Recall, Teddy Roosevelt's Grassroots Tool.

We are observing the recall efforts in Colorado, will have a workshop right after the elections in November to look at the grassroots tools we have in Colorado, try to help more people understand how to use them to help the common person serve in elected public office.

Neighborhood representative wanted for new project.

I just posted this on www.JohnWren.com. Will you help? Call me! John Wren (303)861-1447 

For years I've had an interest in the Colorado caucus-assembly system for nominating to the primary ballot, in my opinion the best chance the common person has for serving in elected public office. See http://www.COCaucus.org 

Here's a new idea. Let's created a new business, doing well by doing good, with grassroots civic education and a Welcome Wagon type neighborhood marketing network. 

Let's write a handbook for Colorado citizens, update every year, sell to newcomers through a network of neighborhood representatives who will welcome newcomers and be the hub for neighborhood communications.

The citizen handbook will cover the caucus system, referendum , recall and initiatives, as well as how to get elected to public office. 

If you'd be interested in being part of this project as a sponsor, neighborhood representative, writer, or advertiser, contact me via John@JohnWren.com or (303)861-1447 see http://Facebook.com/goodNeighborsWeVote PLEASE SHARE 

It takes a neighborhood to have a fair election.

There is concern on the left and right that we are loosing the necessary condition for the voice of the common person to be expressed through our representative democracy: FAIR ELECTIONS! http://harpers.org/archive/2012/11/how-to-rig-an-election/

What can you do? Strengthen your neighborhood. How? If you don't know, join us at an 
IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop, raise that as a topic.  
http:// Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

Everyone should read this book. Describes the problem, decline across the board in social capital, the market system, representative government and civil society. What's the solution? See  review of the book and John Wren's suggested solution (click here), along with his comment about the role of groups like Rotary, Lions, and Optimists (it's not what you think) and the Church.

The Great Degeneration

By Niall Ferguson

(Penguin Press, 174 pages, $26.95)

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If you want to understand Colorado politics, listen to Corky Kyle's In the Lobby!

Will Colorado Caucus be an issue?

Our Colorado Secretary of State has just announced he'll be running for Governor. He's done a good job of getting information out about the Colorado Caucus, will he use that as an issue in his campaign do you think? Here's article from the Denver Post about his entering the race.

It's been about a year since our 2012 Colorado Caucus, we're at the mid-point from it to our 2014 edition. We are going to announce a long over due plan to build a state-wide organization, down to the prescient lever that will be dedicated not to candidates or issues but to maximizing informed participation, especially with newcomers to Colorado and newcomers to our wonderful neighborhood caucus-assembly system, the best chance for the common person to serve in elected public office.

If you'd be willing to help let us know.

In caucus states candidates are put on the primary ballot through neighborhood meetings. The alternative is to just have party bosses anoint their favorites. That's why some party bosses would like to see the system changed.

To protect the system, more newcomers need to find out about how the system works, attend for a couple of election cycles, and then move into party leadership roles them selves. What doesn't our public broadcasting system have a special about how the process works at about this time in the two year cycle? We are going to contact the stations here in Denver and find out for you.

RESEARCH QUESTION. PLEASE FORWARD! WHO DO YOU KNOW THAT'S TAKING A STATISTICS CLASS? Here's a job for a student in a statistics class: What is the impact of the caucus system for nominating to the primary ballot on tax rates? Our assumption: caucus system leads to more active participation by citizens which leads to better local government, more services for less money. What do the numbers say? We'll publish any and all analyses that speak to this question.