Colorado Sun dropped a piece about summer tourism in Colorado mountain towns taking a gut punch this year. Tariffs got blamed right out of the gate, but writer Jason Blevins does manage to peel back a few more layers, like maybe, just maybe, Colorado’s becoming too dang pricey to enjoy for the average family. And hey, look at that, not a single swipe at Trump for once. Miracles do happen.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Bad weather is the boogeyman for bad business, but spoiler alert: the skies were clear. The storm’s name is inflation.
- Mountain towns are feeling the pinch as fewer folks show up with wallets open and hiking boots laced.
- Businesses say bookings are down and purse strings are tight, kinda like my jeans after a BBQ binge.
- The “uncertain economy” gets mentioned like it’s some mysterious ghost no one knows how to handle.
- No real solutions offered, just hand-wringing.
My Bottom Line
Here’s something wild, this piece didn’t blame Trump once. That alone deserves a standing ovation or a strong whiskey. But let’s cut through the fog thicker than I-70 traffic on Sunday night: Colorado isn’t just battling clouds; it’s drowning in taxes and bullshit policies that make it unaffordable even for Coloradans to explore their own backyard.
Our state wants everyone to embrace this unicorn called “affordability,” all while kneecapping businesses with crushing regs and burying families under tourism taxes so bloated they make Nancy Pelosi’s wine cellar budget look humble. You can’t virtue-signal your way into prosperity while taxing everyone trying to get there.
Governor Polis talks affordability like he talks transparency, only when there’s a camera around. Meanwhile, hardworking families across America are opting for cheaper destinations without the political side salad. And can you blame them? When your ski lift ticket costs more than your mortgage payment and a basic plate of eggs hits $22 in Aspen, you’ve officially priced out everyone except Californians fleeing bad decisions.
Call it what it is: Colorado has become bougie on purpose, repelling middle America while pretending rainclouds are behind every economic wet blanket. Fix policy first – and maybe visitors will follow.
