I noticed yesterday’s Daily Post included an op-ed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis suggesting that he wants the citizens of Colorado to save money.
Especially when it comes to paying taxes.
Or more accurately, he wants to save us money, presumably by doing things in Denver that will lighten our ever-growing tax burden. Which is an ambitious desire on his part, considering government’s well-known tendency towards obesity. Financial obesity.
I’m not sure what tricks the Governor has up his sleeve, but he wrote in that op-ed:
I am committed to pursuing any and all possible opportunities to save Coloradoans money.
I find this kind of comment, coming from a Democrat, to be surprising, and wonderfully encouraging. It would be encouraging even coming from a Republican, if I thought they actually meant it.
Although we have to admit, saving money is not always a good thing.
I was shopping in the produce section of City Market a couple of days ago, and noticed that several plastic tubs of ‘Power Greens’ (“A versatile mix of tender baby chard, baby spinach & baby kale”) had been marked ‘half price’.
The store does this, obviously, because the product is approaching its “Best-If-Used-By” date.
They really do mean that. “Best-If-Used-By”. Because, in the case of Power Greens, it’s entirely possible they are no longer “Best” if you bought them at half-price.
I wonder if we should start assigning “Best-If-Used-By” dates to our government bureaucracies?
Or if the government at least ran a “half-price” sale?
The Governor wrote:
Last week, following the special session, the state delivered property tax relief for Coloradans that, combined with previously passed property tax relief, will subtract $55,000 per home from state property tax valuation. This action along with other state property tax relief will reduce the residential assessment rate to 6.7% and save Coloradans living in a $500,000 home an average of $505 on their 2023 property tax bills (without dipping into the TABOR surplus).
Which almost makes me wish I lived in a $500,000 home. Nothing would make be happier than saving $505 dollars.
I saved $2.99 on my half-price Power Greens.
But there is a cost to saving money, as I found out.
I really hate to think that the old adage, “You get what you pay for” has any truth to it.
But what if it’s a real effect? And we could have better government by paying higher taxes?
Ha ha ha! Just kidding.
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all.