By JON CALDARA

It's been maybe 16 years since I had a by-lined piece here in the Colorado Daily. But back then it wasn't on a column, it was on a comic strip. You see, my plan to avoid reality after college -- reality being defined as a "real" job -- was to be a cartoonist. And in the mid 1980's the Colorado Daily was home to my grand comic creation, "B Street."

My goal was relatively simple -- to be able to work at home in my underwear, forever. I would be living my pant-less dream as a cartoonist today if it weren't for three tiny limiting factors, which impeded me. One, I couldn't draw. Two, I couldn't spell. And three, I wasn't funny. Other than that I was great freckin' cartoonist.

There were also a couple of outside factors that made cartooning difficult here in Boulder. "B Street" was a conservative-leaning comic strip. I wanted it to be a free-market version of Bloom County or Doonesbury. I found that jokes ripping conservatives always scored, earning Pulitzers for the creators of Bloom County and Doonesbury. Jokes targeting liberals were apparently rarely funny.

In the mid to late '80s Boulder was just as hypersensitive as it is today. And then, like now, the CU campus was patrolled by the politically correct police. Back then the Daily was really the campus paper. Cartoon punchlines that were deemed "offensive" by some group were targeted and apologies demanded.

In one strip I had a neurotic character being tempted to eat a cupcake, or Twinkie or something. The treat whisper to him, "and me with my wrapper half off." He attacked and ate the treat. According to whatever feminist organization was taking up space in the U.M.C. offices back then, I was promoting date rape. Once I used the term "black humor," but to some without access to a dictionary I was promoting racism. The punchline, "dyslexics of the world, untie!" was an insult to dyslexics, and I was asked to apologize. Funny, given that I am one.

I came to Boulder in 1984. Since then I graduated from CU, owned a stage-lighting business here, got married here and started a family here, lost my daughter to cancer here, represented the community as an elected official on the RTD board, and wrote a column for the Daily Camera for four years here. I own a home here and my kids go to government schools. After 24 years I think it is fair to say I have every right to call myself a true Boulderite.

But many of my fellow Boulderites don't feel the same way. You see, I am a free market conservative. I don't agree with the Boulder credo of, "I know how you should live." I've opposed tax increases, smoking bans, growth control, bans on "chain" stores and restaurants and all the things that make Boulder the elitist town it is. As the president of the Independence Institute I work for personal and economic freedom. Neither is in great supply here. And after 24 years here in Boulder, I still feel quite the outsider.

I recall recently waiting in line at King Soopers. The man behind me recognized me, so I introduced myself. His first comment to me, "so why the hell don't you just leave, it's obvious you don't like Boulder," wasn't a question but an invitation to get the hell out of Dodge. I admire his directness. It was a message I have heard in this town one way or another for two decades -- your type doesn't belong here, this is Boulder, love it or leave it. Interesting isn't it? Many of the aging baby boomers who reacted to their "America, love it or leave it" elders have now truly come of age.

In a city that prides itself on throwing around the words "tolerance" and "diversity" like they are rice at a wedding (or bird seed in Boulder), my 24 years here have taught me that Boulder is still a massively intolerant place. Oh, there is a lot of tolerance of different political points of view here, assuming that all those views lean to the collectivist.

I'm not holding my breath for the city to reverse the smoking ban, lower taxes or allow cars on the bike paths. But a little less hypersensitivity would be a fine start.

"Independent Ideas" is written by representatives of the Independence Institute, a conservative think-tank in Golden. The column normally runs in the Colorado Daily on the second and fourth Monday of each month. The opinions expressed in "Independent Ideas" are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Colorado Daily management or staff.