Thanks to the creative destruction of capitalism, the company I work for has been acquired by another, larger company in the same industry. Fortunately, they have offered me continued employment and relocation to Oklahoma City. I’m excited by the opportunity and looking forward to living in our new house.
However, to be clear: Even if I had been laid off or otherwise lost my job as the result of this merger, I was planning to move from Colorado anyway. Here’s why.
A Losing Fight
Since my political awakening in 2013, I have devoted a large part of my time and energy to promoting the principles of freedom and limited government with a primary focus on my native state of Colorado. I started this blog. I met with Republican party leaders and my elected representatives. I became active in the Republican Party, twice attending caucuses all the way up to the state level. I’ve testified at the state capitol and attended rallies and protests.
I was active on social media, especially Twitter and Facebook. I met several like-minded people over time, we eventually decided to meet in person and ended up becoming good friends.
One of these friends, Laura Carno, told me about the Leadership Program of the Rockies (LPR), and I ended up attending a recruiting event, applying and being accepted to the class of 2016. I’ve worked for a state senate campaign and a county commissioner campaign as the treasurer. I’ve walked and knocked doors for campaigns and also to recall state senator Evie Hudak in the aftermath of the 2013 gun-control bills.
I fought the best I could against subsequent gun-control bills and other bad bills rammed through the Colorado General Assembly during the years when the Democrats controlled the House and then after taking complete control. I fought against Amendment 69 which would have created a socialized medicine plan in Colorado. I fought against the Red Flag bill. I especially fought against the implementation of a paid family and medical leave program in Colorado, which never made it through the legislature but finally was enacted via the ballot box in 2020. I promised myself I would never pay a dime of that tax, AND I NEVER WILL.
Through it all, I’ve watched as Democrats gained more and more power. I’ve watched as the “tyranny of the majority” abused that power. I watched as they won full control in 2018 and increased that control in 2020. I watched as so many bad policies have been pushed through with the promise of more to come. I’ve watched in dismay as they did their best to virtually destroy the oil and gas industry in Colorado – an industry that provides life-giving energy, thousands of jobs, millions in tax revenues and billions in economic activity. What they failed to do at the ballot box with Proposition CC they subsequently enacted via SB 19-181 and regulatory rulings. They don’t care about economic realities; they only care about serving their climate change delusion. It’s tragic, for the people whose jobs are going away, for the people who will be paying higher energy costs, and for the rest of us.
With the disastrous election of 2020 and the aftermath, it became painfully clear to me that my fight is a losing one. The majority of my fellow Coloradans seem bent on emulating the failed states run by Democrats and implementing their progressive dystopia.
The Sooner State
So I’m leaving. I’m leaving my native state and where I’ve spent the majority of my life. I refuse to live under Democratic tyranny and I refuse to let my productive labor in the form of taxes go to support their government.
Instead, I’m moving to a state that is flourishing economically because it’s run by Republicans. In the 2020 economic outlook ranking by www.richstatespoorstates.org, Oklahoma is ranked 9th (compared to Colorado at 18th). I’m moving to a state that still values free enterprise, limited government and the American spirit. I’m moving to a state that values the oil and gas industry (see below). I’m moving to a state where most people want to live and let live. I’m moving to a state where housing and the cost of living are less expensive, where people (mostly) still appreciate the values of the American founding.
I’m moving from a state that is heading for economic disaster. Colorado Democrats have proved that they are hostile to business, especially oil and gas; and ever increasing “fees” and “premiums” along with ever growing regulations and the disastrous paid family and medical leave program will drive businesses out of Colorado. I truly believe that Colorado will be in the bottom half of the 50 states in terms of GDP and economic performance within 5 years. I think other people who are contemplating a move should do it sooner than later. “Get while the gettin’s good”.
I plan to use my political voice to warn Oklahoma Republicans about the progressive peril. The Democrats have succeeded in turning Colorado solidly blue, and if it can happen here it can happen anywhere. I will use my political voice to stand for freedom, limited government and the values expressed in the Declaration of Independence. I’m calling for the Republican Party to return to its roots and core values. I’m calling for Republicans to be proud of our party’s history and the clear advantages that result from Republican governance.
My parents are buried here. I still have family here, who I will miss deeply. I will always love Colorado, but it’s time to go.
Goodbye.
By Richard D. Turnquist
April 17, 2021
