Platform

Issue 1: Support of Agriculture

This district has a storied agricultural past. The present-day has already made changes to historical practices. And the future will bring more. For example: marijuana farming has been sidelined in several of our counties. But it is a legitimate type of agriculture that and has shown the efficacy of indoor/greenhouse farming. Indoor cropping can allow for the production of many products, year-round, at elevation while using less water than conventional farming techniques. Greenhouse production of tomatoes can increase yields by four-fold per crop. And since these operations can run year-round, with up to 3 crop rotations, that’s an effective 12 fold increase in over-all yield. Add geothermal heating, as they have at the Mount Princeton Geo Gardens and the potential for substantial profit over current open field farming is demonstrated. And cannabis itself, is a source of good-paying jobs for locals that should be promoted and not maligned.

Issue 2: Support of Forestry/Mining

Logging is now seen as an essential industry. Not only can it be used to reconfigure our forests and improve their health and fire-resistance. Logging activities can now offer feedstocks for new industries such as biochar and manufactured woods. We saw a loss of our timber industries after the initial round of logging in the early 20^th century took all the premium trees, leaving the forests to restart growth in a climate where timber grows slowly. Now we find a need for the timber industry to supply the selective pressure that fire once exerted on our woodlands, as well as products that are renewable and biodegradable.

Colorado has a storied tradition of mining. And while that particular industry has undergone massive changes in the last century, it persists. And our new mining practices are safer and more ecologically aligned to reduce pollution–resource development we can all get behind. The potential of using abandoned mines as storehouses for mineralized carbon sequestration is another new industry we can look forward to if we only promote it.

Issue 3: Fair Labor

Citizens should be able to find good jobs that pay a living wage in their communities. So much license is given to the top earners that our economy actually suffers. A millionaire who receives a 3% rise in income will just smile and possibly park it offshore, effectively removing it from the local cash flow. A basic wage worker would take the same raise and immediately buy stuff in the local economy–lifting everyone up. Our economies are “trickle-up”, not trickle-down. Other theories are just modern methods of wealth re-distribution, the upwards redistribution of wealth.

Issue 4: Education

Education is under assault: a pre-meditated, coordinated war against knowledge, and a final assault on society by those who fear they are losing their power is underway. Since Reagan, the undervaluing of education has helped keep a fact-free and corrupt ideology in minority control of many of our institutions. Trumped up controversies such as “Critical Race Theory” are not designed to protect anyone. They are designed to disrupt. CRT is not taught in K-12 schools anywhere; the phrase is incorrectly used as a dogwhistle to rally a misinformed base. We need to come to the aid of our beleaguered educators now more than ever.

Issue 5: Renewable Energy

We must do everything we can to implement and support clean, carbon neutral energy generation. Coloradans should immediately stop subsidizing “business as usual” energy sources. If the oil companies aren’t making enough money (while their profits soar to previously unknown heights), then who is? We need to get to the bottom of fracking’s environmental impacts and regulate it appropriately. We need to make sure that when extractive harvest of petroleum is allowed, that the severance fees are appropriate as well. These are non-renewable resources. Once they are gone, they are gone. Often times, their environmental impacts linger, so we need to insure that private industry actually pays their tab and doesn’t stick us with it.
The renewables: Solar, Wind and Geothermal are the future backbone of our energy future. And of the three, only geothermal offers constant “always on” power. These are the industries in need of subsidies and societal assistance.

Issue 6: Carbon Economy

The carbon economy involves the creation of a carbon tax, either mandatory or voluntary. Currently, it is voluntary, but many corporations are eagerly embracing it. Based on emissions and sequestration, this economy allows carbon emitters buy back their pollution by funding projects to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Tree plantings and improved forest management are common sequestration projects. This system provides source funding to address issues that are currently unfunded and under-studied. Projects such as forest mitigation, wetland restoration and toxic clean-ups are all beneficiaries of carbon credits. This new facet to our economy should be understood and embraced by everyone who relishes a future on this planet.

Additionally, I support Human rights, and equality regardless of sex, race, or sexual expression. Freedom of speech and expression are important, but even more important is the recognition of fact over opinion. I support ecological restoration over the continued alteration of our planet and its systems. An example would be the re-introduction of Beaver to rehabilitate high drainages and streams, instead of machine work and temporary structures that may need to be removed eventually.

Pile burning in the forest

Finally, I support the Democratic Party of Colorado’s platform. An overview of which was summed up by Party Chair Morgan Carroll as our Democratic Party’s beliefs:

We believe that if you work hard, you deserve the opportunity to earn a good life.

We believe that our economy should work for those who work hard, not just those at the top.

We believe that government should work for the people, not just the well-connected and special interests.

We believe in creating more opportunities to earn a good life and increase incomes that allow families to get ahead and save for the future.

We believe that every Coloradan should have access to affordable healthcare and that no one should go broke because they get sick.

We believe all children in Colorado deserve a high-quality education, regardless of family income or zip code.

We believe in rewarding businesses that create jobs here in Colorado and do right by their workers — not special interests and irresponsible corporations.

We believe that everyone should be treated equally under the law, and everyone should have the freedom to make their own choices and live the life they want.

We believe that everyone is entitled to clean air and water, and safe, livable communities. We believe in protecting our public lands.

We believe in managing our growth to maintain the Colorado way of life. That means upgrading and modernizing our transportation, infrastructure, and our schools.

We believe that we all have a responsibility to ourselves, our families, and our communities.

We believe that we have the power to change Colorado for the better.