Colorado's Hidden Tax Burden: Inflation, Regulation, and Hidden Levies

Amidst claims of budget shortages, Colorado's legislative bodies impose three principal forms of taxation that often go unnoticed or misunderstood. The first involves direct taxes and fees—such as income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes—that are visibly deducted from paychecks or included in purchase prices. However, these "transparent" levies can be concealed in everyday expenses; for instance, renters indirectly bear property taxes through their rent payments, while the costs of taxes on goods like bread are embedded in the retail price. The second form stems from inflation, driven by federal monetary policies that increase the money supply through relentless printing. Historically, when currencies were backed by gold, money retained or increased its value over time, leading to deflation—where prices decline and purchasing power rises. Today, because the U.S. dollar is fiat currency, unlimited printing causes inflation, eroding savings and distorting real costs. For example, a $20 gold coin from 1925 today is worth over $3,300, whereas a $20 bill from the same era has negligible value due to inflation. In terms of real estate, if the nation had remained on the gold standa...