Author: Eric Sondermann
-
What ‘so much winning’ has wrought | SONDERMANN
Way back in 2015, Donald Trump famously promised Republicans, and the country at large: “We will have so much winning if I get elected that you may get bored with the winning.” Years later, if there is any boredom afoot in the land, it is of Trump himself. His act has grown stale and lost…
-
TABOR at 30: Colorado’s salvation or doom | SONDERMANN
Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR for short, has now reached full-fledged adult status, having been part of the State Constitution for 30 years. Time goes by. Many of us of some gray hairs recall the shock of TABOR’s 1992 passage. Three decades later, it is as much a part of the Colorado landscape…
-
Sorting out how we’ve sorted ourselves | SONDERMANN
If our political system and broad elements of our culture are out of sorts, as they are, a good deal of the cause lies in the manner in which we have sorted ourselves by political tribe. Nearly 15 years ago, Bill Bishop wrote what remains for me a formative book, “The Big Sort.” The book’s…
-
Five pairs of exemplars to ring in the new year | SONDERMANN
Eric Sondermann We should perhaps do this weekly, even daily. That being to recognize and, yes, celebrate those among us who set a high standard for living life fully and for enriching the lives of their fellow citizens. Around here, I have made this an annual tradition. As a relatively new columnist a few years…
-
A year that could have been worse | SONDERMANN
Eric Sondermann Time away, especially following a noisy election, can be good for the soul. Moreover, such breaks can offer perspective and make the debates that fill our days seem rather small and narrow. Consider that southeast Asia, only a sliver of that massive continent, comprises nearly 700 million people. That is a population more…
-
Serious questions for serious mayoral candidates | SONDERMANN
40 years ago, mayoral candidate Federico Pena challenged Denver voters to “imagine a great city.” The current state of Denver is hardly what he or his successors had in mind. Eric Sondermann To state what is obvious to anyone living here or even just visiting, Denver is at a critical juncture. The city must get…
-
A personal story of acceptance, a societal story of change | SONDERMANN
This is a story about families then and families now. Dear readers, meet my friend, Helen Christy. In her mid-80s, still fit, lively and tuned in, Helen is someone I have known for over four decades. When I call her a friend, that is accurate. But our real connection lies in her being the mother…
-
Knowing little, yet knowing everything | SONDERMANN
Eric Sondermann With caffeine at the ready as I fire up the keyboard very early Wednesday morning, we know precious little about ultimate control of the United States Senate and House. The balance of power remains still up in the air. Yet, at the same time, we know everything. Whichever party turns out to be…
-
SONDERMANN | In praise of those who lose graciously
Eric Sondermann The victors will be all smiles with glasses raised on election night. They will go on to hold office, make policy and exert leadership. Those who lose their elections will see their dreams dashed. They will lick their wounds and move onto other pursuits. Or plot a future comeback. Yet the functioning of…
-
SONDERMANN | The musky stench of Twitter
Eric Sondermann Twitter is now the latest possession and toy belonging to Elon Musk, the wealthiest of trolls. It is hard to imagine the platform becoming any more toxic and soul-crushing, both individually and societally. But anything is possible and the story of Twitter is that of the decline of manners and the descent of…