Mount Virtus

Ever been told that your conservative views are a result of stupidity, emotional insecurity, or a defective upbringing? Ever seen such puerile claims shrouded in scholarly robes to give them an aura of credibility?

Then you should read the well-reasoned responses of Colorado’s own Iron Shrink (here and here) to some recent “academic” studies that appear to be guilty of one of the worst sins in the liberal PC pantheon: stereotyping. You also will want to listen to the Iron Shrink (aka Shawn Smith) during his guest appearance during the 10 AM hour of Thursday’s edition of the Mike Rosen Show.

Memo to those on the Left: I hope you don’t take these studies too seriously. After all, I believe some of you can have intelligent debates with those with whom you disagree, and may actually be persuaded on some points. Don’t worry. Should you find yourself beginning to feel agreement with one or more ideas generally deemed conservative, it’s probably not a sign that you need to seek psychological intervention. (Unless perhaps he’s the Iron Shrink.)

Can you imagine a world without America? Some of our English-speaking friends across the pond invite the world to do so, and the result won’t be pleasing to tyrants, self-loathers, or most university professors. Check out this quick, must-see video.

Yes, I’m back from my long hiatus – family visits and a general sense of tedium with passing affairs are among my excuses – for the few of you who have visited often enough to notice.

But I’m back blogging now, because today was a noteworthy day in Colorado’s path toward meaningful education reform. The desperate attempt of most legislative Democrats (led by Senator Sue Windels) to undermine the charter school movement took a blow when four members of their own party voted to turn the attack upside down. At the apex of their power in Colorado, enough Democrats have gained sense on K-12 education to deeply dampen the dreams of educrats who are trying to regain control of areas of the “system” lost to consumer empowerment and common sense.

Today’s landmark development reflects a phenomenon I highlighted a couple weeks ago.

Now, don’t get me wrong. This is a positive sign, but certainly no call for complacency or withdrawal from action. There is still much progress to be made – and as the Denver Post highlighted on the front page today – some kind of sweeping school reform is coming soon to our state.

The big question is how much the reform plan will look like the Tough Choices report touted by Speaker Romanoff. While the report contains some good components, the nature of the overhaul it suggests contains the significant danger of investing too much into the statist model. (Put quite simply: do we want a German education model or a pro-freedom American model?)
Colorado’s friends of parental choice have reason to rejoice today, but our work remains cut out for us.

Here’s an education two-fer from Edspresso (including brief YouTube video) that’s good for a laugh: The National Education Association lobbies a United States Senator to vote against his own amendment that would fund a grant program offering pay raises to outstanding teachers.

The Colorado General Assembly – specifically the Senate Education Committee – will listen tomorrow to a proposal by Senator Nancy Spence (R – Centennial) to set up a state grant program so school districts can offer performance pay incentives to teachers. (Full disclosure: I am quoted in the linked article and will be testifying at tomorrow’s hearing “for information only.”)

Yesterday, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr., signed into law the nation’s most expansive school choice program: the Parent Choice in Education Act. It’s a victory for the state’s students and for the power of education consumers.

The sad irony is that the great father of the universal school voucher idea – Milton Friedman – missed the chance to see this exciting development by only a few short months. But his legacy lives on.

I haven’t written much about the presidential campaign here. (I resisted the urge to comment on Obama’s invocation of Abraham Lincoln in his formal announcement this past weekend.) You know, all these candidates are entering the race – Democrats & Republicans – seemingly faster than rabbits reproduce. (I’m waiting for the North Dakota agriculture commissioner to form an exploratory committee – ha, ha.)

So much is speculation now. I’m not even entirely sure we’ve taken a good glimpse at the eventual nominees yet (who in the heck knew Bill Clinton in February 1991 – and who was Lincoln but a recently defeated candidate for the U.S. Senate in February 1859?). Okay, I’m pretty sure the Democrat nominee is going to be one of the current frontrunners, but I’m less confident about the Republican side.

That being said, I have been following the Mitt Romney candidacy with interest. Tomorrow morning, my fellow native Michigander officially tosses his hat into the ring. What will come of it … who knows? But I continue to observe from afar.

