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I had an interesting political experience, today.  I participated in a focus group of “unaffiliated” voters.  We discussed John Hickenlooper v.s. Scott McGinnis, both running for Governor of Colorado.  We were exposed to some “pro candidate” and “anti-candidate” materials, and were asked to react to them. Most of the material was anti-candidate and was pretty much “Tax and spend liberal” vs. Anti-labor lobbyist for big corporations; liberal and conservative hot buttons.  The people in the group pretty much saw right through the material and recognized them as hype and button pushing.

I don’t know if it was designed that way, but the group was pretty much split between Hickenlooper/Liberals and McGinnis/Conservatives.  I had fun because I always enjoy lively political discussions, especially when opposing points of view are involved.  The study didn’t change my view of Hickenlooper one iota because I already despise the man.  I didn’t know much about McGinns before, and most of what I learned today, I didn’t like.  The people conducting the group only gave us a choice between Hickenlooper and McGinnis.  I know, come November, we’ll have more choices than just the two.  Thank God for third parties.…

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Created on Saturday, 26 February 2011 00:20

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 September 2013 17:34

Update:

So, I’m behind keeping my blog updated, sorry about that.  The district lost by a comfortable margin.  No need for me to be on the board. Don’t get comfortable, they’ll be back.  And when they come back, so will I!

Over the years, a few people in and near Conifer wanted taxpayer funded recreational facilities.  They realized that a commercial facility would be unsustainable, and they didn’t want to use their own money. So they tried to form a taxing district so they can take  what they wanted.  And it failed.  That didn’t stop them.  They still wanted others to pay for their recreational desires so they put it on the ballot AGAIN. And it failed AGAIN. Undeterred, they tried again to force others to pay for their recreational district, so they put it on the ballot AGAIN.  And it lost AGAIN.  They realized people weren’t buying their story.  So they tried a new tactic.

This time they say, it will be a no-tax district. But that’s a lie.  Read the fine print. They will propose a tax “at a future time as economic conditions permit”. In doublespeak, that means as soon as they can get away with it. Remember once they form their district, the board will have easy and automatic access to the ballot.

They’ll keep pushing their tax again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again.

Hoping that just ONCE the demographics will change just enough so they can get their tax. Then we will have a tax that lasts forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever.

And if they get their tax, they’ll want more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and want more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more.

If you want to understand them, you need to understand politics and government.  Once you understand this simple fact about politics and government everything about politics and government will make sense.  Politics is not about ideology.  It’s about POWER. The rec center people want power. Power over you, power over your property, and most importantly power over (what was) YOUR money.

So how do you stop them? First vote against the district.  Second, vote for people who oppose the tax.  Even if you support a no-tax district, you should vote for anti-tax board members. That would be me.  Finally, IF they do manage to get grants and funding, then wouldn’t you want that funding to actually go for recreation?  Do you want funds to be diverted to lawyers and the clique of people who pushed the tax?  Whatever you do, don’t put the fox in charge of the henhouse. Don’t put the rec center proponents on the board.…