Craig Hall, owner and publisher of The Business Times, recently offered his perspective on the numerous items slated for the upcoming ballot, expressing significant apprehension about the implications for local residents. Hall noted that the nearly 50 required votes, encompassing candidates, judges, and various ballot measures, suggest either a deficiency in governmental foresight or an excess of governmental planning, neither of which he views as beneficial for the community.
Regarding candidates, Hall conveyed a distinct lack of enthusiasm. He specifically mentioned that some individuals identified as Democrats caused him concern. He indicated a personal reluctance to support Democrats, describing them as the "enemy of freedom" due to what he termed a "control thing." Conversely, Hall also found Republican governance largely ineffective, attributing the dominance of Democrats in Colorado politics to this perceived weakness. He named Bobbie Daniel and Greg Haitz as the only Republican candidates he might consider voting for, citing a general skepticism about the right's capacity to deliver results beneficial to citizens.
Hall also questioned the proliferation of judicial positions and the public's ability to make informed decisions on whether to retain or dismiss judges. Drawing on personal experiences, he stated his default inclination is to dismiss judges. He posited that a reduction in the number of judges could be achieved if the rule of law were consistently upheld, contracts rigorously enforced, and private property absolutely protected, which he believes would drastically reduce caseloads.
Turning to state ballot measures, Hall criticized the continuous creation of new laws. He asserted that most new legislation is an attempt to rectify previously enacted laws, often without success. He provided brief thoughts on several state amendments and propositions:
For Amendment 81, Hall suggested it points to selective enforcement of existing laws. Regarding Amendment 82, he underscored the necessity of natural gas for household cooking and heating, viewing the measure primarily as an issue of control. He dismissed hunting (Amendment 83) as a minor concern, implying that existing law enforcement could address any related issues. On Amendment 84, Hall supported the concept of only citizens voting and stringent identity verification for elections, though he contended the amendment itself would not accomplish these goals. He criticized Amendments 85 and 86 for their lack of clear, plain language, predicting both would be among the least enforced laws due to what he called "power hungry and control freaks." Hall characterized Amendment 87 as rooted in "envy" and a tactic for government to acquire more funds, anticipating its passage because "no one plays the envy card like government."
Concerning propositions, Hall addressed several. For Proposition NN, related to education funding, he maintained that the education lobby will "NEVER have enough" money. He questioned Proposition 132's premise, suggesting it's illogical to trust those who drafted current laws to write improved ones, and instead advocated for enforcing existing statutes. Proposition 134, he noted, touches on human nature, finding it perplexing that it has become a subject of political debate. Hall stated that Proposition 136 illustrates government's insatiable demand for tax revenue, predicting its limited duration or utility for garnering votes. He described Proposition 137 as a "shell game" or a method of "hiding taxes using the word fees" to increase government funds without explicitly raising taxes.
Closer to home, Hall also commented on Grand Junction-specific ballot items. Referred Measure 2B, he described as Grand Junction's "Reflecting Pool," characterizing it as an annual problem needing repair that he believes can never be fully resolved. He suggested that "folks on Orchard Mesa built a new pool" as a potential alternative. For Ballot Issue 4A, Hall reiterated his sentiment against "feeding the wildlife via the ballot box," alluding to practices like baiting deer and "moving their cheese." He added that this particular issue highlights the need for the plain language he advocated for in Amendment 85.
In conclusion, Hall stated that the extensive ballot is evidence of "too much damned government." He contended that participating in such votes often works against individual self-interests, supports candidates who do not share personal values, and ultimately diminishes freedoms by expanding the government's "size, scope and power." He pointed to the complexity of this year's "Blue Book" as a testament to this issue, asserting that the community is "voting ourselves into tyranny."
