Save the Caucus! Join us June 11, 1 pm at Colorado Capitol, check it out: http://www.coloradosenaterepublicans.com/elections_study_group_hosts_first_meeting_saturday
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Colorado Capitol Saturday (6/11), stop drive by voting!
Don't let them AstroTurf our wonderful Colorado grassroots with the drive by voting of an expensive, meaningless so-called Presidential Primary.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
New idea: Donut Clubs
We are trying something this morning at 10 a.m., RTD University Station here in Denver. Weekly Donut Club meeting. Social event. Join us if you can! We'll let you know how it goes.
For more see Link I Tweeted: @John.S.Wren or @ReTweetBuildingBetterColorado
For more see Link I Tweeted: @John.S.Wren or @ReTweetBuildingBetterColorado
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Caucuses aren't for ciphers by Sue O'Brien
Monday, May 23, 2016
Are Unaffiliated voters transpoliticals? Are they are more objective? No!
We can register as a Republican or as a Democrat if we want to make a real difference. (May be more major parties in the future, not the real issue right now.)
What does it really mean when someone says they are unaffiliated or a political independent?
What does it really mean when someone says they are unaffiliated or a political independent?
Excellent talk by THE expert on this question, head of Government department at Harvard. Very much worth watching and sharing with others online:
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Caucuses aren't for ciphers by Sue O'Brien
My friend Sue O'Brien wrote this when our wonderful Colorado Caucus, our neighborhood system for nominating candidates to the primary ballot, was in danger of being killed by Amendment 29. Partly because of Sue's and The Denver Post's strong support of the Colorado Caucus, the misguided Amendment 29 was defeated.
Sue's wonderful column is still very much worth reading as a reminder of why the caucus-assembly system is worth preserving, warts and all. Please share it with your friends. Here's what Sue wrote in the Denver Post:
Caucuses aren't for ciphers
Denver Post Editorial Page, October 6, 2002
by Sue O'Brien
cipher - a person or thing of no importance or value; nonentity
- New World College Dictionary
So, what will we choose to be: ciphers or individuals?
Ciphers are faceless. They have value only as something to count - a signature on a petition or a vote to tally by machine. It's easy for ciphers to hide out. Hey, they're just part of the mob.
Individuals, by contrast, stand out. They take responsibility. And they rarely hide.
We have a sovereign opportunity to become ciphers this November. One of the few mechanisms left in modern politics that rewards individual initiative - the precinct caucus - is on the brink of being eliminated in favor of a political nominating system that would let wannabe candidates get on the ballot only by collecting - and counting - petition signatures.
It's a lousy proposal put forth by an otherwise admirable organization: the Bighorn Center for Public Policy.
Now, I have nothing against getting on the ballot by petition. But why eliminate the choice - caucus or petition - that our present system provides?
It's not as though there's something inherently wrong with the caucus. And, even though these grassroots conclaves have seen declining attendance in recent years, there's a lot inherently good about them.
Look around modern society. We have a woeful lack of what Harvard scholar Robert Putnam calls "social capital" - the dynamism that comes from doing things together and making community decisions together. Yet the spate of election "reforms" we're seeing these days almost seems designed to stomp out the last vestiges of community collaboration.
"Voting and following politics are relatively undemanding forms of participation," writes Putnam in his influential "Bowling Alone." "In fact, they are not, strictly speaking, forms of social capital at all, because they can be done utterly alone."
We can be utterly alone, too, when we perform the two other actions modern politics seems to want to limit us to: writing checks and watching attack ads on TV. We're systematically replacing "social capital" with plain old monetary capital.
Colorado's traditional caucus-convention system, in contrast, rewards the shoe-leather and diligence. It provides a low-cost way for aspirants to work the neighborhoods, investing energy instead of dollars. Recent proof of this pudding came in the race for the GOP nomination in the 7th Congressional District, where Rick O'Donnell captured first line on the primary ballot with a low-budget campaign that focused on traditional caucus and door-to-door campaigning. O'Donnell eventually lost the primary to the better-funded Bob Beauprez, but his achievement in getting on the ballot was impressive.
But even more important than the caucus' benefits for candidates is its benefit for ordinary citizens. It's a vibrant neighborhood forum for hashing out ideas - the last remaining arena in which you can get on the first rung of the ladder toward political effectiveness by just showing up.
