What does it mean to our society today when only 1 percent of the American population controls 95 percent of the country's total wealth; and 20 percent of our population controls another 4 percent, thus leaving an overwhelming 79 percent of our population having only 1 percent of our total net assets.

Our greatest challenge now is to not rob from the rich to give to the poor, but rather allow for potential real wealth opportunities for 99 percent of our people.

If we fail to act soon, we may not only have "real" class warfare, but we may all be on a ship like the Titanic, that doesn't have enough life boats or safety nets even for the "privileged."

As I recall, the third class Titanic passengers and families were already under water while the upper-deck travelers were still asking for different music to be played by the violinists.

How do we wake people up to this "real" challenge quickly, so that we can avert the up coming iceberg?

One way is for us all to spend a little less time now with Wall Street and focus more on Main Street.

Jim Martin

Boulder

REGENTS MAKE RIGHT CALL ON GUN CASE

Brian Schwartz began his pro- "concealed weapons on campus" editorial on Aug. 9 by asking readers to imagine a preposterous headline -- "Shooter apologizes for violating gun ban, not murder."

I'd like Mr. Schwartz to imagine an even more preposterous headline, one which is implied, if not posted, everyday: "Gun supporters: no matter how violent and bloody America gets, we're keeping our guns." Despite our country racking up more than 10,000 gun deaths a year, these people seem to care not about how many Americans meet violent and unnecessary deaths every year, but only about their "right to bear arms."

It would help their case if they were proposing alternatives to gun bans, but they aren't -- or at least not anything reasonable or rational. Indeed, the logic of much of the article -- a variation on the old bumper sticker that "if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns," that goes on to suggest that concealed carry permits are the correct response to psychopathic rampages -- is beyond flawed when taken to its conclusion.

Specifically, its logical conclusion is that everyone of age should obtain a conceal-carry permit and strap themselves up, since you never know when you might be around when another American snaps and starts shooting. Of course, what the pro-gun movement seems incapable of grasping is that the more guns there are around, the more likely they are to be used.

I strongly support the regents' decision to appeal this case to the Supreme Court. And I think the argument they should make is this: we have a well-regulated militia (the CU police), which is the clause that makes arms-bearing a conditional right. Our country is racked enough by this gruesome plague -- can't our campus be an oasis from such?

Brian Brown

Boulder

THE DEVIL'S PLANT

Marijuana is communion with the devil. That is why you get the munchies and the sexies. Eucharist is communion with the Lord. Who will you serve?

Robert Vratny

Boulder