We can blab till we’re blue in the face, but ultimately it comes down to the boots on the ground.  It’s the Colorado citizens - from Greeley to Aspen- that have to come out en force and vote down the dangerous Referendum C.  Democracy only works if the citizens take the time to understand the issues (even at the most basic of levels) and go vote.

Luckily, according to a letter in today’s Coloradan, as least one guy gets it.

The arguments in favor of Referendum C seem to be based on the premise that the state should not be forced to reduce spending as the result of economic recession. We are asked to restore what taxpayers were not able to pay in the years 2002 and 2003. Who is going to restore what we taxpayers lost during the recession? Proponents of Referendum D say borrowing $2.072 billion won't hurt a bit. Just like buying on credit. It might be well for us to remember the tongue-in-cheek remark of the late U.S. Sen. Everitt Dirksen: "A billion here, a billion there; pretty soon you're talking real money." All the proponents I am aware of stand to benefit personally by increased state spending. It is easy for the proponents to sound generous. They are proposing spending other people's money and mortgaging the income of future generations.

I doubt the sky will fall if Colorado's state government is required to cut back on spending. It is far more likely that, if referendums C and D pass, in five years there will be more special pleading to extend the proposed modification of the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights. I have voted no on referendums C and D.

Don Bowers,
Fort Collins

Good chap this Don Bowers! His points are well put: Spending other people’s money like drunken sailors is reprehensible; and no, the sky will not fall if the gov’t is asked to –gasp—tighten its belt.

Score one for the team Don! We can only hope you have lots and lots of friends.