Limited Government
Life, Liberty, Property
Bottom Line Up Front: Life, Liberty, Property are not just words – they will guide our governance. Colorado’s government will become leaner, more efficient, and confined to its proper role. As Reagan said, “government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” We wholeheartedly agree and will act accordingly. For life: government is limited but must secure public safety (police, courts, military) so people’s lives are protected from crime and aggression. We support strong law enforcement focused on actual crimes (violence, theft) – core functions – rather than overcriminalization of personal choices. For liberty: we’ll roll back paternalistic laws (for example, Colorado’s previous attempts to ban certain foods or mandate personal behavior beyond reasonable public health measures). For property: we will cut property taxes (see Property Tax Elimination plan) and fight inflationary policies that erode savings.
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a. Foundational Principles: We champion Limited Government dedicated to securing “Life, Liberty, and Property.” This phrase, drawn from John Locke and echoed by our Founders (with “pursuit of happiness” as a broader term for property and wellbeing), defines the core purpose of governance. Biblically, God warned Israel in 1 Samuel 8 that a king would take the people’s sons, daughters, fields, tithes – essentially warning against big, intrusive government. Instead, the ideal was judges who defended rights and administered justice but did not aggrandize power. The Declaration of Independence makes it clear: governments are instituted to secure God-given rights, deriving just powers from consent of the governed. Any government action beyond that – doing what individuals can do for themselves or violating rights – becomes unjust. We believe in the dignity and capacity of individuals and families to make the best decisions for their lives, with government stepping in only where absolutely necessary (e.g., punishing crime, providing for common defense, basic infrastructure and arbitration of disputes). Limited government reflects humility – acknowledging that centralized authority cannot manage the infinite complexities of society as well as free people can.
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b. Constitutional Justification: The U.S. Constitution is a document of enumerated powers – if a power isn’t granted, the federal government can’t wield it (10th Amendment reserves all else to states or people). Colorado’s Constitution similarly limits state government, often via specific provisions like TABOR for taxing/ spending. James Madison in Federalist No. 45 said the federal powers are “few and defined,” while those reserved to states and people are “numerous and indefinite.” While state governments have broader police power, we uphold that even Colorado’s government should be strictly limited by constitutional bounds and by respect for individual rights. The Limited Government principle means fiscally (not growing beyond taxpayers’ means) and regulatorily (not micromanaging private affairs). Life, liberty, property are the trinity of natural rights the government must protect, not infringe. The 14th Amendment’s due process and equal protection clauses constrain states from violating these fundamental rights, and we take that seriously.
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c. Colorado Policy Conflicts: In recent years Colorado’s government has expanded in scope and intrusion, conflicting with the ideal of limited government:
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1. Ballooning Regulations: Colorado is now among the most regulated states, with over 165,000 regulations on the books. These impose costly burdens on businesses and citizens, often with diminishing returns for health or safety. For example, small businesses face layers of licensing, labor rules, fees, and mandates (from required paid leave to complex sales tax regimes). We will launch a regulatory reduction initiative – auditing rules, eliminating those that are duplicative or excessive, and simplifying compliance. Our target is to move Colorado out of the “top 10 most regulated” to a place where entrepreneurs and professionals can operate in freedom, unleashing growth and job creation.
2. Fiscal Expansion & Nanny State Tendencies: The state budget has swelled thanks to revenue growth and federal aid, funding numerous new programs (free preschool, expanded Medicaid rolls, green energy schemes, etc.). While some safety nets and infrastructure are necessary, we must question: are we fostering dependency or undermining personal responsibility? We will apply a test: does a program secure life, liberty, property or is it doing something individuals/charities could do? If the latter, we should trim or reform it. For instance, Colorado in 2020 created a state-run paid family leave insurance via Prop 118, funded by a payroll tax. Helping families is laudable, but a limited government approach might offer tax incentives for private solutions or voluntary programs rather than a one-size-fits-all mandate. We will seek to reduce taxes (see Income Tax Reduction) and return choice to citizens on matters like healthcare and retirement, rather than government taking over roles of family and community.
3. Property Rights vs. Regulation: Limited government defends the right to own and use property. Colorado’s recent policies sometimes encroach: e.g., the push for strict oil and gas drilling setbacks (nearly passed Prop 112) or heavy land-use directives to force density (debated in 2023) – these threaten owners’ usage rights and local control. Another example: water rights (see Water Rights Preservation) – state intervention could disrupt the first-in-time, first-in-right system that landowners rely on. We favor minimal eminent domain use and compensation when it happens. We will halt any eminent domain abuse (such as taking property for private development). Also, we stand against statewide zoning edicts that override local decisions and individual property development rights.