Weekly Email 8/3/26
- Anja Sophia Crooks
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
 Chicago, IL |
Dear Restore the Balance Community, What Does It Mean to Put Country Before Party? Restore the Balance yard signs have featured the slogan, Country Before Party. What does this mean? It refers to our fourth principle, which states that the public interest must come before party interests for voters and elected officials alike. We think most Americans expect their elected officials to behave in general agreement with this principle. It means choosing to work towards solutions to problems instead of using problems as wedge issues against the opposing party. It may mean sacrificing a small amount to gain a larger benefit. It means that our public officials should stand up for all citizens, not only for those in their party, or for donors to their campaigns. It means having the courage to adhere to the rule of law and defend the Constitution. How many times in the last ten years have we heard the term party line vote? It turns out 2025 was a record year. Political polarization has increased steadily over the past half century. Analyses of congressional voting records show that Democrats and Republicans have become progressively more ideologically separated, contributing to fewer bipartisan compromises and greater political division.  Source: based on DW-NOMINATE congressional voting analyses by Keith T. Poole and Howard Rosenthal. Chart values are illustrative to show the long-term trend. When compromise declines, solving problems becomes harder. While Americans continue to share many common values, our political institutions have become more polarized over time. Recognizing this trend is the first step toward encouraging respectful dialogue and practical solutions. The level of arm-twisting and partisanship in our national politics does not serve the public interest. And it's up to us to demand more. As voters, we have a responsibility to choose carefully among candidates, and to assess which candidates will serve our country's interest, as well as our own. That could be called the patriotic way, not just the partisan way, to cast a ballot. |
A Request from the Board We need your help. We hope to provide voter information and encourage voter turnout this fall and employ a viral strategy to temper the authoritarian missives and false allegations regarding election integrity. We ask that you forward our Monday updates and any posts correcting misinformation being spread that question the reliability of American elections. We would like to preempt efforts already underway by those hoping to challenge election results or create doubt in the minds of voters, which may, through fear or doubt, discourage voter turnout. Please forward columns, op-eds, or articles to your friends, neighbors, contact lists, or on your social media platforms to spread the word and counter false propaganda. |
Important Updates We have a change of venue for the Water Forum on August 11. It will now be held at Ute Water Conservancy District's facilities, 2190 H 1/4 Rd, Grand Junction, which is better suited to a panel discussion format. If you have already registered on Eventbrite, there's no need to do anything else at this stage. |
Upcoming Events 8/11 — RTB Water Forum: 6:30-8:30 PM There's been overwhelming interest in this discussion, where you'll have the opportunity to put questions to the panel of experts. If you would like to participate, we recommend you register as soon as possible. A small donation is required to help cover the costs of the event. Please note that as these are donation tickets, there is only one ticket per registration. If you would like to register for a companion, you will need a second registration with the name of your guest. You can use your own email for both registrations. 8/19 — RTB Social Hour: 4:30-6:30 PM We're back with our friends at Cruise Control Kitchen and Bar in downtown Grand Junction. Please join us for an informal discussion on our activities between now and Election Day. 8/26 — Better Ballots Colorado: 5:00-7:00 PM Grand Valley Event Center, 2400 Consistory Ct, Grand Junction. A community conversation on Ranked Choice Voting, hosted by our partner, Courageous Colorado. 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. |
Recommendations Watch: The Big Truth About American Elections This may not be as lighthearted as some of our other recommendations, but our angst over possible election interference is weighing on us. David Becker is a former DOJ attorney who now runs the Center for Election Research. In this interview, he discusses why U.S. elections are secure, yet how misinformation is designed to sow doubt among voters. If you didn't have a chance to join the Zoom last week, you can watch the recording here. |
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; 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. |
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