Delta County Independent
Forget the pandemic; political dysfunction is the “new normal.” But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Ask yourself the following questions:
When forming an opinion about a political issue, do you seek out both (or more) sides of the debate?
Do you acknowledge competing arguments as long as the evidence supports them? Do you vote for the best candidate instead of the party line?
Does politically fueled mob violence worry you?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’re not alone, and we need your help and hope you will join our effort to establish a chapter of Restore the Balance in Delta County.
A group of concerned Mesa County citizens with broad representation from all over the political spectrum formed Restore the Balance. RTB is a nonprofit organization designed to restore civil discourse and cooperation in the political system. RTB created a pledge comprised of seven beliefs to attract like-minded individuals to its cause of returning to “a sane and functional government”:
We believe that political parties should vigorously compete over values, principles and ideas but also find common ground to solve problems and pass needed legislation. Gridlock is not an option.
We believe facts, supported by evidence, are the basis for what to believe and how to act. No civilization can endure when its citizens believe there is no such thing as objective facts or truths.
We believe that no one has a monopoly on the best public policy proposals. That means the ability to listen to and understand both sides of a debate are prerequisites to finding practical solutions.
We believe public interest must come before political party interest. This means putting what is right ahead of loyalty to a party or an individual party leader.
We believe that problem-solving is more important than fundraising. Extremists line their pockets then use the funds to amplify division instead of producing solutions.
We believe citizens should be free to run for office or volunteer to support the candidate of their choice without being threatened or harassed. Extremism uses fear and intimidation because it cannot stand up to independent, open-minded thinking. Instead, it relies on the mentality of the mob.
We believe it is time to expect citizens to embrace individual responsibility. Extremists always talk about “freedom” but never mention the responsibility to the community that comes with it.
RTB proved to be popular. Currently, more than 2700 Coloradans have signed this pledge.
With this increased popular support, RTB hit the ground running. RTB sent questionnaires to candidates running for local office, gauging their willingness to accept public input, weigh the evidence, and make informed decisions on public policies affecting their constituents. Upon reviewing the candidate responses, RTB ranked candidates so voters could identify candidates best aligned with the RTB pledge.
Based on this success, RTB decided to take its act on the road, traveling the state and visiting cities with numerous pledge endorsements.
And Delta is one of their first stops. As of this publication, 62 Delta County residents signed the pledge. We want to grow that number and improve political discourse in our communities.
If you want to support this effort in Delta County, join us on June 29, 2023, at 5 p.m. at the Town of Orchard City Town Hall, 9661 2100 Road, Austin, Colorado, to discuss growing RTB’s presence in Delta County.
With your help, we can work to restore the balance in Delta County.
Signed,
Cathy Boyd
Annette Brand
Judy Briscoe
Bob & Jeanie Brown
Jim Brown
Aaron Clay
John & Maria Forster
Perry & Terry Hotz
Bobbi Mitchell
Guy & Mary Pfalzgraff
Les & Ann Renfrow
Jay Stooksberry
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