The Key to Prosperity and Progress is Capitalism

On October 27, 2022, Kim Monson welcomes Josh Lallement, president of Liberty Toastmasters Denver and Libertarian candidate for Arapahoe County Assessor, for a special Liberty Toastmasters Day exploring capitalism, the upcoming midterm elections, and how to vote on Colorado’s judicial retention questions.

Capitalism and Individual Rights

Start listening at 2:00 – Hour 1

Josh Lallement makes the case that capitalism is the only moral socio-economic system because it recognizes and protects the individual. Lallement, who serves as president of Liberty Toastmasters Denver and runs as a Libertarian for Arapahoe County Assessor, explains how government-managed monopolies drive up costs and impoverish citizens. He warns that when government colludes with businesses to create forced monopolies, innovation stalls and consumers suffer. The conversation touches on property taxes, with Lallement noting that upcoming reassessments could raise property taxes 40 to 50 percent even without new ballot measures passing.

“We don’t live in a capitalist free market anymore. When government has all these businesses they collude with and have these uncompeting forced monopolies, it just drives off the cost of everything and makes us all poor.”

Josh Lallement, President of Liberty Toastmasters Denver

Liberty Toastmasters on Political Engagement

Start listening at 30:00 – Hour 1

Rick Rome, previous president of Liberty Toastmasters Denver and member of the Arapahoe County GOP Executive Committee, urges voters to cast their ballots early so campaigns can focus resources elsewhere. He emphasizes the importance of being informed voters and checking candidates’ positions before making decisions. Terri Goon from Boulder County reports an unprecedented level of conservative engagement, noting that letters to the editor in her local paper now run about half Republican, something she has not seen in 20 years. Dave Walden, president of Liberty Toastmasters Longmont, warns that the Democratic Party has evolved to believe their ends justify their means, as demonstrated by nominating a Senate candidate in Pennsylvania who clearly struggles to communicate after a stroke.

“I’ve never seen anything in, let’s say, the last 20 years, I’ve not seen anything like this, where it’s almost like the fear of speaking out is going away because of this election.”

Terri Goon, Liberty Toastmasters

Venezuela’s Warning and Free Market Principles

Start listening at 41:24 – Hour 1

Liberty Toastmasters member Christy shares her perspective on capitalism under attack, drawing a stark comparison to Venezuela. Once a thriving nation with a huge middle class, Venezuela has become a genuine hellhole under communist rule, with the average citizen losing about 19 pounds due to food shortages. Christy also recounts a concept from Commander Rourke Denver’s keynote speech at the USMC Memorial Foundation luncheon the previous day: harmonic gait, the God-given way we are all meant to move with purpose, joy, and direction. She argues these freedoms are only possible under capitalism, not under regimes that constrain and stultify.

“Not long ago, Venezuela was thriving and prosperous with a huge middle class. And now under the communist Maduro and past Chavez regimes, it’s become a genuine hellhole, much like a lot of our current Democrat-controlled cities.”

Christy, Liberty Toastmasters

How to Vote on Judicial Retention

Start listening at 69:17 – Hour 2

Matt Arnold, a law student who has researched Colorado judicial races, provides a comprehensive overview of how judicial retention works. All Colorado judges are appointed, not elected, but voters can remove them through retention elections at different intervals: Supreme Court justices every 10 years, Court of Appeals judges every eight years, District Court judges every six years, and County Court judges every four years. This year features an unusually high number of appellate court judges on the ballot, with seven of eight appearing for the first time, reflecting significant turnover. Arnold notes that most judges on the ballot were likely appointed by Governors Polis, Hickenlooper, or Ritter, and while judges rarely get voted out in Colorado, conservatives should consider voting no on retention as a general principle.

“Most of the judges on the ballot were probably appointed by either Polis or Hickenlooper, or maybe even Ritter.”

Matt Arnold, Law Student