I've covered precinct or town caucuses in Iowa, Maine, Minnesota and Mississippi as well as Colorado. My favorite memory is of escorting a big-deal network analyst to his very first caucus in an American Legion hall in Iowa. This was a political expert well into his 50s, yet he'd never seen a caucus; primaries had always been his beat. He was blown away. For the first time in years of covering politics, he told me, he'd seen the true face of America.
He was right. Caucuses offer a peculiarly intimate view of a community and its people. They'll amaze you with the quality of caring and thought participants bring to the discussion. And sometimes, if you're very lucky, you'll see new, young leaders find their first toehold in the process.
Why is the Colorado caucus withering? First, because the legislature, in an ineffectual grab for national headlines, created a meaningless presidential primary that eliminated the headline race that once inspired much caucus activism.
Second, because we're all getting good at sitting on the sidelines. The Kettering Foundation's David Mathews once reminded readers that the word idiot comes from the Greeks. Privacy, they thought, was akin to stupidity. "Idiots" were incapable of finding their place in the social order.
Why bow to the trend of letting the next guy do it? Why sell out to letting money replace shoe-leather at every level of American politics?
Why not keep the caucus as an open door to involvement, while continuing to provide the petition alternative? Bighorn's goal may be to increase the number of people peripherally involved in the process - but the initiative will never replace the quality of participation the caucus can provide.
Good political talk … is where we recognize the connectedness of things - and our own connectedness. … Good political talk is also where we discover what is common amidst our differences. -David Mathews, "Civic Intelligence"
Sue O'Brien was editor of the Denver Post editorial page.
Sue's wonderful column is still very much worth reading as a reminder of why the caucus-assembly system is worth preserving, warts and all. Please share it with your friends. Here's what Sue wrote in the Denver Post:
Caucuses aren't for ciphers
Denver Post Editorial Page, October 6, 2002
by Sue O'Brien
cipher - a person or thing of no importance or value; nonentity
- New World College Dictionary
So, what will we choose to be: ciphers or individuals?
Ciphers are faceless. They have value only as something to count - a signature on a petition or a vote to tally by machine. It's easy for ciphers to hide out. Hey, they're just part of the mob.
Individuals, by contrast, stand out. They take responsibility. And they rarely hide.
We have a sovereign opportunity to become ciphers this November. One of the few mechanisms left in modern politics that rewards individual initiative - the precinct caucus - is on the brink of being eliminated in favor of a political nominating system that would let wannabe candidates get on the ballot only by collecting - and counting - petition signatures.
It's a lousy proposal put forth by an otherwise admirable organization: the Bighorn Center for Public Policy.
Now, I have nothing against getting on the ballot by petition. But why eliminate the choice - caucus or petition - that our present system provides?
It's not as though there's something inherently wrong with the caucus. And, even though these grassroots conclaves have seen declining attendance in recent years, there's a lot inherently good about them.
Look around modern society. We have a woeful lack of what Harvard scholar Robert Putnam calls "social capital" - the dynamism that comes from doing things together and making community decisions together. Yet the spate of election "reforms" we're seeing these days almost seems designed to stomp out the last vestiges of community collaboration.
"Voting and following politics are relatively undemanding forms of participation," writes Putnam in his influential "Bowling Alone." "In fact, they are not, strictly speaking, forms of social capital at all, because they can be done utterly alone."
We can be utterly alone, too, when we perform the two other actions modern politics seems to want to limit us to: writing checks and watching attack ads on TV. We're systematically replacing "social capital" with plain old monetary capital.
Colorado's traditional caucus-convention system, in contrast, rewards the shoe-leather and diligence. It provides a low-cost way for aspirants to work the neighborhoods, investing energy instead of dollars. Recent proof of this pudding came in the race for the GOP nomination in the 7th Congressional District, where Rick O'Donnell captured first line on the primary ballot with a low-budget campaign that focused on traditional caucus and door-to-door campaigning. O'Donnell eventually lost the primary to the better-funded Bob Beauprez, but his achievement in getting on the ballot was impressive.
But even more important than the caucus' benefits for candidates is its benefit for ordinary citizens. It's a vibrant neighborhood forum for hashing out ideas - the last remaining arena in which you can get on the first rung of the ladder toward political effectiveness by just showing up.