Stories like this one reported in today’s Rocky Mountain News have to frustrate the teachers union to no end. A coalition of urban Democrats join Republicans in the state legislature to stand up for the power of parental choice.

The state’s education establishment – personified by the 600-pound gorilla Colorado Education Association – isn’t comfortable with empowering parents, for obvious reasons. And they aren’t going to go down without a fight.

The growing inevitable reality, however, is that choice and competition will break down the walls of the schoolhouse monopoly. Look at Utah, Arizona, Georgia, and Virginia where voucher proposals are moving through the state legislatures. And look at Colorado, where an unprecedented Democratic majority at the zenith of power will struggle mightily to hope to undo the progress of public school choice.

Say what you want: Choice in education is here to stay, and choice begets more choice. It’s a fact of life that CEA and its legislative allies will have to learn to live with.

There is so much that can be said in honor of the birthday of America’s 16th and greatest President, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). Nothing I could write would be fitting enough.

I will, however, put in a plug for the book I’m reading now: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It’s a vast tome, but my only regret is that I waited so long to pick it up and delve into it. Goodwin skillfully and eloquently reminds us that at his heart, Lincoln was an ambitious and savvy politician who translated his skills into success – not in the mere service of political avarice and power but in the service of a large and maturing vision about the Declaration of Independence, free labor, and America’s role in the world. Or maybe I’ve read some of that into her book from my other readings.

Nonetheless, Team of Rivals deserves the attention of every serious reader of American history. In fact, not yet finished, I’m ready to add it to my earlier list of the greatest Lincoln books – by David Donald, Harry Jaffa, and Mark Neely.

The thoroughly accomplished former Congressman Bob Schaffer – a man of great character, integrity, and insight – was the guest on the most recent edition of the Aaron Harber Show. It’s too late to catch the televised broadcast, but I highly recommend that anyone interested in the political culture and direction of Colorado and our nation catch the episode online (note: current version of Windows Media Player needed).

In my opinion, Schaffer accurately diagnoses the causes of the 2006 Republican defeat in Colorado. He also clearly explains how the primary reason for recent GOP shortcomings relates to the guiding factor weighing on his current decision whether to run for U.S. Senate in 2008. I sincerely hope that he finds the conditions right to throw his hat in the ring to replace Wayne Allard. I don’t think the Colorado GOP could nominate a better candidate.

So if you haven’t seen the episode, it’s time to go watch it already. What are you waiting for?

I’d love to hear your feedback, especially as this blog begins to delve into the dynamics of the 2008 U.S. Senate election. As one who likes to discuss political matters in terms of real alternatives and likelihoods, let me first assert that the choice here is not between a Schaffer candidacy and an uncontested primary, for if Schaffer declines to run, it’s almost certain someone else would fill the vacuum – for the right or wrong reasons. So let the debate begin, and let’s keep it clean.

Cross posted at Political Avalanche

You can say that again. Frankly, Governor Ritter was left with little choice – nix the labor bill or flush away much of the rest of his agenda. Give him credit: Ritter shrewdly has taken everyone by surprise with his fatherly veto of HB 1072 (“now, now, labor & business … you two need to stop bickering and get along”).

Meanwhile, as the Lefties at SquareState are wetting themselves in anger (“What’s the matter with you, Ritter? We were trying to show all the little people out there that we’re on their side. After all, we know what’s best for them… mushy-minded, socialist groupthink, and nannyist State worship”), a good-natured squabble ensues on the Right to take credit for the defensive victory. As the author of this little publication, and having helped my organization to speak out clearly on this issue, I am biased toward this claim cited in the Rocky article:

“We led the campaign to educate Coloradans how this proposal would have taken choices away from workers,” bragged Jon Caldara, president of the Independence Institute.

Well said. Now, ladies and gentlemen, we can wait and see whether more destructive legislation comes down the pike this year. Hold on. Brace yourselves. But have faith: Colorado’s voice of individual liberty will still be there.

In case you hadn’t heard, today would have been the 96th birthday of President Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911 – 2004) – one of America’s greatest presidents and one of the 20th century’s greatest world leaders. His optimism, principled vision, and ability to communicate clearly are sorely missed.

