Secessionist counties not only ones neglected

There is something gloriously refreshing about the 51st-state movement. If the West is to maintain its pioneer spirit, maybe we need a good rebellion every decade or so. It’s made us who we are. It reminds of us how fiendishly hard people fought and worked to settle the high plains and mountains, and it is an echo of their fierce determination to shape their fate.

We’re going to assume that the unanimous Aug. 19 vote by five Weld County Commissioners to take the secession question to the voters is a sincere attempt to give voice to disenfranchised citizens of rural northeastern Colorado – and not a cynical ploy by seasoned politicos to steal attention for themselves.

Eight weeks ago, the Northern Colorado Business Report asked readers in its online poll whether the northeast portion of the state was right to ask for a divorce. Surprisingly, 41.4 percent of our online readers – it’s a non-scientific poll, of course – said absolutely yes, 2.3 percent said maybe and 56.3 percent said no.

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Within city limits in towns such as Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley, there is a quiet sense that this is a fool’s errand.

Perhaps it is. But we can’t help but think of Colorado’s other far-flung places that could argue neglect before state lawmakers.

How long has it been since you’ve driven to Moffat or Rio Blanco counties in northwestern Colorado? Once you leave the Yampa Valley, there is little or nothing out there. And don’t forget the folks in Grand County. Talk about neglect at the hands of urban lawmakers. Water deals forged decades ago have left some of their most pristine streams and parks nearly dry, lost to the clout of urban water utilities and their powerful lobbyists and legislative reps under the capitol dome.

Then consider Prowers and Bent counties in southeastern Colorado.

The list of neglected rural counties grows long very quickly. Few of them have the wealth of rebellious Weld County. But we suspect they would all benefit from more attention at the Capitol. Who knows, maybe it is time for another rebellion, but only if the 51st state takes in more struggling rural counties longing to be heard.