Here in Weld County, we just crawled out of the redistricting swamp. Not because our charter said we had to. Not because the people of Weld demanded it. Nope – because the Colorado Supreme Court told us to.
And let me remind you who we’re dealing with: this is the same gaggle of partisan hacks who voted 7–0 to kick Trump off the ballot… only to get body-slammed by the U.S. Supreme Court, 9–0. Think about that. You’ve got to be really, really bad at your job to get overturned unanimously by a group that can’t agree on what day it is.
But hey, those black-robed geniuses told Weld County our charter didn’t matter. The voters who passed it didn’t matter. Our home rule didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except their decree. So, as commissioners, we did the thing you’re supposed to do in a constitutional republic: we followed the damn ruling.
We formed the committees. We held the hearings. We picked a map. We played by the rules, even though I believe the “social contract” they claim to be upholding is already broken glass on the floor.
And then I turn on the news and watch Texas and California… and it’s pure political theater, starring clowns in both parties.
- In Texas, Republicans are redrawing maps mid-decade like they’re sketching doodles on a cocktail napkin – not because it’s required, but because, surprise surprise, they want to squeeze out more GOP seats. At least they’re doing it within their state’s laws.
- In California, Governor Gavin Newsom and his crew are bending their own rules like Beckham, trying to shove their independent redistricting commission aside just to score partisan points. It’s not about fairness, it’s not about representation, it’s about stacking the scoreboard.
So let’s call it what it is: this isn’t democracy. This is a power grab. It’s raw, pure will-to-power stuff – and I believe it is wrong.
If we keep this up, we won’t be a constitutional republic anymore. We’ll be a bunch of tribal animals – red tribe versus blue tribe – snarling over scraps of power while the actual people get forgotten.
Am I naïve to hope for better? Maybe. Because let’s be honest: both sides will do it if they can. Republicans in Texas are doing it now. Democrats in California are proving they’d do it too. The only principle left is “power for my team, screw yours.”
But there are some in my own party who label me the “RINO” they already have just for asking the question. Am I an idiot for standing up like a Boy Scout and saying, “Let’s adhere to the social contract,” when I know the other side damn well won’t?
So here’s my question for you: What’s right?
Should politicians bend and break rules just to hang onto power? Or should we actually try to live up to the whole “constitutional republic” thing we like to brag about?
Because if we don’t figure this out fast, the answer won’t come from us. History will answer for us – and I don’t think we’re going to like what it says.
