Writing out the Constitution by hand

I spent three weeks copying the United States Constitution by hand. Why? To learn. Fifty-five men including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin attended the Constitutional Convention and collaboratively wrote our Constitution in 1787. Jacob Shallus hand-wrote it. In the preamble Shallus capitalized these words: We, United States, Order, Union, Justice, Tranquility, Welfare, Blessings, Liberty, Posterity, Constitution, United States of America.

Those capitalized words reflect the values and intent of our forefathers to form a union of states into “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” words we say in our Pledge of Allegiance. The capitalized words hold the hopes and principles of those early Americans for themselves and us.

The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Immigrants to this country must pass an oral test on it to become citizens. Do Trump and his cabinet uphold what they swore to defend when they took office? What do their actions reveal?

Rather than justice, ICE detains and imprisons legal immigrants and international students with visas. Rather than order, we have chaos with the president’s new decrees, tariffs and firings daily. Rather than tranquility, we experience fear that some new decree will strip us of our rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, freedom of religion and the ability to petition the government to redress grievances. Posterity now is only for the billionaires.

Trump threatens news outlets that criticize his actions and makes them pay him to continue operating. He makes law firms defend his interests pro bono. He denies immigrants their rights to court hearings and condemns children to death worldwide by ending USAID.

Trump’s budget that Hurd voted for strips Medicaid and SNAP funding and medical research that aims for cures for cancer, ALS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and AIDS prevention.

The estimated cost of Trump’s military parade: $45 million.

Join NO KINGS gathering June 14, Sayre Park, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Illene Pevec, Carbondale

Indivisible movement rallies at Sayre Park

In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.

This June 14, the NO KINGS People’s March in Glenwood Springs is the next national day of action — one of 1,600 protests nationwide — part of the mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies.

We’re outraged as they’ve cracked down on free speech, discouraged dissent, and detained people for their political views. They have disappeared good people from our communities, threatened to deport American citizens and cut essential programs. They defy the courts with plans that could destroy our economy, our public lands and our environment.

Americans across the country will be marching, rallying, and demanding a stop to the chaos and the dismantling of our government.

Join Mountain Action Indivisible at Sayre Park in Glenwood Springs starting at 10:30 a.m.

We will march along the sidewalks of Grand Avenue and then celebrate our solidarity in the park. There will be music, family-friendly activities, and lots of inspiration. Special address from Rep. Elizabeth Velasco and lots of colorful surprises and flags for Flag Day. It is critical to raise awareness of the cruelty and greed perpetrated by this administration, and to keep growing the opposition movement. It’s time to stop the hostile takeover.

A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action and peaceful dissent. Sign up at http://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/789972/ to get all the details about the event or visit mountainactionindivisible.org.

Lisa E. Kosow, Carbondale

Cost of living and political priorities

A web-based company called SmartAsset gives personal finance advice. They just produced a cost of living guide for the states. They use the 50/30/20 budget rule: 50% for necessities, 30% for discretionary spending, and 20% for long-term like retirement or debt. A single person in Colorado should earn $105,955 per year. That requires an hourly salary of $50.94. That is the ninth highest in the country.

The current federal minimum wage is $7.25. The big corporations provide the campaign money for the country’s politicians. Low wages produce more profit for the companies. A lot of people make a lot less, so they need government programs for support. The Republican Party is in the process of cutting and even eliminating the support programs. At the same time, the Rs plan to cut taxes. The Colorado minimum wage is $14.42.

If people earned enough money, federal and state programs wouldn’t be needed. Housing would be affordable. People would be healthier. Life expectancy in the U.S. is falling. It is now 50th among other countries at 79.61. Japan is 85.

Isn’t it a question of priorities?

Patrick Hunter, Carbondale

No kings, no martial law

Our “president” is sending troops to Los Angeles to “quell” the disturbance that the LAPD says is under control. This is a blatant attempt to disrupt the community, cause violence to escalate so he can call a national “emergency” and declare martial law. Just in time for his birthday military parade.

He is a draft-dodging cockroach and needs to be removed from office, arrested and jailed. There is a “No Kings” protest in Sayre Park Saturday, June 14. BE THERE, tell your friends, carry a sign, let everyone know that you value democracy, the rule of law and freedom.

Also, call and write your senators and representatives and tell them to uphold their oath of office and remove the domestic enemies currently in the White House.

Stanley Trulock, Glenwood Springs