Yes and no. But I will say, my new role of being an editor takes up a lot of my time.

No, I didn’t say it wastes my time. That’s mainly because what I edit is interesting to me. Yes, your stories interest me, and I want to tell them in the best way possible because I believe they’re also interesting to others who read the paper. So, in spite of my version of Craigy word salad you may or may not read, please keep sending your good stories so we can write about good people doing good things.

The hardest part with your stories? Keeping as much as I can in the story while fitting the space we have available. We give as much space as possible, but it can still be a daunting task at times.

Thank goodness for artificial intelligence and its editing capabilities. You’ll be thankful too if this column makes sense when you read it because AI has its work cut out now that Phil Castle is no longer mumbling to himself, “Really, Craig?”

But even with all the space and help available for my column, there’s one thing I can’t overcome: a lack of ideas when my deadline is due. It’s not that there aren’t plenty of topics every two weeks or so that catch my eye. There are. But will they make for an interesting column? Will they fill 900 words? Will they engage my readers?

I could write a column about how amazed I am that I “have readers,” but perhaps another day. Maybe it’s just one of those days where inspiration isn’t coming easily. Maybe this editing job has my mind scattered across dozens of different topics. 

Enter my least favorite group: the Mesa County Republicans. According to an email subject line, they’re “on the move”—except their moves haven’t removed me from their mailing list after I disassociated from the party earlier this year. Not that I was ever big on “association,” but after JJ Fletcher and the new leadership came in, I’m even less so. Apparently, the Democrats got it right, Republicans just aren’t inclusive—except on email lists.

Still, I thank them today. Their email reminded me to open my Mesa County ballot—not because of anything the email said, but it served as a reminder that the ballot was sitting on my desk.

I didn’t bother reading the email in detail. It had the usual mix of donation requests, a call for an “expert” to explain the government’s “school choice” fallacy (good luck finding one), and the plea to vote for the guy who isn’t Adam Frisch, which is a no-brainer. Of course, they’re also highlighting JJ’s upcoming appearance to promise the moon while running unopposed.

But let’s move past the (Donner) party and back to the ballot, because it’s a real humdinger. Yes, that’s a “they eat their own” joke, and well deserved.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be filling in ovals next to most of the Republican candidates. Honestly, I’ll leave a few blanks. Under voting is voting. As is not voting. And yes, I understand why voters would do either. Just like I understand when they vote straight party lines. I may not agree on either choice, but it’s their right. Maybe find an expert to discuss that, local Republicans. And then get better messaging and candidates.

But what really grabs my attention are the county and state initiatives, bond levies, and amendments. You’d think, after passing hundreds of laws, statutes, and policies every year—not to mention fees (which aren’t taxes but ironically always cost taxpayers more)—that all the problems would be solved by now. Spoiler: They’re not.

Which brings me to my least favorite phrase that seems to appear most new tax proposals: “without raising taxes.”

Here’s the thing: When a tax sunsets (for new players, that means ends), and then the government extends it for another 10 years, that’s a new tax. But don’t tell the local Republicans that—they’re too busy using that phrase like seasoned Democrats.

Meanwhile, we’ve got same-sex marriage and abortion on the ballot to rally Democratic voters, since marijuana revenue didn’t fund their projects the way they’d hoped they need to do things the old-fashioned way and win elections. Republicans, of course, have their own talking points, like school choice. But it’ll go down, as we all know the best only comes from government and kids, and not from parents.

Then there are the judges. All I know is I never want to stand before one in court because their idea of “best” and mine don’t align. And let’s be honest: Does anyone really care who’s on CU’s Board of Regents? I don’t.

That leaves us with those ever-present “without raising/increasing/imposing taxes” proposals. Do we really want to keep training our elected officials to come back to the taxpayer-confiscation well every time something “off-budget” comes up in such a less-than-honest manner? Next thing you know, they’ll spend every budgeted penny and dream up new “off-budget”, yet easily anticipated, costs to bypass the budget entirely.

Now that I think about it, they’re already there. I can see Taj Mahal High from my office window.

Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at (970) 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com