Author: Wayne Laugesen
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PERSPECTIVE: Dream of Californication
My home state of Colorado used to shine as a western American land of promise — where economic vigor and free-spirit vibes lured diverse transplants from around the globe. Migrants from great coastal cities likened it to a real-life version of Ayn Rand’s fictional, Colorado-based Galt’s Gulch — where industrialists, inventors, entrepreneurs and artists established…
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PERSPECTIVE: Colorado conservatives proceed with new hope
Colorado surprised no one when it favored Vice President Kamala Harris over then-candidate Donald Trump by 11 points. This deep-blue state years ago put liberal Democrats in charge of all state offices, both Senate seats, five of eight congressional districts, both chambers of the state legislature, the Colorado Board of Regents, and the State Board…
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PERSPECTIVE: The left poses new threats to charitable giving
Americans are, beyond question, the most charitable people in the world. In this holiday season of giving, Gazette Editorial Page Editor Wayne Laugesen spoke with Elise Westhoff — president, CEO, and board member of the Philanthropy Roundtable — to discuss threats to the state of American charity and threats to the tradition. Laugesen: Tell us about some…
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How an old Black homeless man changed my heart
An old Black homeless street beggar changed my life as Christmas approached in the early 1990s. In the 1980s and ‘90s, friends and foes compared me to Alex P. Keaton – the well-groomed conservative son of two liberal parents in the sitcom Family Ties. Like Alex, I dressed in a suit, groomed my hair, and…
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PERSPECTIVE: Governor’s massive spending proposal may frustrate the left and the right
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wants to fit no conventional mold and his massive budget proposal — $40 billion for the fiscal year 2022-23 — reveals a man in seeming conflict with conservatives and the far-left base of his Democratic Party. Despite the record-setting spending proposal, Polis recently said the state income tax should go to…
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PERSPECTIVE: Rules for radical chic
A wise man told us to hold hands, unify, and try to understand each other. He won hearts and minds with logic and words. Another man suggested we forgo sharing ideas and working together. Simply attack opponents personally and professionally. Intimidate them, disorient them, dissuade them, throw them off their game. He told us to…
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PERSPECTIVE: Social media censorship: Facebook executives speak to The Gazette
Social media giants censor consumer-generated content millions of times each day, billions each quarter. Conservatives complain about Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other corporations removing posts, covering them with warnings, blocking their accounts, demonetizing them, or throttling back distribution. Liberals complain of censors allowing too much conservative content they consider insensitive, dangerous, or inaccurate. The left…