Objective Truth
Bottom Line Up Front: At root, committing to objective truth is a moral stance. It’s saying we won’t sacrifice truth on the altar of expediency or ideology. That’s critical to retain citizens’ trust in government. Without believing leaders speak truth, division festers (each side believes its own “truths”). We want Colorado to be a place where – even if we disagree on solutions – we at least operate from the same set of facts. That can unite us more. By making these policies and cultural commitments, we push back against relativism and dishonesty. We aim for a government that is accountable to reality and to the people. Over time, that fosters a healthier civic life and more effective policies, because reality always catches up to you eventually – better to face it head on. Objective Truth will be a hallmark of our administration, and we invite all Coloradans to join in valuing truth as a common good beyond partisanship.
a. Commitment to Reality and Honesty: In a broader sense beyond biology, we stand for Objective Truth as the basis for public discourse and policy. This means acknowledging facts, data, and reality even when they’re uncomfortable or cut against narratives. We reject the notion that “your truth” or feelings override empirical evidence or logical consistency. We believe in the existence of truth – whether scientific, historical, or moral truths – and that society functions best when we seek truth earnestly and build consensus around it. For example, crime statistics, economic data, climate metrics – we should be transparent and not manipulate or suppress truths for political ends. Likewise, in history and civic education, teach true accounts, not revisionist distortions. A culture that values truth will be more just and free, because manipulative propaganda and relativism often precede tyranny. John 8:32: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” We take that to heart as a guiding principle.
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b. Why This Matters: We live in a time of misinformation and polarization. Some reject even basic truths if it contradicts ideology (e.g., denying that inflation is high when data says it is, or altering definitions – like we saw attempts to redefine “recession”). Social media bubbles spread falsehoods. On campus, postmodern ideas claim no objective truth, just power struggles. That undermines reasoned debate. Government officials sometimes spin or conceal facts (we saw varying COVID narratives, etc.). We pledge to lead with honesty, admit inconvenient truths, and make policy accordingly. Also, we’ll defend freedom of speech and inquiry because it’s vital for discovering truth (if someone is wrong, better to debate than censor).
c. Policy Actions to Promote Objective Truth:
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1. Transparency in Government Data: We will maximize transparency. That includes publishing raw datasets and methodology for state reports. For instance, if the state models budget forecasts or climate projections, all assumptions and data should be open so independent analysts can verify. Sunshine deters manipulation. We’ll avoid politically motivated “fudging.” If there’s an increase in, say, homelessness, we’ll report it plainly rather than redefine the metric to hide failure.
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2. Integrity of Statistics: Direct agencies like health or labor departments to keep consistent metrics and not quietly change definitions to serve narratives. If any change (like how unemployment is calculated) is needed, it must be clearly stated and justified scientifically, not to save face. We recall when the federal government redefined vaccine “effectiveness” or changed definitions of recession – such things erode trust. Under our watch, Colorado’s stats will remain consistent and trustable.
3. Education Standards on Truth: Ensure that school curricula emphasize critical thinking and the pursuit of truth. That means teaching students how to evaluate sources, understand the scientific method, differentiate fact vs opinion. In history, we’ll require balanced perspective (neither whitewash nor “1619 Project” style distortion), but fact-based consensus: e.g., teach both America’s founding ideals and its flaws with fidelity to evidence. We encourage classical education that holds objective truths exist (like 2+2=4 in math, rules of logic in rhetoric). If any curriculum pushes relativism or that everything is a social construct, we’ll push back and favor those that uphold that facts matter.
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4. No “Ministry of Truth” Though: We won’t combat misinformation by government censorship (like federal attempts to flag social posts). Instead, we combat lies with truth and better arguments. E.g., if conspiracy theories about elections spread, we counter with clear evidence and transparency (open audits, etc.), not by banning speech. Government should not be an arbiter of truth to the point of silencing dissent – that ironically undermines trust in official truth. We rather model honesty and correct falsehoods openly.
5. Scientific Rigor in Policy: When making regulations or policies claiming to follow science (be it environmental standards, health mandates, etc.), we will ensure decisions are truly evidence-driven, not selectively picking data or succumbing to panic or pressure. And we’ll revisit policies as new evidence emerges (e.g., if evidence says a regulation doesn’t achieve intended outcome, we’ll adjust or repeal it). Sticking to objective evaluations will yield better results. We might create a Science & Data advisory panel of diverse qualified experts to review major policy proposals for factual soundness.
6. Defend Objective Concepts Legally: We will oppose attempts to legally enforce subjective concepts that conflict with objective reality or free speech. Example: making “misgendering” a punishable offense (we won’t allow that, as it forces speech contrary to perceived truth by speaker). Or labeling disagreements as “hate speech” to shut down debate. We’ll protect the right to state facts or opinions even if they offend. Conversely, if any public employee is spreading demonstrable false information in official capacity, we will correct that because it violates public trust (e.g., a teacher teaching pseudoscience or conspiracies; we uphold factual curriculum standards).
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7. Historical Monuments and Truth: On contentious historical issues – like monuments or holidays – we favor context and truth over erasure. For instance, rather than tearing down a statue due to someone’s flaws, add a plaque with accurate information. Renaming things should be considered only with public process and factual rationale, not whim or one narrative. We saw Colorado rename Mount Evans due to Sand Creek links – we handle such decisions carefully with full historical record and citizen input, not knee-jerk. It's about acknowledging truth of history (good and bad) without distortions either way.
8. Media and Public Communication: We'll maintain an administration culture of truth-telling. Press releases won’t be propaganda; if there’s bad news (budget shortfall, etc.), we’ll be upfront and then explain plan to fix. This builds credibility so people believe the good news when we give it. If some policy doesn’t work, we won’t hide it – we’ll own it and adjust. I'd rather have an uncomfortable truth now than a worse problem later. We’ll urge local governments to do similarly with their citizens.