Weld county leading the charge for a new state (Denver: insurance, credit)

[jwiley]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

We (the real Colorado) keep the mineral rights and let them go.

I am pretty sure they will get their mineral and water rights, both of which would be a blow to Colorado as a whole, which is one reason I pointed out that the state as a whole may want to pay attention.

[lurtsman]

I'm fairly certain this will not come to pass in our life time. There are too many drawbacks, and this state is far too great to allow it to be broken up. It's unfortunate that some want to argue for creating a new state so they won't be bound by renewable energy laws, especially in areas where the economics of renewable energy are reasonably attractive.

[Teckeeee]

This has about as much chance as Texas succeeding what a waste of a thread.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by jwiley

.... with the discovery of the Niobrara adding to the already known oil in the Julesburg basin, Weld, Morgan, and Logan county are set up to be economic power houses for the next few years, at least until the next oil bust.....

Great post, thanks. The oil/gas aspect is possibly a key impetus for this. The oil & gas dudes want to get their hands on that stuff but not pay severance taxes to WY, CO, NM, etc, which means more money stays in their hands and flows to Texas interests. Those petroleum interests would also like to write their own set of state-level environmental laws, i.e., essentially none. I hope the people in those counties don't let the wool get pulled over their eyes by a bunch of slick dudes from Houston.

Originally Posted by Colorado xxxxx

This has about as much chance as Texas succeeding what a waste of a thread.

Agree, and I hope this nonsense dies a quick death and the proponents suffer much ridicule.

[StealthRabbit]

Not just Colorado, not just Weld County.... It is partisan politics and the great divide that has been significantly festered of late. (Strategic 'political development' of high population centers that control the vote (electoral for national and concentrated for state)).

It's the 'battleground' tactic that has destroyed functional democracy in many states / regions and currently the entire USA. When one party / interest gets control, the ship is on a collision course with fate.

Both NM, OR and WA fell to this in last 20 yrs. 2 counties control the entire vote, so advertising / interests only get focused on getting that vote. The remainder of the populace suffers under the burden imposed by those who have no clue (usually 'employees' / 'renters' / urban dwellers who have never done a 4H project book, raised a calf, hired help, or missed meals to meet payroll.) Thus many of the PNW businesses and ranches flee to ID at the moment, just as we left CO in the 1970's and 1980's. Can't fight city Hall (and PAID professional politicians who have never worked a day in their life, and certainly not capable of running a business, much less CONTROLLING businesses...

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

.....Agree, and I hope this nonsense dies a quick death and the proponents suffer much ridicule.

I take an opposite stance... So sad the CAUSE is not identified and resolved to the betterment of "Colorado".

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by jwiley

Especially considering Weld County has long been the wealthiest county in the state, Weld county actually has the same median household income as Fort Collins, while the cost of living is considerably lower. Now with the discovery of the Niobrara adding to the already known oil in the Julesburg basin, Weld, Morgan, and Logan county are set up to be economic power houses for the next few years, at least until the next oil bust.

I have never heard that Weld County is the wealthiest county in the state and I find that claim to be highly dubious. Either from a per capita wealth or a local GDP basis

As for resource extraction providing huge economic benefits; yes and no. The demand for local labor will increase but the companies certainly won't relocate to Weld County. The field offices will be there but the corporate offices, and the corresponding highly skilled labor, will hang out in Denver, Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Calgary. Weld gets the royalties and leasing payments, the other areas benefit from the corporate profits and increasing talent pools of highly-skilled labor.

[cowboyxjon]

Probably won't happen, but I don't blame them for trying, especially since the Colorado Democrats have been making their best effort to turn us into the next California.

[kanhawk]

Originally Posted by cowboyxjon

Probably won't happen, but I don't blame them for trying, especially since the Colorado Democrats have been making their best effort to turn us into the next California.

And you don't want that. It means an economy increasingly composed of high tech jobs that are unattainable by most of the population and growing poor immigrant populations at the other end suppressing wages for everyone else while the middle class gets squeezed out. That's California now.
I would think those in revolt would have a much better chance of getting satisfaction by focusing their energies on punishing the state legislature. However, I don't know Colorado politics well enough. Maybe all these laws passed really do have popular support and the people are getting what they want. I guess we'll see in the next election.

[Henry10]

Good or bad, secession is in our DNA as a country. We were born secessionists. I think secession talks will get louder as politics gets even more polarized. I think some will actually happen. It might happen in CO. Why not?

[artisan4]

Would love to see Colorado become like California with a Democratic supermajority. Many rural people tend to vote against themselves/Republican, low wages, anti-labour, etc. and the US needs far less of that to exit the Plutocrat Turnpike we've been on. Granted, Colorado Dems are conservative, but there is promotion of progressive energy development, gun control, support for increased educational funding, etc.