Tone deaf in the state capitol

“(R)ural Colorado is expected to continue to lag behind the Front Range, dragged down by a precipitous drop in agricultural commodity prices and the ongoing struggles of the coal industry, which has shed nearly half its jobs since 2003.

Released at a Wednesday Joint Budget Committee hearing, the predominantly rosy economic picture painted by state and legislative economists will mean more revenue for Gov. John Hickenlooper’s next budget proposal, due out in November.

‘This is welcome room as we look ahead to planning the next budget request,’ said Henry Sobanet, the governor’s budget director.”

But no, “resentment politics,” sniff the urban elites. Resentfully.

Some rural Colorado school districts operate without a math teacher. Many small-town hospitals are on the verge of shutting down. Jobs are dwindling and the younger generation is moving to the rapacious Big City.

But, hey. Lawmakers in Denver have more money to spend!

Political talk tends to be urban-centric. Even when politicians are trying to address rural problems, they demonstrate a lack of empathy for the rural experience and ethic. Their solutions come across as paternalistic. They talk much more than they listen.

And if they would just listen to themselves — critically — they just might see that the resentment at the back of the line is real.