I've covered precinct or town caucuses in Iowa, Maine, Minnesota and Mississippi as well as Colorado. My favorite memory is of escorting a big-deal network analyst to his very first caucus in an American Legion hall in Iowa. This was a political expert well into his 50s, yet he'd never seen a caucus; primaries had always been his beat. He was blown away. For the first time in years of covering politics, he told me, he'd seen the true face of America.
He was right. Caucuses offer a peculiarly intimate view of a community and its people. They'll amaze you with the quality of caring and thought participants bring to the discussion. And sometimes, if you're very lucky, you'll see new, young leaders find their first toehold in the process.
Why is the Colorado caucus withering? First, because the legislature, in an ineffectual grab for national headlines, created a meaningless presidential primary that eliminated the headline race that once inspired much caucus activism.
Second, because we're all getting good at sitting on the sidelines. The Kettering Foundation's David Mathews once reminded readers that the word idiot comes from the Greeks. Privacy, they thought, was akin to stupidity. "Idiots" were incapable of finding their place in the social order.
Why bow to the trend of letting the next guy do it? Why sell out to letting money replace shoe-leather at every level of American politics?
Why not keep the caucus as an open door to involvement, while continuing to provide the petition alternative? Bighorn's goal may be to increase the number of people peripherally involved in the process - but the initiative will never replace the quality of participation the caucus can provide.
Good political talk … is where we recognize the connectedness of things - and our own connectedness. … Good political talk is also where we discover what is common amidst our differences. -David Mathews, "Civic Intelligence"
Sue O'Brien was editor of the Denver Post editorial page.
Study Group Saturday.
Colorado Elections Study Group starts this Saturday, Colorado Capitol, 1 to 3 p.m. For more informations see: http://www.coloradoindependent.com/159412/group-explores-shifting-colorado-to-a-presidential-primary
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Join us, Save the Caucus!
Join us, get an invitation/agenda for 2nd Colorado Caucus Day at the Capitol. How do you join? Just "Like" and "Share" our Facebook Page, http://Facebook.com/Colorado.Caucus.News
Friday, June 3, 2016
Caucus Corp on the Startup Show
Startup Show, noon MDT or by recording here sponsored by Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Each Friday we talk about startup. Today the start of "Caucus Corp."
To be on the show next week call John Wren on Monday or Tuesday at (303)861-1447 or RSVP for next week's show on http://www.Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber where you'll also find information about the IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop and joining a peer advisory group. PLEASE CARE ENOUGH TO SHARE THIS WITH A FRIEND. THANKS!
TODAY:
THANKS Villager Newspaper.
Recovering the American Dream.
Denver Speakers Corner
IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop
New wife?
To be on the show next week call John Wren on Monday or Tuesday at (303)861-1447 or RSVP for next week's show on http://www.Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber where you'll also find information about the IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop and joining a peer advisory group. PLEASE CARE ENOUGH TO SHARE THIS WITH A FRIEND. THANKS!
TODAY:
THANKS Villager Newspaper.
Recovering the American Dream.
Denver Speakers Corner
IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop
New wife?
Today at Noon on the Startup Show : Thanks Villager Newspaper!
Topic of Startup Show today (Fri, 6/3) at Noon, link will be posted here.
For now, read all about it on this link, why a network of hyper-local political educators and mentors is in the works to save our wonderful Colorado Caucus. Check it out now, then come back at noon today or any time over the weekend. Here's the article: GrassrootsRules.us : Thanks Villager Newspaper!: "Thanks to Bob and Gerri Sweeney and everyone at the Villager Newspaper for this article this week that is a direct communication to the most..." click above to read it all.
I can't do this alone. We need all kinds of help. Call me if you'd like to be part of what we are doing to Save the Caucus. Thanks!
John Wren
(303)861-1447
For now, read all about it on this link, why a network of hyper-local political educators and mentors is in the works to save our wonderful Colorado Caucus. Check it out now, then come back at noon today or any time over the weekend. Here's the article: GrassrootsRules.us : Thanks Villager Newspaper!: "Thanks to Bob and Gerri Sweeney and everyone at the Villager Newspaper for this article this week that is a direct communication to the most..." click above to read it all.
I can't do this alone. We need all kinds of help. Call me if you'd like to be part of what we are doing to Save the Caucus. Thanks!
John Wren
(303)861-1447
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)