November 24, 2018 – Keeping the elected on-point

November 24, 2018 – Keeping the elected on-point

Re: “Is Polis really a governor for all Colorado? Fees hold the answer,”
Nov. 24, 2018 commentary – Denver Post

Jon Caldara’s recent column is certainly consistent with his organization’s anti-government philosophy. His assertion that Gov.-elect Jared Polis will be best served by “standing up to his party” can be viewed from many angles. Obviously people can change their minds on a public policy when new information is presented, but there are many politicians who still seek the support of constituency groups without justification, fall short with promises, and take positions they have no real intention of keeping. Arguably the two-party system is designed to maintain the status quo.

I agree with Caldara that government efficiency involves being diligent with tax dollars, but that does not change the fact that the American health-care industry is too expensive and putting profit first has made our system substandard and simply out of reach for too many people. And officials in both parties now recognize that the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights has been detrimental to our state. Some reform on the law is needed. The governor-elect has a better plan on health care, and many people supported him for that reason. Caldara’s rigid defense of TABOR is misguided because the law needs to be modified and health-care reform is necessary.

Party activists like myself do not expect candidates to agree with the platform 100 percent, but we do expect them to defend and pursue the positions they stood for.

Timothy D. Allport, Arvada