Our Platform for Outlining Colorado’s Future

Welfare / Incentives Reasons to Agree: 🔗 Reasons Database Welfare Pays More Than Low-Wage Jobs – Some studies suggest that government assistance provides more disposable income than minimum-wage employment. Welfare Cliff Effect – Many welfare programs reduce benefits as income increases, sometimes at a rate that discourages full-time work. Labor Market Participation Decline – Expanded welfare benefits post-pandemic have correlated with a decrease in workforce participation in some sectors. Reasons to Disagree: 🔗 Reasons Database Many Welfare Recipients Already Work – Most able-bodied adults on welfare already have jobs but remain eligible due to low wages and high living costs. Work Requirements Exist in Most Programs – Programs like TANF and SNAP require work participation, limiting long-term dependency. Flawed Comparisons – Some studies compare gross wages to total welfare benefits, without factoring in taxes, childcare, and transportation costs. Evidence That Agrees: 🔗 Evidence S...

Background  Megan took James to his yearly doctors appointment. James was cute, and asked many time: "what are you doing to me". He didn't try to stop the nurse when she gave him the nasal inhaler flu shot. James is tall and growing fast (+1, unresolved) Best reasons to agree : +3 He is in the 95.72 percentile. This means of 100 kids, 4.28 of them would be taller.  He gained 7 lbs, and 3" this year.  We could say that we are using the McDonald's systems of measurement: small, medium, and large. Using these categories we could sort of "grade on a curve" and decide 33% of people are small, 33% of people are average, and 33% of people are tall. James, at 95.72 percentile, would be in the "tall" category as long as the sample population is limited to people born in O4.  James has doubled his size in just a few years. The universe will take billions of years to double its size. Therefore, James is growing fast.  ...

Reasons to agree : Governments are monopolistic , and monopolies (lack of competition) lead to inefficiency. People are less strongly motivated to improve when they have a monopoly. Big organizations are difficult to change, and change is needed to continually ensure that they maximize efficiency. Very few organizations can stay efficient over time. Only one Fortunee 100 company from 1900 is still on the list. Governments tend to have inefficient policies .  Governments don't have to be efficient to get money, and Organizations that don't have to be efficient will not choose to be efficient.t  Very few organizationcanto stay efficient over time.  Governments don't reward efficiency, and neither do the private sector.  Governments don't punish inefficiencies, and neither does the private sector. Businesses that aren't efficient go out of business. Images that agree Web-pages that agree : https://docs.google.com/drawin...

Reasons to agree : The federal government does many things that the states can do better.  The federal government should not duplicate things the states do better.  It is wrong for one state to get free stuff, and make another state pay for it.  Money should be used as closely to the place that it was raised as possible. The federal government should mostly only do things that the individual states all agree are OK.

Reasons to agree : + Reasons to disagree :  - It was radical of Democrats to remove any reference to God from their platform. Radical means outside of the majority. Most Americans think it is OK to reference God periodically and are right. After World War, we had to prosecute war criminals. It is hard to prosecute people in a war, because they take an oath to do what their leaders tell them. We felt that when we pledged allegiance to our country that it was wrong to pledge absolute allegiance, and it is. We shouldn't hand our brain and soul to our government. We should promise to do what our country tells us to do, as long our our country is acting within a moral code. The most efficient way of accomplishing this is to ask each person to promise to support the country, as long as the country is doing what they think someone they want to worship is OK with that support.  You can disagree with official school prayers, but still think the Democrats went to far...

Reasons Reasons to agree : + Most government agencies have no competition and are monopolies. Monopolies and lack of competition lead to inefficiency. Governments often base this years budget on last years budget.  It is inefficient to base this years budget on last years budget.  Reasons to disagree :  - Leave a comment so I can add a reason. Score : # of reasons to agree: +3 # of reasons to disagree: -0 # of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +0 # of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0 Total Idea Score: +3 Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons and the score will change. =============================================================== Images Images that agree : + https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/19MpWsq5Olm3pOYlEdv2S8s58xeEh5FqcV-VDpp-O3cI/edit Images that disagree : - Leave a comment with a link to a photo, and I'll add it.  =========================...

