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If rural residents have their way, North Colorado will become the 51st state. Lawmakers in the northern and northeastern regions of the state have been very busy drawing up boundaries for the new state to offer constituents’ government officials which represent their interests.
The North Colorado secession movement stems largely from increased concern and infuriation over gun control legislation. Residents of the northeastern and northern regions of Colorado are also reportedly worried that state initiatives to move away from gas and oil drilling will thwart long-standing and good paying jobs. The Colorado General Assembly has also passed new laws related to alleged livestock cruelty incidents. During a recent county commissioners meeting, a House democrat’s leadership team member vowed to introduce more stringent oil and gas industry environmental standards. The promise to enhance existing regulations reportedly spurred even more support for a split between the state of Colorado and counties of the Eastern Plains region.
West County Commissioner Sean Conway had this to say about the North Colorado secession legislation:
“[The] very way of life is under attack. This is not a stunt. This is a very serious deliberative discussion that’s going on. There’s a real feeling that a lot of folks who come from the urban areas don’t appreciate the contribution many Coloradans contribute. Our vision and our morals are no longer represented by the state [legislature] and the current administration, and we think it’s time we do take seriously what our options are. This is just one of our options, but we will be moving forward with it.”
Conway’s sentiments likely ring true with all of us who live in beautiful, low-crime rural areas around the country. The political districts in any given state are not guided by geographic closeness, but by the current ruling party’s desire to win re-election for their candidates. Not only do urban and suburban municipalities have little in common with rural regions, the ever-changing nature of political districts often mean that state lawmakers are trying to serve multiple masters when trying to please residents with campaign promises. The needs, wants, and views of states or districts largely composed of rural regions vary significantly from those of folks who live in skyscraper apartment buildings.
Colorado representatives from eight counties in the northern region and two Nebraska counties have met to discuss the formation and borders of a state tentatively named North Colorado. The elected officials want to put the issue to a vote this November. Republican Congressman from Yuma, Cory Gardner, feels Governor John Hickenlooper (Democrat) has “assaulted” the way of life in rural northern Colorado.
Congressman Cory Gardner had this to say about the secession plans during an interview with Denver Channel 9 News:
“I don’t blame people one bit for feeling attacked and unrepresented by the leaders in our state. Northern and northeastern Colorado and our voices are being ignored in the legislative process this year, and our very way of life is under attack.”
A state has not embarked upon such an action since the Civil War. If Colorado voters approve the secession and creation of a North Colorado state, the issue would move onto the Congressional approval stage only if Governor John Hickenlooper and the Colorado General Assembly sign off on the request. Democratic House Speaker Mark Ferrandino stated that it would be “premature” to say if the General Assembly would approve the creation of a North Colorado state. Premature is a long way from no, so the folks involved in the secession movement may stand a chance at creating the 51st state.
They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor so that we could be free!
House Speaker Ferrandino added this about the North Colorado 51st state movement:
“If the voters of those counties vote that way, one thing about a democracy that you have to respect is a vote of the people. This is one of those cases where you don’t get what you want, so there’s no compromise. It’s my way or the highway—that’s what we’re hearing from Commissioner Conway. They don’t like the direction things are going, even though the voters spoke in November. They’re just behind the times in where Colorado is.”
Hmm, didn’t take long for that familiar liberal condescension to enter into the mix. Ruining the land of harming livestock are not ideas rural residents would support—they would soon go broke and be hungry if they did. The “behind the times” comment by the democrat house speaker clearly showcases the disdain the metropolitan elite feels for rural residents. If being out of sync with the current moral, fiscal, and personal responsibility standards in modern America put me in the “behind the times” club, I will proudly wear my membership pin.
The Agenda 21 regionalist movement previously addressed by Off The Grid News also detailed the disregard progressives have for the suburbs and rural regions. A spokesman for Governor Hickenlooper stated that the interests of the entire state of Colorado must be balanced with its individual parts. Such a mindset is admirable, but the governor’s man was not offering an olive branch to rural residents. He appeared to be reminding them they can’t always get what they want, a lesson they have learned a few too many times and which prompted the North Colorado 51st state movement.
Governor John Hickenlooper’s representative also had this to add about the Colorado secession movement:
“Background checks on gun sales, increasing renewable energy and supporting responsible development of oil and gas are popular with rural and urban voters. Not everyone agrees, of course. But we keep trying.”
If the controversial issues were popular with only half of rural voters, the North Colorado secession movement would not be garnering such strong traction in the region. An exact count of how many have signed on in northern and northeastern Colorado counties is not currently known, but those which have voiced support for secession and the creation of a 51st state include: Weld, Logan, Phillips, Kit Carson, Washington, Yuma, Sedgwick, and Morgan.
Congressman Gardner also informed media outlets that no county is being excluded from the North Colorado statehood discussion and the entire Eastern Plains region could end up becoming involved. What do you think about the splitting up the state of Colorado and making North Colorado the 51st state?
