43f2-83c6-078a7bea320c https://www.the-journal.com/articles/finding-hope-in-americas-founding-ideals/ Two stanzas of “America the Beautiful” speak to me during these difficult times: America, America! God shed his grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! America, Ame... 2026-02-04 05:00:00 -0700 6d5090e5-296d-4ad6-a035-0c5a9e714e84 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/declarations-warning-rings-true-250-years-later/ We all know the first paragraph or so of the Declaration, but who among us has read the whole document? I just did, and it lists 27 “injuries and usurpations” the writers believed were grounds for the... 2026-02-04 05:00:00 -0700 a8f30c6b-4080-4902-b97f-6888aa05afd6