I believe it is a citizen's duty to speak out when the government is doing something questionable. Conversely, I think citizens should also speak up when government does something especially well. In the later category, I commend the Lakewood city government for its action on the city sales tax on food.

In eliminating the sales tax on food, the city eliminates both an unfair burden on the taxpayers and a major source of political contention. In replacing most of the lost funds with a repeal of the exemptions from the last sales tax increase that Walmart and Colorado Mills had previously enjoyed, the city both avoids most of the potential lost city services and eliminates yet another source of political controversy.

But as brilliant as the solution is, the thing I like most about it is the process used to achieve it. When the matter first came up, I was afraid it would fall victim to politics as usual with "strong" leaders taking opposing, principled positions of "unfair" taxes versus "lost city services". The ultimate danger would be that the "leaders" would force the matter to a vote of the people at the cost of thousands of dollars and more divisiveness.

Instead advocates of both sides sat down and worked out a "third" approach that is a compromise between the two starting positions. While neither side got everything it wanted, they did manage to achieve the vast majority of their goals and the people's interests were best served.

I commend everyone involved and hope this ushers in a new era where real leaders are not afraid to seek compromises that work in the people's best interests.