Mountain States

Penfield W. Tate III
Denver, CO

To my six year old daughter Elleana:

Please share this letter with your friends and the people of Colorado. Daddy is here hoping that his efforts will provide the framework for ensuring an exciting future for you, your friends, and all our neighbors in Colorado. Having walked around the convention floor visiting with people from all over the nation and listening to our speakers, I am convinced that the platform of the Democratic party, as well as the candidates, offer the best hope for Colorado and the country. The issue is whether people will stick to the real issues and talk about reasonable solutions to existing problems that are forward looking and not only anticipate future problems but also suggest solutions before the new problems emerge.

The message and tone of the platforms of the two parties are nearly opposite. (Platforms are what people promise to do.) Democrats are talking about hope and optimism. Republicans are talking about fear of the future. Democrats are talking about a need to raise the entire boat of humanity in a collaborative fashion. Republicans are talking about punishing people who do not do as others expect. Finally, Democrats are promoting a message of needing to anticipate the future in terms of current and emerging needs that will result in changing and eliminating existing programs. Republicans are seeking to build a bridge to a failed past where a small segment of society profited greatly at the expense of many serving to bankrupt the future. (Remember how you and Daddy talk about sharing with your friends and being a good neighbor.) .....

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