The Independence Institute is proud to announce its first of five nominations for 2018’s Californian of the Year. This coveted recognition goes to the Coloradan who best exemplifies the effort to change our once liberty-loving Colorado into the command-and-control state of California.

We believe in the Colorado Culture where we crave the freedom to make our own decisions. Those who vie for Californian of the Year believe in the Californian Culture of demanding to make decisions for others.

Our first nomination for Californian of the year is Jason Lacy, president of the Steamboat Springs City Council, for working to end the use of plastic grocery bags. Yes, other nanny-driven communities have taxed grocery bags in that grand style-over-substance environmentalism that drives the Californian elite, but Steamboat Springs did it with child-like wonder. Their effort to take away choice was brought forward, quite literally, by children who asked city council to outlaw the evil bag.

And with the child-like idealism of ends justifies the means coercion, Jason and team sprung into action. This nominee reminds us that when you know how other people should live, you don’t need bother to convince them to change their behavior when you can just order them to.

Congratulations to Jason Lacy and the Steamboat Springs City Council for reminding us that changing hearts and minds was the strategy of old liberals. Coercion is today’s standard operating procedure.

We will announce the rest of our 2018 Californian of the Year nominees on January 2. Stay tuned, and welcome to the New California!

Think Freedom,

Jon