Tim’s Topics: Open Letter to Governor Polis

Dear Governor Polis,

You do not give a damn about the everyday folks in the state of Colorado! Your arrogance, narcissism and lack of empathy shine every time you decide to kill people’s livelihood in this state.

A leader would respect his citizens and treat them with dignity and integrity. A leader would support all his businesses, small and large alike, and provide them with the resources to thrive – especially in challenging times.

How many state employees have you furloughed or terminated? You furloughed 23,600 state employees for 1-4 furlough days for anyone with a minimum income of $50,000. Has your staff gotten smaller to accommodate your mandates? Have you stopped taking a salary in support of the employees doing the same? Are you feeling the pinch or are we going to see your photos like Governor Newsom?

Furlough or terminate teachers in public universities and see their reaction. I realize you cannot do that, but what you can do, by God, is show an inkling of understanding and compassion. You just have not. There is an old saying, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Were you ever a dish washer in a restaurant or worked at some other low-paying job? You never had such a job, and it shows.

The changes made in the COVID-19 charts are at best horrible, but worse they change the parameters willy-nilly. As our governor you have not provided that. Changing the color of the dial does not improve our circumstances. But, Governor Polis, if you need a new color, I suggest turquoise – super-duper, extremely high risk.

You provide us the negative outlook for COVID, but what about the positive? If you told me I had a 99.5% survival rate, instead of the gloom and doom we see daily, I would adjust my life accordingly. Can you share any best practices you have received? How are we doing with mask wearing and social distancing? Are we doing anything right?

On November 24, 2020, during your COVID-19 update, you stated “It’s a time for every Coloradoan, and that includes county elected officials, to really ask themselves are you on the side of the virus or are you on the side of Colorado.” You have cornered us into an untenable situation without a clear-cut way out. And have reduced our personal freedoms and liberties to the sidelines.

The number of cases will rise over time as this is a virus and that is what they do. We need consistency in the presentation of the information about COVID-19.

A leader would make sure the information provided is the easiest to understand and allow for better decision-making on the part of the citizens.

You defined “essential” businesses. Where does this fall in the Constitution of the State of Colorado or for that matter the U.S. Constitution? What government was ever given the right to choose some people over others?

I abhor what you did in the name of “public safety.” You have no idea what other issues you have created from your short-sighted decisions.

A leader would provide health and safety guidelines to all businesses and let them make the decision to stay open or not. A leader allows adults to decide how to incorporate your mandates into their businesses. A leader recognizes the sacrifice so many have made with not just pithy words but concrete actions.

Did you ever quarantine travelers coming into Colorado from other countries, cities, or states? I do not think so. Leaders must lead not just fake it. Politicians, like yourself, are, by definition, panderers who talk about truth, but seldom act with openness, transparency, and accountability.

Lastly, I do not apologize for the tone of this letter. Politicians need to realize that they are servants of the people not rulers of the people.

With all hope for the future,  

Tim Hoiles and The Maverick Observer Associates

The Maverick Observer, or “The Moe” as we affectionately call it, is an online free-thinking publication interested in the happenings in our town. We launched in February 2020 to hold our politicians and businesses accountable. We hope to educate, inform, entertain, and infuse you with a sense of community.