Reasons Reasons to agree : + Big governments are inefficient . +3 Governments that promise the most often end up giving the least.  Forced tax collections are bad  Large governments require forced tax collection Power is bad.  Large governments are powerful  New presidents should be able to take the federal government in a new direction. If the federal government is too big and complex no one can change it, and it takes on a life of its own. Reasons to disagree :  - Leave a comment so I can add a reason. Score : # of reasons to agree: +7 # of reasons to disagree: -0 # of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +3 # of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0 Total Idea Score: +10 Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons and the score will change. =============================================================== Images Images that agree : + https://docs.google.com...

Reasons to Agree: The Federal Government Should Be as Small as Possible – A smaller government reduces bureaucracy, limits overreach, and encourages efficiency. Reduced Bureaucracy: Less government involvement streamlines processes and reduces red tape. Limited Overreach: A smaller federal government is less likely to intrude on individual liberties and state autonomy. Increased Efficiency: Reduced scope can lead to more focused and efficient government operations. Lower Taxes: Potentially lower taxes due to reduced government spending. Economic Growth: Less regulation and lower taxes can stimulate economic growth. The Federal Government Should Return Power to the States and the People – Decentralization allows states to create policies more tailored to their unique populations and needs. Tailored Policies: States can create policies more specifically suited to their diverse populations and local needs. Increased Responsiveness: State and local governments may be more respons...

Reasons Reasons to agree : + The USA federal government is too big . +10 Spending is out of control. Reasons to disagree :  - Leave a comment so I can add a reason. Score : # of reasons to agree: +2 # of reasons to disagree: -0 # of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +10 # of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0 Total Idea Score: +12 Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons and the score will change. =============================================================== Images Images that agree : + Images that disagree : - Leave a comment with a link to a photo, and I'll add it.  =============================================================== Websites Website that agree : + http://www.nationalreview.com/ http://townhall.com/ http://www.newsmax.com/ http://www.gop.com/ http://www.nrcc.org/ http://www.texasgop.org/ Websites that disagree : - http://www.democrats.org/ ======...

Reasons to Agree: The Federal Government Should Be as Small as Possible – A smaller government reduces bureaucracy, limits overreach, and encourages efficiency. Reduced Bureaucracy: Less government involvement streamlines processes and reduces red tape. Limited Overreach: A smaller federal government is less likely to intrude on individual liberties and state autonomy. Increased Efficiency: Reduced scope can lead to more focused and efficient government operations. Lower Taxes: Potentially lower taxes due to reduced government spending. Economic Growth: Less regulation and lower taxes can stimulate economic growth. The Federal Government Should Return Power to the States and the People – Decentralization allows states to create policies more tailored to their unique populations and needs. Tailored Policies: States can create policies more specifically suited to their diverse populations and local needs. Increased Responsiveness: State and local governments may be more respons...

Best reasons to agree : +5 Drugs addiction will often kill you. Drugs addiction often causes people to live on the street.  Drugs will often cause you to steel from and lie to your family. Drugs will addict you. Addiction takes control of your life. It is bad to loose control of your life. In general most parents should tell their kids not to use drugs. Obviously there is a right and a wrong way to do it. You should wait until they are the right age, but not too long. If you are struggling with your kids, and they have no respect for you, perhaps you should find someone that they respect more.  Best reasons to disagree : -5 All kids will rebel to some degree against their parents. This is a natural process of finding yourself, and creating your own separate identity. By telling your kids not to use drugs this creates a situation when they will have a physiological or emotional reason to do the opposite.   Telling kids not to use drugs only...

Reasons to agree : +1 People have spent time to put important life lessons into poetry, that are well said enough that they tell a story or hold a truth that is more powerful than just stating the belief as a summary, or cliffs notes version of the poetic statement. For instance to me the Palace by Rudyard Kipling tells me that when people look back on the wreck of your life, that they won't just see your permanent long lasting improvements that you made, but that they will also see what you tried to do, and that that can be good enough, perhaps. That idea is much better explained in his story / alagory / poem, printed below for your ease of use. Come Let Us Anew by Wesley should be motivating to most people Reasons to agree : +2 Its nice to think that you can start again.  It may be depressing to think about how fast life is passing, but it is true, and so you need to deal with truths. Reasons to disagree : -3 Its depressing to think about how fast live moves. You do...

