For more than 100 years now- the Denver City government has enacted law after law- regulation after regulation- restriction after restriction, dozens per year for more than 100 years now.
The result is the loss of individualism and a loss of freedom unparalleled anywhere else in the state (well with the exception of Boulder). Yes I know when you pack a bunch of rats in a cage, some additional rules may be necessary- but Denver has long long ago passed the level of reason - and the city has buku regulations- a rule for everything.
Of course there's no way the average homeowner or business owner can know them all- or even pretend to know most of them, which is why government that overreaches it's useful function turns into the agent of repression and misery for those living under it.
The federal government has also surpassed this level, and the consequence is fewer individuals and businesses willing to take the risks to start an enterprise- or a new venture- or even expand current operations. Millions of new jobs could be created by simply eliminating regulations that impede businesses from expanding.
Every once in a while- a good example is published by the local media about the Denver City government and it's affects on those who by their unfortunate circumstances find themselves living within the city limits, and it's those examples that make me so thankful I don't live there myself. It reminds me of why I moved out of the city and back home to the foothills.
It also reminds me of how important it is to keep local government limited in scope- that every problem does not need a government solution. My friend in Fort Collins went on vacation for 10 days - and found a ticket on his door when he got back because his lawn had grown an inch past the "lawn length regulation". While measuring his lawn - the code enforcement officer also found that his boat trailer registration was a month expired. Each violation had a potential fine of up to $1,500, but he was able to settle for around $350.00 with his city government.
I'm willing to allow that dis-respectful homeowner to let his lawn go uncontrolled (the one guy in a thousand)- a city regulation and enforcement team is not necessary- it'll save 1000 homeowners the misery of an overreaching government when their lawn is an inch out of specification. The idea that lawn length needs to be regulated is pretty new- but they keep thinking up more and more restrictions every year.
So many times the solution is worse than the problem. Now we harass 1000 residents for the mis deeds of one. How the world ever functioned without all these laws and restrictions I'll never know.
Here is the story of one lady in Denver - her only crime was planting a tree where another tree was removed. I can think of a half dozen regulations that never needed to exist in this one story- this is real stuff that happens to people down there everyday!
Lets not allow our local government to get this bad- because they are headed in that direction and things get worse every year. Most of these local government have nothing better to do - they spend all their time adding laws and regulations. They add dozens of new laws and regulations every year.
One story from ticket crazy City of Denver.....
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/29525375/detail.html
