Why the "split" between "old" and "new" Coloradans . . . (Gypsum: fit in, how much)

[CosmicWizard]

Jazzlovber wrote:

So, I do get insulted when somebody tells me that I'm not doing enough to keep Colorado a decent place to live. I'm doing--and have done for MANY years--a hell of a lot more to preserve this state than most.

I think you're reading something into my post that's not there. I wrote what I wrote to point out that there is another solution to the problem of limited resources. Most of the focus is on discouraging outsiders NOT to come, and I'm saying that those doing the discouraging could just as well be moving along. Without a willingness to do that, your very accurrate assessments of the various problems facing Colorado and other western states has an element of whining to it. Nowhere in my post did I say that you or anyone else was not doing their share. I have always taken you at your word that you are doing--and have done for MANY years--a hell of a lot more to preserve this state than most.

[CosmicWizard]

Jazzlover wrote:

By the way, there are one hell of a lot of long-time Colorado residents who have already had to significantly change their lifestyle--often for the worse--because of out-of-control growth. Most long-time Coloradans have made significant material, professional, or personal sacrifices to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I think most of them, me included, have done that gladly to enjoy that privilege. But having made those sacrifices--and now to be expected to lose many of the amenities of the state in which we sacrificed to live in to the ravages of growth just doesn't seem quite fair.

I don't think that anyone questions that long time residents have made sacrifices or believe that long time residents don't belong here. The same thing is true for just about any state in the country however. I know you're not outright saying that your sacrifices make you special, yet you fail to acknowledge that people all over the USA have made, and are currently making similar sacrifices. As a newcomer to this great state of Colorado, I had to make quite a few sacrifices of my own, and I imagine that most other newcomers to Colorado have made their share of sacrifices too. It may not seem fair to you ( it doesn't seem fair to me either ) but that's just life in the USA during these troubled times. I've chosen not to let it get me down. It's not worth it. My life is whizzing by far too fast to spend it getting upset about a situation where I have so little control.

[Katiana]

I, too, have concerns with the sense of entitlement issue. I, too, would prefer a lifestyle more like the small mill-town city where I grew up: a walkable (or at least a short commute to) downtown, kids walking to school, volunteer fire departments having carnivals in the summer, etc. But life has changed, everywhere. I do not believe in putting one's head in the sand, but OTOH, never underestimate the ability of humankind to adapt and solve problems, e.g. the water problem. We're already doing better than Atlanta! I read an article recently which said that Atlanta's drought meant they received "only" 30-some inches of water this past year. Meanwhile, we receive an average of 16, and somehow, everyone has enough water to bathe, wash their clothes and dishes, and usually enough to water their lawn!

[ryanek9freak]

Ive noticed in Colorado , you can always tell who's got money. They usually have grass.

[Katiana]

I thought I would relate what has happened to my home area of Pittsburgh, PA since I was a kid. The steel industry crashed in about 1980. My hometown, Beaver Falls, has become a ghost town with people living in it. It has about 2/3 of the people it had in its heyday. It probably has 10% of the jobs it had then. One in nine homes is vacant. The city library has not had any updating at least since I graduated from high school in 1967. The linoleum is peeling, the whole place looks rundown. The only change is a bank of computers. I have no idea how they afforded that, probably got a grant for distressed cities. Andrew Carnegie would roll over in his grave if he saw the library he built! The city pool was closed this summer; there is no money to run it.

Pittsburgh itself has about 1/2 the people it had at the height of its population. While some have moved out to the burbs, the overall metro population is dropping every year. Schools are closing everywhere. It has tried, and in some cases succeeded, to attract new business. Its educational and health care resources are fantastic. But it can't keep people because most of them can't find jobs.

I don't think Colorado wants those problems. It's far more of an enjoyable challenge to build new schools, rather than close them. Every time a school is slated to be closed, there is a hue and cry. Again, it's more satisfying to build new pools instead of closing them b/c there is no money to run them.

Those people's lifestyles were altered as well. The only constant is change, everywhere.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Katiana

....since I graduated from high school in 1967....

The Pitt Nurse Barbie??? (What the heck, it's Friday.)

[Katiana]

Except that my hair is much darker, that looks more like my college graduation picture!

[Timberwolf232]

I remember the old Colorado. I was born and raised there. I miss it. After the big influx of Californians drove up the prices down there I escaped to where I live now... Now they are coming here and doing the same thing. Makes me sad. Why can't people just leave good places alone without trying to change them into these huge towns full of wal-marts and home depot's? *sigh*

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

Why can't people just leave good places alone without trying to change them into these huge towns full of wal-marts and home depot's? *sigh*

Because they just have to have it ALL, baby. Don't you know?--they're entitled--it's their God-given right.

[CosmicWizard]

Timberwolf232 wrote:

Why can't people just leave good places alone without trying to change them into these huge towns full of wal-marts and home depot's? *sigh*

These people must be stockholders in wal-mart and home depot. They won't be making any money off of me though, I haven't shopped in any of those junkyards for many years. If they had more customers like me, they'd go out of business real soon.