Author: Miller Hudson

Miller Hudson I didn’t expect to be drafting my first 2024 column wondering whether it might be overtaken by the outbreak of a Middle Eastern conflagration, perhaps even a World War. We are living in perilous times. Even if we dodge a bullet this week, there’s always the following weeks. Closer to home, Congressional Republicans…

Miller Hudson For several decades most new cars warned us, “Objects In the mirror may be closer than they appear.” Either technology has improved, or lawyers and regulators determined such warnings accomplish little – protecting neither drivers nor auto manufacturers. As 2024 arrives, a threat which may prove closer than it appears is the recent plea…

Miller Hudson Colorado has a reputation as North America’s Switzerland, only without the sleek rail network, and our governor appears determined to correct this shortcoming. Though we are a state which, upon close inspection, seems prone to urgent care responses to public policy challenges, our powder snow, alpine geography, luxury resorts in winter and summer,…

Miller Hudson There’s something a little depressing in the promise 2024 will be dominated with 24/7 coverage of the presidential race. Assuming former President Donald Trump’s near certain lock on the Republican nomination, round-the-clock reporting could start as soon as next month should the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary results blow his remaining challengers…

Miller Hudson Legislatures are prone to adopting policy strategies that offer the least public resistance whenever they address social or environmental challenges. Whether an initiative remedies the problem at hand ranks well behind its ease of implementation, concurrence among the noisily aggrieved and the perception a proposed intervention sounds likely to be effective. Forty years…

Miller Hudson We are barely a quarter of our way through the 21st century and three Colorado governors have been singled out as potential White House occupants, a Republican and two Democrats. It was Bill Owens who first drew attention among Washington’s “mentioning mavens,” receiving plaudits from both the National Review and uber-columnist George Will.…

Miller Hudson Last week the Denver Press Club organized a weeklong trip to Oaxaca, an increasingly attractive magnet for foodie fans. Organized by one-time Westword restaurant writer and bar consultant Tony White through his Almas Viejas tour company, which he operates with his wife and business partner Carmen. They arranged for us artisanal mezcal tastings,…

Miller Hudson When I was a kid, a common schoolyard taunt was, “Don’t make a federal case outta this!” The message was if you picked a fight or registered a complaint which attracted the attention of federal prosecutors, you were putting yourself in a world of hurt. Federal prosecutions were successful 99% of the time…

Miller Hudson If you don’t believe American politics has become a spectator sport, you weren’t listening to the cable bloviators on Nov. 7. Speculation about the 2023 election’s implications for 2024 dominated their analysis of voter results. This is, of course, something like reading tea leaves at the bottom of your mug for predictions of…

Miller Hudson Harvard professor Danielle Allen, who was briefly a candidate for governor of Massachusetts last year, is spearheading a national campaign to restore a central role for civics instruction in American educational curricula. Last week The New York Times devoted two pages to civics programs offered by major employers across Western democracies, primarily in…