I’ve seen this before. Some folks in Oregon have had it up to here with Portland’s progressive parade and are trying to slap an “Idaho” sticker on their counties. Their “Greater Idaho” movement wants to move the state line so they can escape Oregon’s leftward lurch and join a place that still has a passing relationship with reality. It’s not the first time a region has tried to break up with its own state, and history shows these things rarely work out. But I get it. I really do. (Read more about Oregon’s secession effort here.)
It’s the same thing we’re feeling in Colorado. We’ve got suburban and rural communities, the actual geographic majority of this state, being drowned out by the imported wisdom of West Coast refugees who fled the dumpster fire they created, only to show up here and demand more gasoline. They wrecked their home states, and now they want to do the same to mine.
And let’s be real: Denver-Boulder runs this state like a woke monarchy. Their voices are loud, their policies are loud, and the only thing louder is the wailing when their ideas inevitably fail. They don’t care about common-sense Coloradans—at least, not unless we’re paying for their grand social experiments.
So yeah, I get why people start fantasizing about secession. Weld County’s been flirting with the idea for years, from the 51st State push in 2013 to the more recent Weld County, Wyoming movement. The argument? That conservative, rural Coloradans deserve self-governance, free from the iron grip of an urban elite that neither respects nor represents them.
I hear you. I feel the same way. But here’s the thing—I don’t want to leave. Damnit, I was here first! I’m a fourth-generation native, and that means something. My family built their lives here. Farmed here. Cut meat here. Worked on feedlots and ranches and in oil and gas here. This state used to be the perfect blend of rugged individualism, common sense, and breathtaking landscapes. Now, it’s like California left a flaming bag of bad policy on our doorstep, and we’re too nice to stomp that burning turd out.
It’s time to start stomping. And I’m not leaving. I’m not surrendering. I want to stand and fight. We don’t abandon Colorado—we take it back. We reclaim it with something that used to be our greatest strength: #ColoradoCommonSense.
(Read more about reviving common sense in Colorado here.)
A Conservative Common Sense Contract with Colorado
We need to draft one – quick – and get local governments and politicians to sign it! Here’s a framework—ten simple, unshakable principles to guide us forward:
- Fiscal Responsibility – It begins by protecting the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) and holding our governments accountable for setting sound fiscal priorities. If families have to live within their means, so should the government.
- Personal Freedom – Colorado was built by free thinkers and rugged individuals, not by bureaucrats with clipboards. Keep government out of our wallets, our homes, and our decisions. And respect the damn Bill or Rights, would ya! All ten amendments, which include the first and the second!
- Local Control, Colorado First – What works in Boulder doesn’t work in Burlington. Let counties and municipalities govern themselves without interference from Denver’s ivory tower. And let’s make sure our policies work for Coloradans first—not for D.C. politicians, coastal elites, or the latest woke fad.
- Energy Independence – We sit on a goldmine of natural resources, yet the state’s leadership acts like we should be heating our homes with good vibes and recycled Twitter outrage. Colorado should be leading in energy production, not self-sabotaging.
- Protecting Agriculture & Water Rights – Ranchers and farmers are the backbone of this state. Their water, land, and livelihoods shouldn’t be at the mercy of urbanites who couldn’t tell a tractor from a Tesla.
- Law & Order – Soft-on-crime policies have turned once-great cities into crime-ridden dystopias. It’s time to stand with law enforcement and restore real accountability.
- Parental Rights in Education – Schools should educate, not indoctrinate. Parents—not bureaucrats—should have the final say in what their kids learn.
- Election Integrity – Trust in the system matters. Voter ID, transparent processes, and secure elections aren’t extreme; they’re basic safeguards.
- Healthcare Accessibility: Encourage free-market solutions to make healthcare affordable and available.
- Environmental Stewardship: Balance conservation efforts with responsible resource development. Not enviro-lunacy, but proper stewardship of the land and resources.
I’m not giving up my state. I refuse to watch Colorado become an unrecognizable mess. If you’re tired of watching our home get hijacked by bad ideas, then it’s time to take it back. This is our state, and we’re bringing back #ColoradoCommonSense.
Who’s ready?
