Spirit of 1776

On June 28, 2024, Charlie Johnson, Rick Turnquist, Karen Levine, Lorne Levy, Jim May, and Tom Tarver joined the show. Johnson, a retired corrections officer and truck driver, outlines his campaign for Jefferson County Commissioner focusing on opposing sanctuary policies, protecting TABOR, and supporting law enforcement Turnquist examines how the founders designed constitutional government and contrasts their vision with modern political corruption and the aftermath of the Biden-Trump debate Levine. Jefferson County’s Fight for Taxpayer Rights Start listening at 19:15 – Hour 1 Charlie Johnson, a retired law enforcement officer and truck driver, explains why he entered the race for Jefferson County Commissioner. Johnson, who spent 20 years in the Department of Corrections, describes the career politicians who have steered Colorado toward unaffordable policies and sanctuary county measures. He outlines three core issues: opposing sanctuary policies that burden taxpayers, protecting the Taxpayer Bill of Rights from erosion, and supporting law enforcement in a state ranked as the third most dangerous by U.S. News and World Report. Johnson criticizes Jefferson County’s reported spending of up to $375,000 on consulting firms to find loopholes around TABOR. He argues that working-class families deserve representatives who understand their struggles rather than politicians who continually seek new ways to extract revenue. “My compassion is for the working class people of Jefferson County who pay their bills every month, struggle to do so, and then are asked to pay for somebody else’s. My compassion lies for the young couple just starting out who see home prices so unattainable that their dream of home ownership is dead in their eyes.” Charlie Johnson, Jefferson County Commissioner Candidate Founding Principles Under Attack Start listening at 33:03 – Hour 1 Rick Turnquist discusses his essay “The Spirit of 1776,” published on Kim Monson’s website. Turnquist examines how the founders carefully constructed a system based on nearly a century of American colonial experience. He contrasts their vision with modern political corruption, citing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s accumulation of wealth beyond his salary as evidence of how far Washington has strayed from founding principles. Turnquist addresses the dangerous seven months ahead following the presidential debate, where Biden’s cognitive decline became undeniable. He argues that Democrats have been “exactly wrong” on major issues and that the current administration represents a fundamental departure from constitutional governance. “And one of the things I like about the Declaration of Independence is that it not only explicitly states what everybody should know is true, that our rights to life, liberty, property, and other inalienable rights are intrinsic to us as human beings. And government doesn’t grant rights.” Rick Turnquist, Featured Author Colorado Real Estate in Transition Start listening at 66:08 – Hour 2 Karen Levine, RE/MAX Alliance Realtor, reports that Colorado housing inventory has reached its highest level since 2012. This shift creates downward pressure on pricing and moves the market toward buyer-friendly conditions. Levine notes that while showings hit record highs last weekend, pending sales lag behind as buyers exercise patience and wait for better deals. The inventory buildup affects different communit...