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Show THE PARK RECORD A-1 I oints. SAT/SUN/MON/TUES JULY 2-5, 2005 EDITORIAL POOR HELEN, HER KIDS WON'T BE ATTENDING TREASURE MTN INTERNATIONAL T H I S FALL. HOWEVER WILL THEY GET I N T O HARVARD ? Democracy is a work in progress authorities - which, of course, we think is a good thing. There are other fronts to be defended too. is also important lo remember that a democracy Friday, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced her intention to resign needs constant nurturing and participation. Keeping America's populist government in after serving a quarter of a century on the high good working order is even more critical as we court. Her departure will no doubt spark a try to help other countries establish their own round of intense debates about the role of politics in selecting the next justice. democracies. The position will be pivotal as the Supreme This Fourth of July, as troops risk their lives abroad lo preserve the freedoms that United Court revisits several of the most controversial States citizens take for granted, we can best issues of our time like abortion rights, flag burnhonor those soldiers by ensuring our local, state ing, immigration law and gay marriage. Other controversies are also brewing. Next and federal representatives continue to adhere to the spirit articulated by our Founding year citizens will be experimenting with new voting machines in an effort to prevent errors Fathers. like the one that-shook the country's confidence It is not an easy assignment. While Americans "from sea to shining sea" in the whole election system in 2000. These debates take on added urgency as the celebrate the national birthday this weekend, many of their constitutionally guaranteed free- information era, combined with heightened doms are being challenged. One example, of homeland security concerns, continues to raise particular concern to this newspaper, is the questions about privacy and data sharing. Our suggestion is this: As celebrants doff move to change the state's open records law that would make it more difficult to obtain informa- their cowboy hats, baseball caps, sombreros or tion about government decisions and budgets. whatever during the national anthem this The current Government Records Management Fourth of July weekend, they should make a Act (GRAMA) gives citizens and reporters personal commitment to plant their own grassmore leverage in demanding information from roots and take part in the democratic process. here will he plenty of flag waving-and my country,'tis of thee-ing this weekend but T as we hit those "rockets-red-glare" high notes, it JOHN KILBOURN'PARK RECORD LETTERS TO THE EDITOR any more honest? Wake up, America! Because if you don't, it will be the end of the American way of life as we know it, and the end of Americans' rights. We cannot just 'stay the course' Editor: Despite our President's expected urging to "slay the course" in Iraq, and soothing assurances that we are "making progress," it is time for our country to formulate and execute a true exit strategy from Iraq. Our occupation has simply fueled the insurgency, and Iraq is less stable now that a year (or two years) ago. It is time for our leaders to hold Bush accountable for his mistakes and lack of strategy. Seventeen hundred American lives arc too many, as are the countless thousands of Iraqi deaths. It is time for Bush lo wake up to reality, abandon the tough-guy posing and bring our men and women home. Only then will we be able to work truly cooperatively wilh the international community lo bring stability to Iraq's people, who deserve nothing less. Sincerely. Greg Larson Jonelle Simons Park City Response to June 15 letter Dear Sean Landis: There is another theory, out there, about the hole in the ozone, called the Gaia theory. It states that the Earth is a sclf-regulating, self-contained mechanism. In other words, the hole belongs there, and has always been there. It will vary in size from century to century, to enlarge or reduce as needed, irrespective of the number of Hummers, or if all the cows in the world decide lo, excuse me, fart at once (another form of methane release). Since there is a theory to both sides of the question - and both are just that, theories - Mr. Bush did not join the Kyoto Protocol, as it stands, because it called for giving other countries power to enact economic sanctions against us, if we failed to "bow to theory." It was the right thing to do for businesses and farms because it protected them from that prospect.. What is a continuing unconsionability is how willing and eager people are to nip and snarl at this president's heels, despite the good things happening - like 72 new Iraqi schools. And, for what it's worth, Tony Blair is still the same bright, brave guy as he always was when this thing started. Reread your quote