There are reasons junk food sells so well. It is easy, satisfying in the moment, and engineered to hit emotional triggers. It also leaves us worse off if we rely on it as a steady diet. The same is true in public discourse and economic policy.

Tariffs, racism, misogyny, isolationism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, populism, nationalism, and protectionism function like emotional junk food. They are designed to provoke fear, resentment, and a false sense of certainty. They offer simple villains and easy answers in a complex world. They feel good in the short term because they tell us who to blame. But over time, they weaken the very systems that allow communities like ours to thrive.

Eagle County’s economy is built on connection. Tourism, outdoor recreation, aviation, healthcare, construction, hospitality, and professional services all rely on a global flow of people, ideas, labor, and capital. Visitors from around the world come here. Seasonal workers arrive from different states and countries. Businesses source equipment, materials, and products from global supply chains. Our success depends on openness, not retreat.

Tariffs may sound like a way to “protect” jobs, but in practice they raise costs for local businesses and consumers. A contractor in Gypsum pays more for materials. A restaurant in Edwards pays more for equipment. A ski shop in Beaver Creek pays more for inventory. Those costs ripple outward as higher prices, lower margins, and fewer opportunities. Protectionism feels tough, but it quietly taxes everyone.

The same dynamic plays out socially. Racism, misogyny, and religious bigotry promise comfort by drawing lines between “us” and “them.” But in a community that depends on teamwork, trust, and talent from everywhere, those lines become barriers to growth. Employers struggle to recruit. Young professionals look elsewhere. Entrepreneurs choose communities that welcome difference rather than fear it.

Populism and hyper-nationalism often claim to speak for “regular people,” yet they dismiss expertise, science, and education as elitist. Eagle County knows better. Our water systems, transportation networks, healthcare services, and environmental stewardship rely on science and trained professionals. Our schools, Colorado Mountain College, businesses, and workforce training programs are economic assets. Inclusive education is not a luxury. It is infrastructure.

Free enterprise, liberty, and freedom are not slogans. They are systems that require rules, trust, and openness to work well. Markets function best when competition is fair, information is shared, and innovation is encouraged. That innovation often comes from collaboration across borders and cultures. Whether it is renewable energy, medical technology, or outdoor gear, progress rarely happens in isolation.

Secularism matters here too. A pluralistic community works because no single belief system is imposed on everyone else. People of faith, people of no faith, and people of different traditions coexist because the rules set by government are neutral. That neutrality creates stability, predictability, and freedom for all.

None of this is easy. Choosing a healthy diet, personal or civic, takes discipline. It requires us to resist outrage, reject scapegoats, and do the harder work of problem-solving. Housing shortages, workforce constraints, climate impacts, and cost pressures will not be solved by blaming outsiders or walling ourselves off. They will be solved through data, collaboration, investment, and a willingness to engage with the world as it is.

Eagle County’s history shows what works. Openness. Innovation. Respect for individual freedom paired with shared responsibility. A global outlook grounded in local values.

Emotional junk food will always be tempting. But if we care about long-term prosperity and social cohesion, we should choose nourishment over noise and build a future strong enough to sustain the next generation.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, 3-time national chamber of the year. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com