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Tag: Vince Bzdek

Bzdek: If our leaders don’t obey federal laws, why should we?
Commentary, gazette.com

Bzdek: If our leaders don’t obey federal laws, why should we?

By Vince Bzdek | Commentary, The Gazette When deciding on new year’s resolutions this year, my first thought was to follow my governor’s example, my state’s example, the Denver mayor’s example, and even our new vice president, and resolve to ignore federal laws this year. I got pretty excited about this idea when I started to contemplate all the money I might save if I ignored federal tax law and simply refused to pay federal income tax this year. I mean if the governor and mayor say they don’t have to follow federal immigration law when it comes to deporting folks who aren’t eligible for asylum or did not follow procedures for living here legally, then why do I have to follow federal laws concerning taxes? Or if my state can simply vote to ignore federal law when it comes to the ...
Bzdek: What Trump’s Cabinet picks say about his coming presidency
Commentary, gazette.com

Bzdek: What Trump’s Cabinet picks say about his coming presidency

By Vince Bzdek | The Gazette There is a book I read to my kids when they were about 4 years old called “The Mixed Up Chameleon.” One day the chameleon discovers it can change not only its color but its shape and size, too. When it sees different animals in the zoo, it immediately wants to be like them. And it ends up being “a little of this, a little of that,” part polar bear, part flamingo, fox, fish, deer, giraffe, turtle, elephant and seal. President-elect Trump’s choices for his Cabinet so far reminded me of that book, and created a similar mashup in my mind. Call it his Frankestaff, a Cabinet sewn together from ill-matched bits. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily re...
Bzdek: Is Colorado paying enough attention to marijuana’s toll?
Commentary, gazette.com, State

Bzdek: Is Colorado paying enough attention to marijuana’s toll?

By Vince Bzdek | Commentary, The Gazette Just before Javonte Hill got out of the Navy and settled in Denver, he was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression but had not sought treatment yet. His girlfriend, an occasional marijuana user, recommended he try pot as a way “to chill out.” “You know I’m not like a pot smoker. I just got out of the military,” he recently told a New York Times reporter. But he’d heard it was a much safer alternative to alcohol, and he wouldn’t wake up hung over, so why not? READ THE FULL COMMENTARY AT THE GAZETTE Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author t...