by him, about progress being made, again. I think he is at his best as a diplomat. those of us who travel on the side of the road, whether on foot or bike. Drivers misjudge our speed or assume we'll slop or just feel they have Ihe right-of-way. Too many people, especially cyclists, are hit because of this mentality. Is waiting a few extra seconds really going to throw off your schedule? Please remember that if we are on the road with you, even though we aren't behind a steering wheel, we are part of the traffic. Share the road with us, and please, wait your turn! Sincerely, Sonya Swartzentruber Park City Waste in Iraq Editor: I was incensed at President Bush's use of 9/11 to justify a war against Iraq when we all know now that there was no connection between Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. I was particularly angry at his iasistence that "winning" (whatever that means) this war will make us more secure. Do you feel safer? Is Osama Bin Laden locked up like Saddam Hussein? After reading the British memos, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the reason we are in Iraq is oil and revenge GUEST EDITORIAL An analysis of political leanings By KENNY LEVINE Park City Political pundit, columnist and author Maureen Dowd, opines that "whenever things get going too far in one direction politically, the country tends to right itself..." The precipitous drop in the approval ratings of the Bush administraEditor: ^ ( ^ tion and the Republican congressmay be This is in response to Bush's wonderful tnVs'tart of just such a correction. speech... No exit strategy. What are we doing It would seem the country reached its over there? What are we accomplishing? apex of a swing to the left in the '60s. and Nothing! Iraq is no closer to stability than il has been swinging to the right ever since. was a year ago. Things keep getting worse The hijacking of the Republican Party by every week. More than 1.700 Americans the lunatic fringe of the religious right have been killed and more than 12.000 may have brought us as far to the right as wounded. These are our sons and brothers, the nation can stand to go. over there dying needlessly over nothing. Terri Schiavo, the economy, the Bush George W is a liar. The only reason we Social Security plan and especially the are over there to begin with is because Sincerely, war in Iraq all seem to have shoved the George Bush lied to this country. Why has Kimberly Wade massive group of Americans that hover nothing changed since it is a PROVEN fact Park City toward the center a little to the left. So I thai the entire basis of us being over there watch with amusement as Republicans is lies? clamor to distance themselves from a president whose duck grows lame. Can't I am very scared for this country. I am have W's fading popularity give the scared because even after all the B.S. from Democrats a leg up in the next run for the the past four years of the Bush administraoval office. With no clear frontrunners tion, our country chose to re-elect him. for the next presidential election from Granted, a lot of it was based on lies - but Editor: either side, things are already getting isn't it time for America to wake up? It will This morning I was out running with my take this country 20 years of GOOD presi- 13-month-old son in his jogging stroller interesting. dents to recover from the eight years of when a driver in a SUV made the decision Although W's brother Jeb is ignoring Bush. to turn immediately in front of us. Yes, we this trend by continuing to push issues The Republican party is already priming were, able to stop safely, but had the driver involving the Terri Schiavo debacle, he Gov. Jcb Bush to run in 2008, or possibly waited, it would have only taken us a few seems to be doing so alone. He's demand2012. Hasn't this country had enough lies? seconds to have crossed to the other side of ed an investigation'into the discrepancy Isn't it lime we learn from the first two the driveway and continue on our way. between her husband Michael's guesstiBushes that the next one isn't going lo be This is one of the biggest dangers for mate,of the lime of her collapse and the recorded time of his subsequent 911 call. And the local state attorney has agreed to open a probe. I'm wondering if Senate SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Majority Leader, and physician, Bill 1 Year inside Summit County, $37, outside Summit County, $70 Frist, will jump on this bandwagon, or Park City President's speech Share the road with others continue to distance himself from his previous position. And now, this being my soap box (go get your own), I can explain that my liberal leanings began when I was injured in the line of duty working as a police sergeant in Miami-Dade County, Fla., and then had lo fight with the insurance companies and the county's risk management bean counters to