The Trees and the Axe

Dear Restore the Balance Community,

In Aesop's fable The Trees and the Axe, a man asks the forest for a single small branch to make an axe handle. The kind trees agree and give him a young ash tree, but the man uses it to cut down the entire forest.

Topic of the Week

Those disappointed or disbelieving of the results of the 2020 election had every right to question its validity. They did, repeatedly. Multiple audits and hand counts were performed. Results were challenged in over 60 court cases. The 2020 election was both free and fair, and Joe Biden won.

So was the 2024 election, and Donald Trump won.

Those who continue to engage in questioning these facts aren't trying to make our elections more secure; they're trying to make it more difficult for eligible citizens to vote. Read the fine print of the SAVE America Act.

It requires states to turn over their voter registration lists to the Department of Homeland Security's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database. This database has been shown to have frequent inaccuracies and inadequate privacy protection. The bill would also allow federal agencies to share private information with each other and with the heads of federal departments.

Read the GAO report on SAVE database inaccuracies here.

It also imposes criminal penalties, including imprisonment, on election workers for mistakenly registering voters without proof of citizenship, and these penalties would apply even if the individual is a US citizen.

Read the bill text here.

For a fuller breakdown, see this fact sheet from the League of Women Voters of Ohio.

Read the LWV Ohio fact sheet here.

More than being a common-sense requirement for voter ID, it would essentially give the federal government administrative control of our elections. So if you're one of those people who believes that the 2020 election was stolen, we are going to bet you may be one who is suspicious of an overly powerful central government, and one who sees value in states' rights and county-level accountability. So do we.

That's why RTB will be focusing on voting from now until November. One of the best ways for you to stand up for your right to vote is to vote early. And pay close attention to which candidates continue to evade questions about the facts, and instead sow fear and suspicion.

"Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices." Voltaire

Better Ballots Community Conversation, Grand Junction

Join Courageous Colorado for Better Ballots, a free, nonpartisan community conversation about the future of elections in Colorado.

Whether you're just beginning to learn about ranked choice voting or have been following the conversation for a while, this event is an opportunity to hear how the system works, ask questions, and engage in thoughtful discussion with fellow community members.

Wednesday, August 265:00-7:00 PMGrand Valley Event Center

Everyone is welcome. We hope you'll join us for an evening of learning, dialogue, and civic engagement.

Register here.

Seating is limited, and RSVPs are required.

Upcoming Events

8/11 — RTB Water Forum

6:30-8:30 PM

NEW LOCATION, Ute Water Conservancy District, 2190 H 1/4 Rd, Grand Junction

Reserve your seat here.

8/19 — RTB Social Hour

4:30-6:30 PM, Cruise Control Kitchen and Bar, downtown Grand Junction

8/20 — Town Hall Tour, Your Voice Matters

5:00-7:00 PM, Dwayne Romero for Colorado, Together We Lead. Clifton Community Center, Clifton, CO. Hosted in partnership with Stand With Veterans. 

Shared for informational purposes only; does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate or political party.

8/26 — Better Ballots Colorado

5:00-7:00 PM, Grand Valley Event Center, 2400 Consistory Ct, Grand Junction

Register here.

9/20 — How to Have Difficult Conversations

10:30 AM-1:00 PM, A discussion and screening of the movie Reuniting America, presented by Braver Angels.

Unitarian Universalist Church, 536 Ouray Ave, Grand Junction.

Registration required here. 

On the Radar: Local Government Meetings

• Board of County Commissioners: Tuesdays @ 9am

• Grand Junction City Council: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30pm

• Town of Palisade Board of Trustees Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6pm

• Fruita City Council: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7pm

• D51 School Board: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 5pm (public comments accepted on 3rd Tuesdays only)

• Mesa County Library Board: Last Thursdays @ 5:30pm

• Public Health Board: Monthly Tuesdays @ 3pm

Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming!

Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter?

Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update.

You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice.

Submit your recommendations here

Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together.

Don't forget to vote in 2026: Ballots will be mailed on October 2. Vote Early.