Rocky Mountain Voice

Commentary

Yoder: How Republicans (sometimes) get on board with climate action
Approved, Commentary, Grist, National

Yoder: How Republicans (sometimes) get on board with climate action

By Kate Yoder | Commentary, Grist As President-elect Donald Trump gears up for his second term in January, things might appear bleak for those who want to see the United States tackle climate change. Trump has promised to expand fossil fuel production and undo much of President Joe Biden’s climate agenda, saying he would roll back environmental regulations, cut federal support for clean energy, and withdraw from the Paris climate agreement — again. But a certain brand of Republican still hopes to push the incoming administration to take on climate change, the “America First” way. In a statement congratulating Trump on his victory last week, the American Conservation Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based group trying to build a conservative environmental movemen...
Graham: White liberal women are ‘The Mean Girls’
Approved, Commentary, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Graham: White liberal women are ‘The Mean Girls’

By Ellen M. Graham | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Why do other women keep telling me they’ve been unfriended for voting for Trump? Why is this a thing? Having been through it myself, my pulse quickens and suddenly I’m in junior high and there they are.  The mean girls.  Today they are white, liberal, women, living in self-reflecting vacuums and their entitlement runs deep.  They are virtuous and experts on everything. Ruthless, alone, predatory in groups, these mean girls stalk the hallways of their modern neighborhoods, children’s schools and Whole Foods looking for those who aren’t worthy.  In the world of mean girls, wearing T-shirts that say BE KIND, your kindess will be taken as a weakness.  Weakness like the maturity of being a friend who l...
Devotional: Putting faith in facts
Approved, Commentary, Texas Scorecard

Devotional: Putting faith in facts

By Michael Quinn Sullivan | Guest Columnist, Texas Scorecard For far too long, we have allowed the foundation of faith to be relegated only to metaphysical "truth" rather than actual "facts." Indeed, many shy away from talking about the facts of their faith, preferring instead the personally emotive, distinctly modern and substance-free "personal truth" as a guide for conversations.  I’ve grown weary of people talking about their "truth," when what they mean is their disjointed and often irrational opinion.  For generations, we have been told to think of faith in much the same way. It is a purely metaphysical experience, something in which we can "believe" without the burden — or support — of facts. This is emotional hogwash, driven by an intellectual inferiority complex...
Musk and Ramaswamy: The DOGE plan to reform government
Approved, Commentary, National, The Wall Street Journal

Musk and Ramaswamy: The DOGE plan to reform government

By Elon Musk and  Vivek Ramaswamy | Commentary, The Wall Street Journal Our nation was founded on the basic idea that the people we elect run the government. That isn’t how America functions today. Most legal edicts aren’t laws enacted by Congress but “rules and regulations” promulgated by unelected bureaucrats—tens of thousands of them each year. Most government enforcement decisions and discretionary expenditures aren’t made by the democratically elected president or even his political appointees but by millions of unelected, unappointed civil servants within government agencies who view themselves as immune from firing thanks to civil-service protections. This is antidemocratic and antithetical to the Founders’ vision. It imposes massive direct and indirect costs on taxpayers. Th...
Dickenson: From the Rockies to the Beltway, Colorado’s influence in Washington
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Dickenson: From the Rockies to the Beltway, Colorado’s influence in Washington

By Tiffany Dickenson | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado has long punched above its weight in shaping national policy, and this administration is no different. With the appointment of Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy, our state once again finds itself in a key position of influence in Washington, D.C. Our state has a proud history of representation at the highest levels of government. Through the years, several Coloradans have taken the lead on national issues, leaving a legacy of strong, values-driven leadership: Federico Peña, as Secretary of Transportation (1993–1997), modernized infrastructure, including airport and transportation networks vital to rural areas like Northwest Colorado. Later, as Secretary of Energy (1997–1998), he balanced renewable energy dev...
Gaines: Colorado newsrooms promote left-wing ‘civic engagement’
Approved, Commentary, completecolorado.com, Local

Gaines: Colorado newsrooms promote left-wing ‘civic engagement’

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Complete Colorado Wanting to support your community and get civically engaged?  Do you also like warm cookies?  I suppose the Venn Diagram for these two things would likely show a lot of overlap.  I’m right there in the middle anyway. In what is surely a startling coincidence–how could it be otherwise?–two articles appeared within 5 days of each other in Colorado Public Radio and the Colorado Sun.  The former ostensibly telling people how to get involved in their communities, and the latter a glowing profile of a nonprofit focused on civic engagement.  Both, of course, have at their center the group Warm Cookies of the Revolution.  Friendly and homey name, no? READ THE FULL COMMENTARY AT COMPLETE COLORADO
Baldauf: Voters ignored biased perspective of broadcast and print news in ’24 election
Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Baldauf: Voters ignored biased perspective of broadcast and print news in ’24 election

By Michael Baldauf | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Have you ever found yourself in a group where you discovered the leader was corrupt?  Maybe it was a church, where the pastor was not living the message, or a volunteer organization, where the leaders were taking advantage of their positions.  I would guess if you could not do anything to correct the situation you probably got away. People ask me why I don’t watch national newscasts on broadcast television anymore.  The answer is the same.  For about 40 years they have demonstrated that they are not interested in being a source for unbiased reporting.  The latest Gallop Poll found that almost 70 percent of the public said they do not trust the media.  The recent elections are an example of...
Schumann: Are Colorado Democrats justified in fearing a Trump comeback, or is a reality check needed?
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Schumann: Are Colorado Democrats justified in fearing a Trump comeback, or is a reality check needed?

By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice A second Trump presidency has sparked significant concerns among some Colorado Democrats. They cite fears over federal overreach, social policy rollbacks and economic instability. Left-leaning Colorado news media and Democrat politicians are sparing no time and revving up the fear-mongering engine. Last week, Gov. Polis and his co-chair received national attention for launching “Governors Safeguarding Democracy” to fight against President Trump’s policies.  Polis stated, "We want to make sure that the American people can be certain that the elections are safe, that the separation of the courts and powers is safe, and that governors exert the powers that we have as states to make sure that we can protect freedom...
Lyle: Are veterans being exploited by companies claiming to support them? 
Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Lyle: Are veterans being exploited by companies claiming to support them? 

By Dean Lyle | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Veterans are pillars of our society, honored for their sacrifices and service. Companies like USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union have built their brands around serving military families, often positioning themselves as trusted allies. However, recent legal actions reveal troubling alleged practices that seem to exploit veterans rather than support them. From overcharging to surprise fees, these institutions have faced serious accusations of prioritizing profits over their commitment to the military community.  USAA: A pattern of failures and violations  USAA, founded to serve military members and their families, has faced mounting scrutiny for failing to uphold its promises. In addition to the $64.2 million sett...
Truax: Don’t let Trump’s decisive victory lull you into a false sense of election security
Approved, Commentary, National, The Federalist

Truax: Don’t let Trump’s decisive victory lull you into a false sense of election security

By Doug Truax | Commentary, The Federalist The incoming Trump administration must make election integrity a top priority through federal legislation or persuading states to pass reforms. Four years ago, I asserted that we can “never again” allow an election like 2020 to happen. I’m back to say that despite Trump’s near landslide, America’s election system is still broken. And the time to fix it is immediately, while President Trump has the wind at his back with a Republican Congress and the public on his side. READ THE FULL COMMENTARY AT THE FEDERALIST Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional...