Ref. C&D - decided!

Until I read 'Five-year timeout' in Ref C questioned (Rocky Mountain News 9/28/05), I was undecided about the referendum. As a Conservative, I was inclined to oppose Ref. C, but questioned my "gut" in light of the Governor's support for the issue. For me, the key issue has been - what will be the tax consequences of C in the "out" years? Opponents produced Col. Springs economist Paul Prentice's report, according to which (Ref. C passage) would result in a $31 BILLION tax increase over the next 25 years. Prentice added, "We can argue what the data is and (what) the implications are..." to which Governor Owens' spokesman and other C&D advocates replied; "baloney", "Respectable economists don't forecast out 30 years", "full of manure" as well as providing a detailed analysis of The Jetsons cartoon series from the 60s.
Prentice himself said that his findings could be debated, but C&D proponents chose to insult and belittle the author instead of addressing the tax issues his study raised. Much like those who oppose President Bush's policies by calling him "dumb", these C&D supporters apparently can't make their case factually so they resort to name-calling and condescension. Its hard to respect people who won't engage their opposition in the "arena of ideas" and its hard to support their propositions while this $31 BILLION tax study goes unrefuted.
At least now, opposing Referendums C&D won't be hard at all.