Reasons to agree : You can review the list when you feel that life has no meaning, beauty, or meaning.  Its unfortunate that people read books, and poems while in school, but sit on their asses and just watch TV for the rest of their lives.  If their is no God, perhaps the only way you can leave something lasting when you die is to say something in a way that gets remembered. Poetry can help you tell your kids how you feel about them . People can write poems that describe the type of parent you want to be . Authors of good poetry can force you confront difficult topics   Poetry can put your shortcomings in perspective Poetry can motivate you .

Poems that agree: + 1. William Shakespeare - Sonnet #129 The expense of spirit in a waste of shame Is lust in action; and till action, lust Is perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame, Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust; Enjoy'd no sooner but despised straight; Past reason hunted; and no sooner had, Past reason hated, as a swallowed bait, On purpose laid to make the taker mad: Mad in pursuit, and in possession so; Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme; A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe; Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream. All this the world well knows; yet none knows well To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell. Shakespear's sonnet #129 is a great poem about addition. It sort of reminds me of the song that Johnny Cash sang called Hurt. I want me kids to be free. I want them, and all of humanity, to be free from all addictions. I don't want them to be slaves to alcohol, drugs, or any other addiction. It doesn't ...

Poems that Agree: + 1. Spring and Fall: [Margaret, Are You Grieving] by Gerard Manley Hopkins Margaret, are you grieving Over Goldengrove unleaving? Leaves, like the things of man, you With your fresh thoughts care for, can you? Ah! as the heart grows older It will come to such sights colder By and by, nor spare a sigh Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie; And yet you wíll weep & know why. Now no matter, child, the name: Sorrow's springs are the same. Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed What héart héard of, ghóst guéssed: It is the blight man was born for, It is Margaret you mourn for. Megan, an English major, told me about this poem. You can find better explanations on other sites, but: Margaret is a young girl... Can't remember. Perhaps a niece or something... She was sad when she watched the leaves fall from the trees. Goldengrove yellow trees. Unleaving = leaves falling off.

Poems that agree: + 1. "Genes" - Sharon Dunn My eleven year son wants to fish, he owns two rods, one saltwater, one freshwater. He loves knives, Bowie knives, Swiss Army knives, "Knives like this one?" my brother says, opening his desk drawer and taking out a small jackknife with antler handle. My boy camps outdoors, begs to sleep outside, is always shooting arrows, rubber band guns, he is lashing together a fort in the backyard. He sails, swims, kayaks and wants to know the stars. The outdoor hunting genes are in the dark men in my family. Yet I believe he is a son of light. His joy in reading, cooking and piano are fanned from the tinderbox of his father's heart. He will save rainforest, he will grow vegetables, keep horses, fly his own plane. He will make his own brave life, he will not remake our lives nor redeem us, nor pity us.

Poems that agree: + 1. Daughter Lyrics by Loudon Wainwright III Everything she sees she says she wants. Everything she wants I see she gets. That's my daughter in the water everything she owns I bought her Everything she owns. That's my daughter in the water, everything she knows I taught her. Everything she knows. Everything I say she takes to heart. Everything she takes she takes apart. That's my daughter in the water every time she fell I caught her. Every time she fell. That's my daughter in the water, I lost every time I fought her. I lost every time. Every time she blinks she strikes somebody blind. Everything she thinks blows her tiny mind. That's my daughter in the water, who'd have ever thought her? Who'd have ever thought? That's my daughter in the water, I lost everytime I fought her Yea, I lost every time.

Poems that agree: + An Easy-Going Weekend  by Gerald Locklin With my wife and daughter away at My daughter's college for four days, It has been a bachelor's weekend For my fifteen-year old son and me. We get along easily because we Like a number of the Same few basic things: eating, Reading, writing, music. his social Life is different from my current One: he visits with his friends, Girls and boys, while I swim at The YMCA pool. Then he watched Videos—a compromise between The ones that he picks out— Empire Records, Strange Brew— And the ones I think he ought to Be exposed to—Citizen Kane, La Strada, Dr. Strangelove. He Plays his amplified guitar; I switch A game on when the Yankees are At bat. I give him In Our Time To read; finish up a Flann O'Brien for my class. We both Like Italian one day, Mexican the Next. He feeds the cats and does The dishes for his mother. At night, he works late on A story at the MAC...