Mount Virtus

"Happy to come back to Michigan, but I miss the mountains!"

Ben on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About Ben
  • Mount Virtus?
  • Writer / Editor For Hire
  • What I’m Thankful For
  • Colorado Ballot Reviews
    • Colorado Ballot 2008
    • Colorado Ballot 2010
    • Colorado Ballot 2012
  • Archives
  • Passion and Purpose:
    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
  • Mary and Jacob: From the Forgotten Dust
  • The Westfield Gardener
Home Archives for property rights

10/2/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Friday Quick Hits: Two Coloradans Address the Perils of Obama Care

It's October, and the health care debate presses on. Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee joined Republicans to vote down the so-called "public option"; meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has adamantly come out stating that health care reform indeed will take the big step toward a government takeover. Against this backdrop of events are two great new columns you should read: My Independence Institute colleague Jessica Corry writes for Human Events on the human cost of Canadian socialized medicine Dr. Paul Hsieh eloquently explains "the real stakes" of the national health care debate in a new Denver Post piece Just two of the many Coloradans speaking up loudly and clearly for individual rights and medical sanity -- … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, PPC, property rights

9/29/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Covering Government Health Care Stories North of the Border

Some of my Independence Institute colleagues have taken the show north of the border, organizing a conference to introduce journalists to the real-life stories of Canadians adversely affected by their government health care system's painfully long waiting lists. Great coverage in the Los Angeles Times (shock!) and Washington Times. For more, the prolific Gateway Pundit has been live-blogging the event -- he also has conducted a compelling video interview (or two) of Canadian health care horror stories. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, PPC, property rights

9/23/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

Wake Up and Check Out R Block Party’s Sept. 24th Candidate Enclave

If you're a concerned citizen who wants to get active in the political process and you're anywhere around the south Denver metro area tomorrow evening (Thursday, September 24), check out the R Block Party meeting at Littleton's Bemis Public Library. Not only will local candidates be featured but Republican U.S. Senate hopefuls Jane Norton and Tom Wiens are slated to be in attendance. RSVP to rblockparty@comcast.net. But don't just show up. Ask questions. Get involved. Because maybe -- just maybe -- (as my Independence Institute colleague Jessica Corry suggests) this could be the year the people woke up. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, property rights

9/10/2009 By Ben 5 Comments

Once Proud Freedom-Loving Gazette Backs Colorado Springs Tax Hike

Last week I pointed out that financial concerns might end up pushing the Colorado Springs Gazette to abandon its longstanding position as a beacon of limited government, personal liberty, and fiscal sanity. Well, buckle up, because it's started happening really quickly. Witness today's Gazette editorial co-signed by publisher Steven Pope and John Weiss, publisher of the Lefty Colorado Springs Independent, pulling out the big scare to support a tax hike on the city's ballot. However, it's not clear the new Gazette management has considered all of the implications of the property tax increase (H/T Sean Paige). If the Gazette losing its independent, libertarian voice concerns you in the least, now is the time to speak up. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Journalism, liberty, PPC, property rights

9/9/2009 By Ben 5 Comments

Help Reveal Colorado’s Political Temperature: It’s Survey Time Again!

We're back at it again. After the results and analysis from the July 2009 survey in which we are grateful that more than 600 of you participated, we're at it again. Yes, El Presidente and I have commissioned and fashioned another survey that we hope you will take 10 minutes or so to complete -- especially if you're from Colorado. These aren't your run-of-the-mill quick-hit polls. Once again we've gone a little more in-depth. Some of the questions are the same. Some are new. One interesting added follow-up is asking what the most important factor is for you in choosing to support a Republican primary candidate for governor and U.S. Senate. Click here to take the September 2009 Colorado online political survey Your opinion … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Education, Energy, Fiscal Policy, General, Health Care, Labor, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC, property rights

9/8/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

The Right Answers to the “Party of No” Accusation Against Republicans

Is the Republican Party these days just the "Party of No"? While many of us wish the erstwhile GOP majorities in Congress had lived by the equivalent of a fiscal and regulatory chastity pledge and just said NO in its spending heyday, that's not quite what I'm getting at. I'm referring to the knee-jerk retort one gets these days from certain quarters whenever justly denouncing the radical, government-expanding proposals coming from the Obama administration and Democratic leaders in Congress. It goes something like:Well, yeah? Where's your solution? You just want things the way they are. The Republicans are just the party of NO. Next time you encounter that knee-jerk response, I have an article for you to bookmark to throw back in their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Energy, Fiscal Policy, General, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, PPC, property rights

8/25/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Jumping to Conclusions on Colorado Democratic Party HQ Vandalism

Colorado Democratic State Party headquarters on 8th and Santa Fe in Denver was vandalized last night. Windows broken out, etc. Not good. Obviously the work of someone without respect for private property, and without respect for an honest, healthy debate. A criminal act that should be dealt with appropriately. However, initial reports quoted the Democratic state party chair trying to frame the incident as the responsibility of opponents of the Obama Care government health care takeover:"We ought to be having a serious, conscientious debate about what's best for the country," [state Democratic party chairwoman Pat] Waak said. "Clearly there's been an effort on the other side to stir up hate. I think this is the consequence of it." The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, property rights, Random and Miscellaneous

6/26/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bill Ritter’s Car Tax Hits Home

