Posted on 04/13/2021 7:21:29 AM PDT by george76
The issue of heavy-handed state regulations hurting Summit County workers and business owners is a very important grassroots concern to local conservatives. The governor’s arbitrary dial of repression imposed from on high vacillating between colors of the rainbow is making it impossible for local businesses to stay afloat.
Hooray for Summit Daily News reporter Jenna deJong for finally shedding light on the severe problems caused by Gov. Jared Polis’ restrictions. There has been an inordinate emphasis on the number of COVID-19 cases rather than the more accurate and useful focus on hospitalizations and fatalities — both of which are low. For example, there has been only three fatalities from COVID-19 in Summit County in the past year. But the fixation on cases has allowed the state-imposed restrictions to go on way too long, and deJong’s accurate reporting has made the resulting unnecessary local suffering very obvious.
Her exposure of local business owners who have been victimized by state-imposed restrictions has finally aroused the attention of our cowardly Summit County commissioners, who are at long last expressing discontent and frustration with the state guidelines. Those commissioners have been hiding under Polis’ skirts for over a year, and it’s high time for them to come out with their own Summit County plan on how to get local businesses open 100% and back to prosperity and freedom.
Katelyn Huston, who was interviewed in the article, should be the poster child for thousands of Summit County workers, business owners, parents with kids in school and churchgoers who are fed up with distant bureaucrats in Washington and Denver telling us how to live our lives down to the minutest detail.
Some emergency orders that were drafted to flatten the curve a year ago — when we knew little about COVID-19 and had legitimate concerns about hospitals and health care personnel being overwhelmed by a surge of patients — remain in effect today even though we now have knowledge that is more accurate and hospitalization levels that are more manageable. We really don’t need far away, ill-informed bureaucrats telling us how and when we can use a hot tub or who we can meet for a beer or an exercise class or a church service.
Summit County workers, business owners and residents are looking for leaders who will let them make their own decisions to lead normal lives again. We are tired of having our First Amendment civil liberties sacrificed on the altar of politicians’ quest for continued wealth, status and power.
If Summit County public officials on the county commission and town councils meekly follow orders from their masters in Washington and Denver, who know nothing about the people and concerns unique to Summit County, then we the people should, can and will replace them with leaders who respect and respond to local residents.
The restrictions on personal gatherings of 10 people from two households, 6-foot social distancing, limiting restaurant occupancy to less than 100% and other unfounded power grabs have accomplished nothing but to crush local businesses, alienate visitors and impose economic and social hardships on local workers and residents.
There are other Colorado counties (like Douglas County) that have told Polis to shove it and are not caving in to his extended pronouncements. Summit County leaders need to show some backbone and do the same. It’s time for Summit County and all of Colorado to say “no“ to the fear and loathing being used to control us.
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
and “Free to Choose” mask resolution taking effect in Mesa County on Friday .
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3950238/posts
We need women to stand up for us. Embarrassing.
Silverthorne is a Denver metroplex suburb now, and I hear its declining (though slower) in similar fashion to Denver metro. Even Winter Park, Fraser and Grand Lake show the influence.
I split time between the near and far western slope and “far” looks better every day.
I don’t trust Polis won’t snap mandates back into place, toying with counties. He only has to answer to the Denver/Boulder leftists. The rest of us are his playthings. People like Polis rarely easily give up power once they’ve gotten a little taste of it. I think he likes ruling by fiat.
More tests more COVID it is simple..
Lived in Denver late 60's thru mid- 70's then was transferred around the country. The game plan was to retire in CO and it worked out that way … we have lived in Mesa County (west slope) for ten years. Considered Colo. Springs on the Front Range but were put off by the traffic congestion. Back in the early 70's the population of Colorado was approx. 2.5 million today it's close to 6 million. Most of that population growth along the Front Range of the Rockies. We opted for western Colorado, it was a good decision for several reasons, lightly populated (at least for now), far more conservative than along the front range, easy proximity to skiing, biking, hiking, camping, etc.. High desert climate mild winters, hot summers but tolerable … especially when you can escape by driving less than an hour to the top of Grand Mesa (10,000' ASL) where temperatures are much cooler for hiking or camping.
The downside, this isn't lost on the hordes that populate the front range, who are moving to the western slope. Mix in the Californians fleeing their state and we now have a booming housing market, low home inventories, and a flurry of new homes being built … to the extent building supply inventory supplies are getting tight. Upside, my home valuation according to Zillow is up significantly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.