Several Colorado counties are deciding this week on whether to ask citizens about seceding from the state. The lead county, Weld, approved a ballot measure about forming the 51st state yesterday. More county commissions are considering the proposed North Colorado today and tomorrow.
Yesterday at the meeting in Weld, local state Representative Dave Young, a Democrat, suggested the crowd consider what they would lose if they quit being Colorado. By way of the Greeley Tribune (sometimes reg. req'd.):
"Let's talk about water. Greeley's water comes from where? Not Weld County," Young said. "There are issues around that. If we sever from the state of Colorado, where is our water going to come from? I know this is an emotional issue for people, but I really think if we're going to have this on the ballot, what we really need to have is to talk about these issues. Water is an issue. What's it going to cost us to get our water? Is the cost going to offset the benefits of severing from the state of Colorado? Are we creating more problems by doing this? Now, what I'd like to see is a deep conversation about all the issues, put these things in detail in front of the voters and say, 'Here's the implications of this, and here's what it's going to cost to solve that problem and is it worth it to do that?' "Since Young held the meeting at [the University of Northern Colorado], he looked around the room and said: "What about this university? This is a Colorado university, so what happens to it?"
Maybe you don't miss your water 'til you secede and the tap goes dry.