It’s been a source of both bemusement and irritation to me that some of my friends with the longest time in government service tend to be the most anti-government. Cops, firefighters, military members and postal workers, to name but a few groups, have hardworking, patriotic employees, some of whom feel the government is the enemy, even as they cash their government paychecks.

Don’t get me wrong: this anti-government attitude is hardly limited to ironic governmental employees, but as a 25-plus-year career military officer, I think our governments (local, state and national) are generally staffed by industrious and loyal Americans. And please understand that I’m not talking about our elected representatives. In the world of partisan politics, there is much to criticize. Apparently to prove government doesn’t work, GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has blocked over 300 bipartisan bills from even being considered. And our president has just declared himself the chief law enforcement officer of the country. Spoiler: he isn’t, the attorney general is.

That said, I’m still a fan of what the government can do for you, like deliver your mail, fight your house fires, and protect you and yours through law enforcement. Ronald Reagan was famous for his witty quips, but to this day I cringe over his famous laugh line: The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” I’m pretty sure the firefighters that show up to your burning home are there to help.

Which brings me to a couple of recent Colorado news stories that illustrate the good and the bad. The first story from Colorado Politics tells the tale of proposed legislation that would grant in-state tuition rates to military families and veterans here in Colorado. This is a big deal, though it doesn’t impact that many folks. You’ve likely heard the line about 1% of Americans serve in the military. It’s actually less than that, closer to .5%. Obviously, my 25 years biases me on this issue, but during my active-duty time, I was aware that some states offered in-state college rates to military folks and vets, and some, like Colorado, did not. 

The legislature appears poised to pass  HB20-1275, which will allow active duty or honorably discharged former military members to get in-state rates. The difference between in-state and out-of-state rates for colleges is massive. In-state isn’t cheap, at roughly $7,000 per year, but out-of-state is about $10,000 more. This bill will make Colorado military bases more appealing to military members seeking new assignments and will increase the likelihood of folks getting out of the military sticking around our fair state, which is a net good for us. So, good job, state legislature!

But our federal government is quietly sneaking through what I call an abuse of power, which indirectly impacts the Centennial State. Recall that last October our president mentioned building sections of border wall on the Colorado border – he later asserted he was just joking, though I have my doubts about his geographical sophistication. In any case, the actual construction of Mr. Trump’s wall is vastly behind what he promised: 500 new miles by the end of 2020. It seems that most of the wall that has been “built” has been replacing and/or refurbishing already existing sections of wall.

So, things are way behind schedule, and, frankly, are not going well. Therefore, I’d like to draw your attention to an Associated Press story out this week that reports that the Department of Homeland Security is waiving a variety of federal laws dealing with contracting and contracts to hurry things along. The 10 laws waived will certainly speed things along, as those laws required companies to bid in an open and transparent manner, and to allow companies that lose out on the contract to protest any shenanigans they think they see. In other words, the DHS can now just award contracts to companies they want to, without competitive bids, to hurry things up. What could possibly go wrong?

Maybe nothing, but I’m not that optimistic. Telling construction companies that they can get contracts, without any competition or competitive bidding, doesn’t strike me as the best way to safeguard tax dollars.

I admit I’m pleased the “good” example of governance comes from Colorado, and I’m not the least bit surprised that the “bad” example comes from the Trump administration. I’m certainly biased. But I offer these examples, dear reader, as evidence that Reagan was at least somewhat wrong, and that governmental oversight is critical. That oversight becomes far more difficult when the government operates in the darkness, without supervision. 

Hal Bidlack is a retired professor of political science and a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who taught more than 17 years at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.