Weekly Email 7/14/26
- Anja Sophia Crooks
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
 Asteria Theatre, CMU — Electric Avenue Dear Restore the Balance Community, A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Congress worked to pass laws that benefited not only their own constituents, but the broader country as well. Our Congressmen and women debated fiercely, they argued passionately, and then they settled down and figured out how to meet somewhere in the middle. They thought of their children and grandchildren as they passed budgets, established oversight agencies, and considered international alliances and threats. Well, they did it again! This Congress passed a bipartisan housing bill. Read what's in the final 21st Century Road to Housing Act here. This became law though the president refused to sign it during the review period.) It got us thinking about our first listed Restore the Balance principle, and about what principles actually are. |
A Note on What We're Doing for the Next Eight Weeks Starting today, RTB is doing a deep dive into each of our eight principles, one per week for the next eight weeks. Each Monday Update will take one principle, explain what it means, why it matters right now, and what it looks like in practice in our community and our democracy. We hope this series will give our members a clearer sense of what RTB stands for, why these principles aren't partisan, and how they apply to the real challenges facing Western Colorado and the country. A principle, by definition, is a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior. RTB's eight principles aren't talking points, they're commitments. And we think they're worth examining one by one. This week: Principle #1. |
Topic of the Week: Principle #1 — Common Ground "Political parties, citizens and elected officials should vigorously compete over values, principles and ideas, but must also find common ground to solve problems and pass needed legislation." Politicians and individuals are always going to have different takes on what is most important, what is desirable, and what is acceptable. (At least we hope we don't all think alike, because that would make us sheep, and not the fabulous humans that we are.) But our RTB principle emphasizes finding common ground. Most of us find a way to do this in our own lives. When we asked you to vote on slogans for our new yard signs, your joint first choice, along with Country Over Party, was Less Division, More Solutions. Let's keep pushing for our elected officials to argue, to debate, but then to come together to find solutions. Speaking of solutions, we have occasionally highlighted the ways in which our current two-party system ensures its own perpetuation, while hindering cooperation and progress. Please take a moment to read a recent column from the Daily Sentinel reflecting on our current primary voting processes in Colorado. Read the Kent Thiry column here. We COULD elect more candidates who are more solution-focused and less extreme; by changing the caucus system and party primaries, we could encourage more choice and more moderate candidates. And because of the comment above, we realize we may well get pushback from our sheep-friendly members. We'd like to point out that sheep really are amazing animals. See for yourself. |
Your Voice Matters — Rocky Mountain PBS Wants to Hear From You You may have voted because of a specific issue: healthcare, housing, education, or something else impacting your community. Rocky Mountain PBS would like to hear more about what matters to you. Check out Above the Noise; we'll be looking more into this resource in future emails. |
Member Recommendations Book: The Patriots — Winston GroomRecommended by RTB member Nancy Terrill: "This is a well-written and informative book on the details of the tireless dedication to liberty shown by founders Hamilton, Jefferson, and Adams. It was a huge struggle for them to continue to hold to their principles of forming this new Republic and work steadily to establish our new nation." Book: Lessons from Lucy — Dave BarryA lighter recommendation for summer reading, humorist Dave Barry reflects on what his dog has taught him about living a happier, less complicated life. Sometimes democracy needs a laugh. Music: What's more American in our 250th year than Aaron Copland's Rodeo? Listen here. |
On Our Radar Colorado Voting Rights Victory The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled in favor of the NAACP Colorado, League of Women Voters of Colorado, and Mi Familia Vota in their case challenging a door-to-door voter intimidation scheme in Colorado. The ruling clears the way for a new trial against the United States Election Integrity Plan (USEIP), an organization whose agents, some of them armed, went door to door to interrogate voters in their homes after the 2020 election. "The court has made clear that voter intimidation is not beyond the reach of the law," said Beth Hendrix, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Colorado. Read the full ruling summary here. DOJ Letter Threatens States Over Noncitizen Voting Worth watching as we head toward November. Read more at Democracy Docket. New Trump OMB Rule — Organizations and the Public Raise Concerns A proposed rule from the Trump administration's Office of Management and Budget would give the federal government broad new authority to review and potentially cancel grants to universities, nonprofits, and research organizations, including the ability to scan grants for the political affiliations of researchers and administrators. The public comment period has recently closed, but Congress could potentially act after the fact. Read more at Forbes. Trump Administration Cuts to Scientific Research The administration has moved to significantly reduce funding for scientific research across multiple federal agencies. Local organizations and universities could be affected. While not directly election-related, the cuts raise serious questions about the role of evidence and expertise in public policy, values central to RTB's mission. Read more at The Guardian. Regardless of Primary Outcome, the Real Loser is Colorado Voters Read the Daily Sentinel column here. What Makes American Patriotism So Different? A timely read as we reflect on the country's 250th anniversary. Read at The Cipher Brief. |
Upcoming Events July 14 — RTB Delta County Annual Meeting | 6:00 PM | Orchard Town Hall, Orchard City, CO. Judge Steven Patrick will discuss Constitutional Law and answer questions. All are welcome. July 15 — RTB Social Hour | 4:30–6:30 PM | Sauvage Spectrum, 676 38 1/4 Road, Palisade. Beat the heat in the air-conditioned tasting room at Sauvage Spectrum — a perfect chance to cool off with a glass of wine among the orchards and vineyards. Light appetizers provided by RTB, with wines available for purchase. This month's discussion will be based on The Rest Is Politics: U.S. — Episode 200. Give it a listen before you come! November 3 — Colorado General Election |
On the Radar: Local Government Meetings
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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;Â 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: November general. |