get treated. Having lo get a lawyer to get permission to get treated by a doctor left a bad taste in my mouth. And watching my partner take a bullet in the line-of-duty just to have the county tell her that removing the bullet from her leg, as her doctor recommended, was "cosmetic surgery" and, therefore, not covered, pushed me a bit further to the left. Now of course, the county had to cover the removal of the bullet from her leg, but they wouldn't do it 'til she, too, hired an attorney. You think that might run up the cost of health care? And OK, one more gripe, then you can have your box back. In conversations with retired cops I keep in touch with, I've discovered that major insurance carriers. Blue Cross, for instance, will refuse to write a policy for a retired police officer who has a pre-existing injury or condition, even if it resulted from a line-ofduty incident and is completely covered by workman's comp. The health insurance for-profit industry is the problem, and I see no solutions that will involve such a system. And the chance that this will change with Republicans running the show is nil. So, I yank on the lever for the Democratic candidates and hope for the best. And I watch the Grand Old Party taking it on the chin in the polls, and believe there is hope. 6 Months inside Summit County, $20, outside Summit County $39 Mastercard or Visa No._ Name Mailing Address Exp. Date: Mail to: The Park Record, P.O. Box 3688, Park City, Utah 84060 For the record The Pa/%fleco/&WQ\comesfetterslo Ihe editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere lo the following guideNneG:They must Include the address and telephone number ol author. Notetterwill be published under an assumed name. They must not contain libetous material. Writers are limited to one letter every 28 days. Letters must not be longer than 300 words (guest editorials, 550 words) and should it possible, be typed. We reserve therightto edit letters rt they are too long or H they contain statements we consider unnecessarily offensive or obscene. In addition, thank you letters may bo limited in length wtlh regard to businesses and event sponsors. VisitThe Park Record website at ioiwv.parkrecord.com for the "loss" of the Gulf War. The President used 9/11 as a justification to attack Iraq. I feel for our sons and daughters that are there fighting a futile war and for their families who arc struggling to survive. Wasn't it Rumsfeld who said we wouldn't see the end of the insurgency for 12 years? God help us. Carolyn Knoll Heber City The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER Andy Bemhard Editor Nan Chafat-Noaker Staff writers Jay Hamburger Pat Parkinson Joe Lair Jared Whitley Adia Waldburger Matt James Anna Bloom Contributing writers Tom Clyde Teri Orr Jay Meehan Joan Jacobson Silvia Leavitt Linda Jager Editor's assistant Courtney Herzinger Classified advertising Inkama Black Krisrj Ruppert Office manager Holly VanDenAmeele Circulation manager Michael Duffy Accounting manager Kate Fischer Advertising director Valerie Deming Advertising sales Wendy Halliday Anne Anderson Molly Ballard Cheryn McNicol Teresa Chavez Lacy Brundy Chris Gill Annie Macdonatd Editorial production Kat James Photographers Scott Sine Grayson West Production director Matt Gordon Production Scott Schlenker Jason Plawecki Kyle Burress Kim Vance Jon Smedley Becky Larsen Distribution Chris Anderson Todd Kendall Antonio Contreras Cartoonist John Kilboum Gontents of the 77w Park Record are copyright © 2005, Diversified Suburban Newspapers. All rights reserved No portion may be reproduced in anv form without written conseqt of the managing editor or publisher. 77ur Park Record (USPS 378-730) (ISSN 074V 9483) is published twice weekly bv Diversified Suburban Newspapers, 1670 Bonanza t)r., Park City, Utah. Periodicals Postage paid ai Park City, Ulah. POSTMASTER: Send address changes lo The Park Record, Box 3688. Park Gty, Utah S4060. Entered as second class matter, May 25,1977 at the post office in Park City, Utah S4060. under the A d of March 3, t897. Subscription rates are S?7 inside Summit County. $70 outside Summit Coumy. Utah. Subscriptions 5re transferrable; $5 cancellation fee. Phone (435) 649-9014 or fax (435) 6494942. Published every Wednesday and Saturday. Home delivery subscriptions in Summit County include delivery of the Sunday edition of 77ic Stilt Lake Tribune There are no other service options available. PHOTOS BY GRAYSON WEST Asked around Park City What does the American flag symbolize to you? Brett Baggett "It means to me liberty and freedom." MvyTUmfl "We get to vote and we get to ride on the Alpine Sb'de whenever we want." Andrew CasteDanos "It means the president, and it represents all the stales." Samantha Tldwell "So we can show how we feel about our country. And we'refreeto believe in what we want." Evan Webber "It means peace and freedom.' |