In today’s lead editorial, the Denver Post throws itself in front of the careening Colorado Democrat bus and yells out to the driver, “Stop!” The state’s leading liberal newspaper implores Governor Bill Ritter not to be “a toady for special interest legislation,” and instead to veto House Bill 1072. (On Sunday, Post columnist Fred Brown already highlighted what a political disaster this bill could potentially be for Ritter and the Democrats.)

Making his inaugural official appearance on the Mike Rosen Show yesterday, Ritter said the legislation attacking individual workers’ rights “is no big deal.” That’s right: the best defense for HB 1072 has become that it really won’t hurt that much. All part of “The Colorado Promise,” I suppose. (The “promise” to big labor bosses must have been redacted from the final version.)

While the threat to economic development is not the chief travesty with the pro-union proposal headed to Ritter’s desk for signature, I agree with the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce’s Tom Clark that “House Bill 1072 is a solution in search of a problem.”

No signal has yet been made from the governor’s office that would indicate he plans to hit the brakes or at least steer the bus away from the cliff. In spite of the Post‘s protestations, the “full speed ahead” approach on HB 1072 – bad for Colorado – works for me. It may well mean not only a statewide “right-to-work” ballot initiative but also a revival of the flagging Republican Party’s fortunes in the state.

The Colorado Senate Republicans have launched an official online news service. Check out Colorado Senate News. Leading the news there, not surprisingly, is the breakdown on the Democrats’ efforts to ram through the pro-union bill HB 1072.

Speaking of HB 1072, my latest op-ed on the topic ran yesterday in the Pueblo Chieftain as a counterpoint opposite labor professor Raymond Hogler. My piece comprises the latter half of the Web page, so please scroll down if you would like to read it.

The collectivist gang at SquareState doesn’t get it, but what’s new?

HB 1072 a victory for workers? Are they serious? I shouldn’t be terribly surprised that they don’t know the difference between union bosses and the rank and file. People like this commenter are living in another century:

I think some of the “business community” may overestimate how in touch they are with the mainstream of Colorado. Having a very public fight where the Republicans play their traditional role of standing up for the big guy, while Democrats slug it out for the little guy, can only help the Democrats. Just look at the Republicans put up amendment after amendment that are obviously designed to screw the union in any way possible, from full blown “right to work” to requiring the union to have face to face meetings with each member to explain the union shop contract to them.

I invite any of the Square State diarists who want to come over here and leave a comment for the public, explaining clearly and rationally how HB 1072 improves life for your average worker in Colorado.

HB 1072 indirectly affects employers, who may lose leverage at the bargaining table, but it directly affects workers by taking away their choices. The only way in which it empowers workers who support union representation is to coerce those who disagree with them.

And yes, HB 1072 has the potential to be bad for business, too – which means not only bad for “the big guy” (you know, this guy) but also bad for small business owners, bad for investors, bad for consumers – you know, “the little guy.” The only party we can be sure will benefit from HB 1072 are the leaders of labor organizations, their paid activists, and the elected officials who live off their donations.

Union numbers declining in Colorado? Can’t persuade the workers how they will be benefited by union representation? Pass a bill that robs their voice from the process and makes it easier to shackle them to an organization to which they object. The Lefties at SquareState and other places can spin the bill until the proverbial cows come home, but they can’t cover the fact that what they’re really doing is building up the coffers of organized labor at the expense of individual voices who would rather choose an organization more in touch with them (perhaps an independent association to bargain for them) or who would choose to market their own skills in the marketplace.

These are many of the same people who wear the badge “pro-choice” with pride, yet the only choice they believe the little guy deserves is to agree with what’s best for them. And the high-and-mighty Left seems to know what’s best for them.

No, the folks at SquareState and their ilk don’t get it. Coloradans specifically, and Westerners more generally, largely tend to favor freedom and initiative and self-determination. I would suggest they are the ones who underestimate their fellow citizens.

Their side has overplayed its hand and has just begun to awaken an anger among the state’s conservative and independent grassroots. They may win the battle by passing HB 1072, but I suggest they savor it. It won’t last long.