Montrose - Daily Press

The price of freedom of speech

Re: Charles Zimmerman's letter Oct. 1, Daily Press

In reading the letter to the editor from Charles Zimmerman, I have to wonder if the title, “Abuse of Power,” was a reference to elected officials, or to himself. A person cannot read the editorial page of the Daily Press without being reminded, in print, of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Freedom of speech is a powerful tool and used properly can promote understanding and truth. Abused, it promotes confusion and the very dishonesty Mr. Zimmerman is seeking to address. Mr. Zimmerman refers to a “loophole” in TABOR. A loophole, by its definition, is avoiding a legal remedy to accomplish something. How is following the constitutional and statutorial precepts for effecting a change, a “loophole?” How have the majority of counties in Colorado brought about this change in their county? The answer is a vote of the people.

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I agree with Mr. Zimmerman on his statement that the BOCC is spending our revenues on “other than essentials.” The “essentials” are mandated by law and consume 68 percent of county revenue. The “other than essentials” include such silly things as deputies. We are only required to have a sheriff and a jail, not deputies. If it were not for “other people’s money” Mr. Zimmernman would have a real problem. With only 25 percent of the revenue in Montrose County coming from property tax, where would he propose the other 75 percent come from?

Mr. Zimmerman refers to the “Desert Storm generation.” I am the “Vietnam War generation” and keenly aware of the definition of a patriot: “one who loves, supports, and defends one's country.”

Allan Belt, when he was the chairman of the planning and zoning commission, accused me of being on a “witch hunt” when I wanted Rick Gibbons fired. The result: subdivision regulations and a master plan were rewritten and the planning and zoning commission was brought into compliance with statutes. I spent months in court with the hospital, they changed the way they do business and how their board is selected. When Pat Coleman was the county attorney he dreaded my continual “Statutory Request For Information.” Today, Allan Belt and I work together on solving other challenges in Montrose County, the hospital can count on me for setting up and providing the volunteers their early blood draws in Olathe and, oh, by the way, when we stood side by side trying to get “other people’s money” to build a medical clinic in Olathe, we were equally disappointed when Montrose County could not accept the grant money because of TABOR restrictions. Those who attended the issues forum last night witnessed Pat Coleman and myself sitting as private citizens informing voters of the “truth” about ballot issue 1A. Where was the opposition last night?

There is a sign on South Townsend, something to the effect that “Freedom is not Free.” There is a price, the price of freedom of speech is personal credibility. I’ve paid mine, and I support Montrose County Ballot Issue “1A.”

Richard Harding

Olathe

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