Let's See What Develops

John Hickenlooper: Regionally, DIA has had the biggest impact, says Denver's current mayor. But for the City and County of Denver itself, the tipping point was the implementation of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District originally approved by voters in 1988 and endorsed again this past election. According to Hickenlooper, "It said, 'All right, we're not just a cowtown. We've had enough of these oil booms and busts. We're not going to be defined by one industry. We're a city that is defined by our art museum and Museum of Nature & Science and our zoo -- by our commitment to culture.'" The 0.1 percent retail sales tax collected in seven metro counties now distributes over $30 million to local cultural organizations every year.

Douglas Bruce: Anti-tax crusader Douglas Bruce has been putting the smackdown on what he calls "parasitic special-interest groups" and "brainwashed socialists" for decades. As the author of the 1992 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, which requires the public to vote on any tax rate increase, the recently elected El Paso County Commissioner has no love for publicly funded anything -- let alone development projects run by "corrupt urban politicians" who are drunk off the money machine. On Bruce's list of ripoffs that Denver's "urban liberals (aka Œsheep')" docilely pay taxes on: "Rain, through the yearly drainage charge on real estate. Culture, which apparently would not exist without Big Brother. Heavily subsidized rail transit. Sports arenas, run by and for multi-millionaires. Open space, which increases expenses and shrinks tax rolls. Big government runs convention centers and adjoining hotels, then makes you pay through the nose to park on your own city streets your taxes already bought." Liberals have no concept of limited government, he says, adding, "You get what you deserve."

Check, please.