One Person's Reaction to Colorado's Computer Messes

This letter to the editor was in today's Rocky Mountain News......one person's reaction to Ann Imse's story of July 23 (see my July 23 post below):

Computer woes reflect on Owens

Tuesday, August  7 at 12:01 AM

The article about Gov. Bill Ritter’s plans to end the state’s track record of buying computer systems that don’t work was welcome reading (“Governor seeks to bring order to computer chaos,” July 23). My compliments for the in-depth reporting.

This article shows that Ritter is systematically dealing with chronic issues that have plagued the state for years, and that is encouraging. But, it also speaks volumes to the poor management and lack of accountability of the Owens administration.  If it had been just one failed system, that would merely tarnish his legacy; instead, it reveals the Holy Grail was made of tin.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the Owens administration was a dog that couldn’t hunt. As a lifelong Republican, I am disgusted with the tendency of officials to get elected and then act like a confederacy of dunces.I am convinced the Republican Party is not long for this world. It will go the way of the Whigs and the Know-Nothings. I am declaring myself an independent.

Francis M. Miller, Parker

Comments

[concerned citizen]

So where are the auditors? What good is the State Auditor's Office if they aren't involved during the development phase of such an expensive system? Is there no expertise to do these kinds of reviews? How can the state's financial auditors possibly give the state a clean of bill of health year after year after year?? Do they just not get it??

[Robert Kingsley]

As one who has to work with one of the "failed systems," I hope Gov. Ritter will actually fix the systems that Owens gave the people of Colorado.

However, Ritter, through some DHS personnel pronounced CBMS as "fixed." Nothing could be farther from the truth. CBMS is still costing the people of Colorado millions of dollars each month. I hope Governor Ritter will reconsider his position and start to work on CBMS.
I doubt he will...