Outside the Springs

The positive impact of marijuana legalization in Colorado.

“One of the first things taught in introductory statistics textbooks is that correlation is not causation. It is also one of the first things forgotten.” ~ Thomas Sowell, The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy

In 2012, Colorado voters approved Amendment 64, which legalized recreational marijuana for anyone 21 or older. As Colorado was one of only two states to make this move (the other was Washington), the impact of this legalization was unknown.

What do you think of when someone mentions the word "socialism?"

Do you know America is a Constitutional Republic, not a true Democracy? In a democracy, people vote directly on issues, and the majority wins. In a Constitutional Republic, the government must operate within the framework of the Constitution (which limits the government's power), and We the People elect representatives who serve the interests of us, the constituents.

When I was growing up in Colorado, we never needed an air conditioner. Recently, however, I installed AC in my home — the first time I've ever felt the need in Colorado. Why? Because the cool, clean Colorado air from my childhood is gone, replaced with smoke-filled skies and terrible air quality.

The past few years haven't been easy. COVID-19 has rocked the world, leading to shutdowns, lockdowns and several other "downs." Unsurprisingly, many people's mental health has taken a direct hit.

COVID-19 vaccinations continue to divide Americans, most recently between the vaccinated and unvaccinated.

If you watch the news, chances are you've heard about the recent spending and tax bills making their way through the U.S. House of Representatives or the Senate. These bills could have a direct impact on your bottom line, so they garner considerable attention.

Have you wondered where unemployment benefits come from? It's not the federal government. Indeed, state unemployment benefits are paid for using the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund. This is a fund that each employer pays into, making the fund entirely employer funded.

Delta variant, vaccine passports, mask mandates, oh my! It's the start of another school year and the official information coming out about COVID-19 is confusing. Plus, it doesn't help that the information we've received from public-health authorities appears influenced more by politics than science.