Here is an example of such a double standard: A candidate is adamant that government subsidies that help businesses or industries establish themselves or be more competitive are wrong because the free marketplace – not the government – should be the sole determiner of an enterprise’s viability. Yet, when that candidate then helps himself to as many government subsidies as are available to him, saying it is tax dollars that keep him in business, that is a double standard. That is J. Paul Brown’s standard.

Over the years, the USDA and La Plata County have been very good to J. Paul Brown, extending to him hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits through commodity subsidies, conservation programs, disaster payments and predator-control programs.

I have little problem with people using these programs for assistance; if it is necessary for our agricultural sector to get government money in order to provide our nation with food and fiber, I consider that a valid use of tax dollars. I do have a problem with the hypocrisy of being first at the government trough and then saying, “Nobody but me should get subsidies.”

“If it’s mine, it ain’t pork” is not a core value common to our part of the state and is not a standard an elected representative from Southwest Colorado should bring to Denver. I encourage you to vote for Mike McLachlan for representative from Colorado House District 59 for straight talk and solid standards.

Josh Joswick

Bayfield