Give Us a Break

The Denver Post gave Vince Carroll at the Rocky Mountain News some prime fodder today, reporting that the Denver metro area faces the prospect of "deodorant controls" to keep pollution in check.

The idea is completely ridiculous and about as likely to be adopted as Denver's likely to elect a Republican for the First Congressional District.

Nevertheless, the article got some attention. 26 people left comments on the article--most of them hostile--meaning some conservative whacko website likely posted a link claiming that if liberals take away your deodorant, they'll be taking away your children next. Thankfully, the comments have, as usual, devolved into a spat of name calling and have lost any impact they may have had as far as presenting genuine criticism--not that there was any there to begin with.

The Denver Post's right wing-baiting aside, the article is a reminder that we can't just say we we're going to come up with a plan to cut ozone pollution in Denver, we actually have to make that plan. And people, particularly the state and industry, seem to be fretting at that prospect.

Get over it. Cutting ozone pollution in the Denver metro area won't be easy. The reason? Industry won't want to do a thing to address this problem. So, they're going to have to be pushed, prodded, and cajoled into agreeing to a plan. Sound easy? Let's just say there's probably 4-H'ers out there that would rather show a temperamental steer at the fair than have to deal with industry on this one.

But let's not worry. Any good 4-Her knows that patience, persistence, and a good, strong tug on the halter will keep any steer in the show. And as far as deodorant goes, don't forget, the First Congressional District has been and continues to be held by Democrat Diana DeGette.