February/March 2025 State of the State of Colorado
The State of the State and County Crime and inflation. Crime and inflation. Think about any third world country and what comes to mind? Crime and inflation.
Let’s talk about Colorado. The state has turned deep blue. In Eagle County we are burdened with radical liberal government at all levels, from our towns to our county to our state.
What have democrats given us? How does Colorado lead the country? Colorado leads the country in crime and inflation.
According to the latest FBI crime data (FBI Crime Data Explorer and U.S. Census Bureau), Coloradans have experienced the second fastest increase in violent crime rates in the nation, up 26.2% since 2017. This is the same period Democrats have controlled all aspects of Colorado government - the House, Senate and Governor.
Democrats have given us lenient crime laws, weak prosecutors, misguided sentencing, personal recognizance bonds, an end to qualified immunity for police officers, a sanctuary state with illegal immigrants many with a criminal background.
You can look at both property and violent historical crime rates and see where Colorado was lower than the rest of the nation until Democrats took over all branches of government. Now Colorado’s violent crime rate per capita is over 30% higher than the national average. Colorado leads the country (or near the top) for violent crime, property crime, and auto theft.
Seems like it’s almost every day we hear stories of friends having their skis, snowboard, or bike stolen in this valley. We all know someone who has had their vehicle stolen at Denver International Airport.
Look at the businesses boarded up in Denver. You can’t walk the streets at night. This is not by accident. It’s all by design. Colorado ranks number 48 in the country in public safety.
Crime leads to inflation. Inflation leads to crime. It’s a vicious cycle.
According to the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress, Colorado had the highest inflation rate of any state for the period January of 2021 to December 2024. To make matters worse, Colorado had the third fastest increasing unemployment rate in the nation (with unemployment increasing a whopping 50.8% since January 2023).
Democrats have pushed every form of fee and tax on the people and businesses of Colorado. Democrats have gone after one of our best industries, oil and gas, pushing prices higher at the pump.
Democrats have attacked businesses with mindless regulations. These regulations cost businesses money in order to comply, thus pushing up inflation.
Despite crippling Coloradans with fees and taxes, Democrats have overspent and caused over a $1 Billion budget deficit at the state level and again are scheming to steal your TABOR tax refund.
The Colorado legislature is in session and I can tell you that Colorado Democrats are intent on more government control, taxes and fees which will lead to more inflation. Colorado Democrats voted overwhelmingly against a bill to root out fraud, waste and inefficiencies in government.
We have all seen our auto and property insurance rates skyrocket. What are the main drivers? Crime and inflation.
In less than a decade of Democrat rule, Colorado has gone from one of the best to one of the worst business environments in the country. The Democrat- controlled legislature is executing on a grand plan to eliminate private enterprise and make more people dependent on government.
We are well aware of the housing crisis in this state. Democrats are working overtime to make it worse. They just pushed through a 20% to 45% property tax increase which hits homeowners and renters alike. Insurance rates have skyrocketed again hitting homeowners and renters. Democrats are pushing anti-landlord measures that will further encourage landlords to do short-term rentals (i.e., AirBnB, VRBO etc) instead of risking renting to a bad tenant with no recourse.
Colorado Democrats are using every tool to force out private development in this state and insert the government as the main housing provider.
In our own county, we have the witnessed the lunacy of government imposing fees and taxes in the name of affordable house. It seems that money gets lost, laundered, stolen or squandered and housing only gets more expensive. As an enthusiastic student of Austrian economists and theory, I have learned and witnessed the fact that government only distorts markets; it never benefits them.
Is Colorado a lost cause? Should we leave for a beautiful and free Red State like so many of our friends? We can fight. We can get involved with local, county and state government. Attend the meetings. Study the financial disclosures. Make public information requests of government. You will be shocked and most likely disgusted by the non-governmental organizations your town and Eagle County governments are feeding money into. Get involved with advancing good candidates for state and local positions. Consider running yourself. Attend GOP and grassroots get togethers.
If you want to see the wicked liberal policies about to hit you in the face, watch the Colorado Channel on YouTube which streams both the Colorado House and Senate when they are in session. Be informed. If you think conditions in this state are bad now, it’s only going to get worse.
Understandably many of us are at the point of fight or flight. What are you going to do? Again, I implore you to get involved as if your family, your life, and your livelihood depend on it because they do.
Michael E. Wheeler Eagle, Colorado