A few days ago Mr. Bob reminded us that Bill Ritter's car tax was a-comin'. Well, count me among the lucky ones who has a vehicle due to have the license renewed in July, and be hit by the tax first. Yesterday the notice came in the mail from the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder. Usually, as the car ages and depreciates, the registration fee drops from year to year. This time it increased by more than 31 dollars. We'll find out what the damage is on the family van in a couple months -- probably about the same, methinks. The signs of Bill Ritter's sagging popularity should only proliferate at this point -- especially among those with newer cars and/or farm tractors. In the meantime, Bill Ritter is soliciting applications for more … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life, PPC, property rights

6/1/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Denver Post Catches On to Anti-Bill Ritter Roadside Sign Phenomenon

Several weeks ago I brought your attention to a sign of Bill Ritter's sagging popularity. As the Denver Post's Tim Hoover reports today, it seems the handmade signs attacking Ritter and his tax hike policies are popping up all over the place in different parts of Colorado. The article raises the query of who is responsible for the homemade, roadside creations. All I can tell you is they aren't being paid for by taxpayer dollars -- which cannot be said about Bill Ritter's highway re-election signs. I cannot tell a lie. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, PPC, property rights Tagged With: article, attacking, attention, Bill Ritter, brought, Colorado, creations, Denver Post, dollars, handmade, homemade, policies, popping up, popularity, query, re-election, roadside, sagging, signs, tax hike, taxpayer, Tim Hoover

5/28/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

San Diego Petty Tyrants: Pay Out the Nose for Permit to Host Bible Study

From Fox News, a reminder that the federal government has nowhere near cornered the market on petty tyranny: Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County. "On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News. Wow ... simply wow. Just a friendly reminder that we need fellow liberty-loving citizens representing us at all levels of government. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, liberty, PPC, property rights Tagged With: Bible study, citizens, code, cornered, David Jones, federal government, Fox News, government, levels, liberty-loving, market, pastor, petty tyranny, religious assembly, reminder, San Diego County, violation, wow

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • …
  • 8
  • Next Page »

Inside

  • About Ben
  • Archives
  • Colorado Ballot Reviews
    • Colorado Ballot 2008
    • Colorado Ballot 2010
    • Colorado Ballot 2012
    • Colorado Ballot 2014
  • Mary and Jacob: From the Forgotten Dust
  • Mount Virtus?
  • Passion and Purpose:
    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
  • The Westfield Gardener
  • What I’m Thankful For
  • Writer / Editor For Hire

About Me

Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

Recent Posts

  • AI-Enhanced Cyberbullying: The Dark Side of Teen Innovation
  • My Baker’s Dozen of Top 2023 Reads
  • Common Learning Disabilities in Children
  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
  • The Christmas Music Countdown You’ve Been Looking For: 2022 Edition

Colorado News

  • Colorado Senate News
  • Complete Colorado
  • Independence Institute
  • Loveland Politics
  • The Colorado Observer

National News and Politics

  • Drudge Report
  • Hot Air
  • National Review
  • Politico
  • Real Clear Politics
  • Reason
  • The Washington Times
  • TownHall
  • Wall Street Journal
  • Weekly Standard
  • World Magazine

Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
  • David Harsanyi’s Blog
  • E!! The True Conservative Story
  • EIA Intercepts
  • Evangelical Outpost
  • Hugh Hewitt
  • Instapundit
  • LaShawn Barber
  • Lileks
  • Little Green Footballs
  • Michelle Malkin
  • NRO's The Corner
  • Power Line
  • Red State

Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
  • Blogs of War
  • Eduwonk
  • Flypaper
  • Fraters Libertas
  • Historical Conversations
  • IMAO
  • Jay P. Greene
  • Mike Anderson
  • Mullings
  • Professor Bainbridge
  • Right Thinking
  • Right Wing News
  • Right Wing Nuthouse
  • Shot in the Dark
  • Talking Points Memo
  • Virginia Postrel
  • Volokh Conspiracy

Christian Commentary et al.

  • Kevin Pierpont
  • Sharper Iron

Conservative and GOP Sites

  • Backbone America
  • Cal Thomas
  • Colorado Republican Party
  • Colorado Republican Study Committee
  • Dennis Prager
  • Denver Metro Young Republicans
  • Free Republic
  • Heritage Foundation
  • Jefferson County Republican Party
  • Mackinac Center for Public Policy
  • Mark Steyn
  • Michael Medved
  • Rush Limbaugh

Colorado Blogs

  • American Kestrel
  • Bob Agard
  • Colorado Charter Schools
  • Colorado Peak Politics
  • Colorado Pols
  • Colorado Right
  • Conservative Libertarian Outpost
  • Coyote Gulch
  • Ed Is Watching
  • Free Colorado
  • Jeff Crank Show
  • Mark Hillman
  • Patient Power
  • PirateBallerina
  • Protein Wisdom
  • Reagan Girl
  • Rocky Mountain Alliance 1.0 (Archive)
  • Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0 (Archive)
  • Rossputin
  • Stop the ACLU Blog
  • The Spot (Denver Post)
  • We Stand Firm

Other Sites

  • Technorati
  • Word Press

Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
  • The Business Word
  • The Daily Blogster
  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

Copyright © 2025 RSS Feed · WordPress · Log in