Here are a sampling of recent letters from Gazette readers:

Alternative to teachers unions

This week we celebrate National School Choice Week, a national movement shining a spotlight on options in education. Rightly focused on choice for our students, teachers are also benefiting from choices in representation here in Colorado.

As a teacher with eight years of experience in our local district, I was pleasantly surprised to hear about an alternative to the teachers’ union offering choice to our dedicated educators.

The Professional Association of Colorado Educators (PACE) is the premier professional alternative here in Colorado. PACE’s modern approach to teacher representation is exactly what I know my colleagues have been searching for.

Free from the high dues and partisan politics of the labor unions, PACE is a nonunion, nonprofit organization that is laser focused on providing teachers with the benefits and services they need. The association promotes educators as true professionals and offers needed benefits including an individual liability insurance policy and professional development, all for a mere fraction of the cost of union dues.

The professional voice and peace of mind PACE offers teachers is invaluable. Too often, teachers join the union unaware of their options. As Coloradans celebrate National School Choice Week, I invite my fellow educators to examine their options in associations as well.

Mary Gregory – Monument

Bill endangers elderly, disabled

A bill to legalize doctor-prescribed suicide is back in the state Legislature and this year’s version is even more dangerous than before. It removes any reporting requirements, making it almost impossible to track abuse or prosecute those who might act outside the law. The bill increases protections for doctors and eliminates protections for vulnerable patients. The bill also establishes total immunity for anyone involved in a suicide.

How will we know if people are pressured or coerced into death during a weakened time in their lives? In a profit-driven health care climate, will it be too easy for patients to choose a bottle of lethal pills because it’s cheaper than quality end-of-life care? Our elderly and disabled neighbors deserve better and this bill puts them at risk.

My state representative, Rep. Pete Lee, has a record of protecting the weak and vulnerable. As his constituent, I’m asking Rep. Lee to vote against this bill in committee on Feb. 4.

Thom Herold – Colorado Springs

Sanders is a nostalgic character

Bernie Sanders. Now there’s a nostalgic character for you. Bernie is scripted right out of central casting that calls for an old Marxist to shamble onto the scene wearing his elbow patched coat and white hair. The Cold War is a memory for some of us and totally unknown to those born after the fact.

What was communism then is now referred to as socialism. Bernie is a member of the faded club of Bohemians who hung around the Paris coffee shops in the old days (Greenwich Village for the New York chapter). Bernie still clings to the phony intellectualism of the Russian Revolution; he has always been there spiritually – right next to Leon Trotsky, founder of the Red Army and whose real name was Lev Bronstein. Leon-Lev was kicked out by Uncle Josef because the Jewish intellectuals had fulfilled their “useful fool” roles. Bernie did not get Josef’s memo. Bernie even honeymooned in the Russian people’s socialist paradise during the Cold War. And on his visit to Cuba in 1985 he drooled all over Fidel Castro like a star-struck rock groupie.

Bernie is what the late philosopher, Eric Hoffer, meant as a “True Believer.” Although I am in disagreement with Bernie’s lifelong political views, I would probably like the guy if I met him. He appears honest. He is frugal, albeit he wants to use more of other people’s money to run his version of the socialist paradise. He is consistent. He is an old guy like me. And hopefully, he is not crazy enough to kill millions of citizens like his heroes, the Bolsheviks.

Mike Menza – Colorado Springs

Trump could have made a difference

I have been in favor of Donald Trump for president since he put his hat in the ring. But it is getting more and more difficult to look past his childish behavior.

Boycotting a debate because he doesn’t like the moderator! Really?

Like every world leader he would deal with as president he will like … sure! I think he just shot himself in the foot – and sadly whoever becomes president will not be active in protecting this country and finally doing something about our borders.

I wish Trump would read this and realize how childish he is.

Anyone sitting on the fence undecided surely won’t jump on his bandwagon now. Trump could have made a real difference in our world … now it will be same ole same ole.

Paul Garcia – Colorado Springs

What has Pueblo done to help?

I would like to ask the city folks, what if anything is the city of Pueblo doing to help the problem with Fountain Creek. Lately when I have been down there it seems they haven’t done a darned thing. I don’t see them doing any dredging of the creek to deepen the channel or putting in any rip-rap to help stem the flow of water.

It seems all they want to do is make Colorado Springs do and pay for everything, while they sit and complain.

How about lets hear and see their efforts to help this problem.

Ken Maxey – Colorado Springs