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Restore the Balance
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Colorado congresswoman, Lauren Boebert, objected to what she called, “wokeness”, a term some use to derisively describe simply being aware - an awareness that some seem to consider a threat to their position of prominence and entitlement. “America only has one national anthem. Why is the NFL trying to divide us by playing multiple? Do football. Not wokeness” she demanded.

The Common Good inaugurated an annual survey on "National Division" just before the election. With The Common Good Index (TCGI) we decided to quantify division now and measure division over time, not only to find causes of the elevated temperature of the nation's "hot zones" but to identify solutions. 

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We can feel better about the fact that resistance to extremism is growing. But the authoritarian threat to democracy is real and serious. Lauren Boebert still holds power. Extremists have made gains in other parts of the country. It will take conservatives, liberals, and moderates, working together, to overcome this threat.

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The razor-thin near-rejection of Boebert — from a district that Donald Trump won by eight percentage points in 2020, covering much of the western half of the state — demonstrates that Trump-esque style of turning the performative outrage up to 11 hit a hard ceiling among the electorate, repelling not just Democrats and independents but apparently a thin but decisive slice of Republicans.

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The district, which is the state’s largest, extends from Wyoming to New Mexico, encompassing ranching communities and tourist towns, oil fields and peach orchards, the state’s ritziest ski resorts and its lowest-income rural counties.

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Restore the Balance has seven principles that the organization is founded on. They are bipartisanship, facts, open policy solutions, public interest, problem-solving, freedom to choose a party and individual responsibility. Deeper descriptions can be found on the website. 

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Yesterday, in what was likely the final hearing of the January 6 committee, the nation was told, once more and without ambiguity, that Donald Trump, the commander in chief, actively sought to subvert our democratic order.

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More than a few of us are convinced that the authoritarian threat to democracy is real and serious. It seems to be bearing down on us like an unstoppable locomotive. Some believe the train is moving slowly and that there is enough time to warn others.  

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If our democracy really is at risk by continuing to run elections the old way, then maybe it’s time to try something new.

The midterm elections are only two months away. The presidential election is only 26 months away. 

Voter confidence is crucial and what happens in Mesa County matters to every American.

In might take a few years, but the choice is clear. Colorado should get in line to adopt nonpartisan, open primaries coupled with ranked-choice voting.

"What much of the party establishment doesn’t understand is that rural life is rooted in shared values of independence, common sense, tradition, frugality, community and hard work. Democratic campaigns often seem to revolve around white papers and wonky policy."

 An interesting study and conclusion by eight leading conservatives regarding the 2020 Presidential Election titled,

 

"LOST, NOT STOLEN: The Conservative Case that Trump Lost and Biden Won the 2020 Presidential Election"

While we wait, leadership must come from fathers and mothers, teachers and nurses, priests and rabbis, businessmen and businesswomen, journalists and pundits. That will require us all to rise above ourselves—above our grievances and resentments—and grasp the mantle of leadership our country so badly needs.

I am an independent. And as of July 1, 2022, I am associated with 1,715,211 other independent voters in Colorado. We are, by far, greater in numbers than any party. And we continue to grow for reasons I will explain below.

The Daily Sentinel Reports a Handful of candidates respond to survey about political extremism.

RTB report on voter registration trends picked up by national media.  Click to see article just published on POLITICO's Congress Minutes.

While Restore the Balance has chosen to not endorse candidates, we encourage you to learn as much as you can by seeking information about candidates and their positions from credible sources.  We hope you might find this article helpful to you in becoming an informed voter.

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger from Illinois has chosen not to run for reelection in 2022 but instead has started a new organization called Country1st. 

Its stated mission is to "Defeat Toxic Tribalism" . 

The website outlines a strategy to unite "Disaffected Republicans; Independents and unaffiliated voters; and even people from other parties" to take on "these toxic tribal chieftans in 'safe' seats" by striking them in the primary election. 

Country 1st

Guest Column with The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction

by Bernie Buescher, Thea Chase, Dennis Kirtland, George Orbanek, Kirk Rider and Tim Sarmo.

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"The group’s primary focus is to educate the public about the danger of political extremism and offer an alternative set of political principles to return to a community that pulls together to solve problems."

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