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Home Archives for Ben

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Blago and Bailouts Connected in Anger-Inducing Big Government Theme

Economist Steve Horwitz ties the thread between the two mammoth stories running through the blogosphere right now (H/T Brian Doherty, Reason):I can't help but note that yet another politician is indicted on corruption charges at the very same time we are handing over unprecedented power to the political class as we partially nationalize the banking system and, apparently, the Big Three auto companies. I simply do not understand how those who are in favor of giving government all of these new powers because they sincerely believe that doing so will work out the way their blackboard designs intended can keep a straight face. What kind of cognitive dissonance must it take to believe that the people YOU are handing power over to are "not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, National Politics Tagged With: auto bailout, average citizen, bailout, Big Government, Big Labor, Big Three auto companies, blogosphere, car, complicit role, Congress, consumer, corruption, Democratic majority, destructive, destructive economic agenda, domestic production, economic pain, economist, exacerbate, expansive regulatory powers, fewer choices, footing the bill, government, high labor costs, human nature, irony, jobs, Joe Taxpayer, key player, less money, major example, mammoth stories, more taxes, new powers, officials, pay-to-play scandal, political scandal, President-elect, problems, rationality, Rod Blagojevich, scandal, Service Employees International Union, Steve Horwitz, swamp-like conditions, ties together, TV, United Auto Workers, victim

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Jared Polis: A Better Idea than the Government Auto Bailout Proposal

Newly-elected Congressman Jared Polis shows he has a lot more sense than your average Democrat - at least on one great issue of importance in our day. From the opinion page of today's Wall Street Journal, Polis writes about the proposed automotive bailouts:Most members of Congress and staffers on the Hill are smart people, but we should not pretend that we are better at what are so clearly other people's jobs. One of the tremendously difficult tasks that we are ill-equipped to successfully orchestrate is restoring these three failing companies to health. As one of the members of Congress with a strong business background, I know what I don't know in business. While I hold my colleagues in great esteem, I doubt their abilities as turnaround … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, National Politics Tagged With: automotive bailouts, average Democrat, Boulder, business background, Congress, Congressman, failing companies, government bailout, insincere rhetoric, issue of importance, Jared Polis, opinion page, smart people, taxpayers, turnaround artists, Wall Street Journal

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

What if Blagojevich Had Put Barack’s Senate Seat for Sale on eBay?

Hats off to the creative guys at the Illinois Policy Institute, a sister think tank of my own Independence Institute, for a clever response to the Rod Blagojevich scandal: A "Senate Seat for Sale" eBay page. Definitely good for a laugh. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, National Politics, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: clever response, Ebay, Illinois Policy Institute, Independence Institute, laugh, Rod Blagojevich scandal, Senate Seat for Sale, think tank

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio Returns Tonight at 9 PM

Tune in at 9 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the second edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio, as Joshua, El Presidente, Night Twister, and I work to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump (also known as proving "you may be right, we (really) may be crazy.") Special guest is slated to be Red County's Michael Kerr from the great Pacific Northwest. Perhaps Michael can cite experiences from King County, Washington, to shed light on the current recount in Minnesota. Don't forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight's show, you can go back and download the podcast, or just use the handy widget on my sidebar to listen directly from Mount Virtus. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, crazy, download, El Presidente, Joshua Sharf, King County, Michael Kerr, Minnesota, Night Twister, Pacific Northwest, podcast, recount, Red County, Right, Rocky Mountain Alliance, sidebar, sophomore slump, special guest, widget

2/7/2026 By Ben 5 Comments

Finding “Salvation” from Government Debt and Hope for GOP Brand

A good decade ago, in a college political science class, we read this essay penned by Harry Jaffa, with a key memorable passage:The end of the Cold War has also brought an end to the remission of the disease of moral relativism that is corroding the life of western civilization. It would certainly seem that the salvation of the West must come, if it is to come, from the United States. The salvation of the United States, if it is to come, must come from the Republican Party. And the salvation of the Republican Party, if it is to come, must come from the conservative movement within it. And the salvation of the conservative movement, if it is to come, must come from the renewal and reaffirmation of the principles of the American Founding, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Abraham Lincoln, academic debates, alternative, American Founding, Claremont, Cold War, college, Colorado, conservative movement, constrained vision, cost-saving, Declaration of Independence, deficits, economic, environment, fiscal responsibility, fiscally conservative reforms, GOP, government debt, governments, Harry Jaffa, laboratories, mantle, moral relativism, New York Times, opportunities, party leaders, political, political science, Republican brand, Republican Party, Republicans, salvation, services, Soren Dayton, state governments, state level, statehouse, Straussian, The Next Right, tongue-in-cheek, United States, West, Western Civilization

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Please Accept My Apologies for the Detroit Lions…Who Make Me Laugh

When people learn that I grew up in Michigan, occasionally I hear the question of whether my sports fan loyalties still lie in the land of my childhood. "That depends," I say. "Detroit Tigers? Detroit Red Wings? Yes." "What about the Lions?" "Uh, check please...." I'm pretty sure I've been cured of that disease. How do I know? Well, reading through DJ Gallo's ESPN Page 2 column this evening, I found myself laughing out loud at this segment: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: 0-16, Barry Sanders, childhood, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, DJ Gallo, ESPN, fast track, futility, holidays, Humor, Michigan, NFL Championship, playoff victory, sports, Thanksgiving Day

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

3rd Edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio Tonight at 9 PM

Tune in at 9 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the third edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. Confirmed hosts are Joshua Sharf and yours truly, with the guest tentatively scheduled as Todd Bensman of the San Antonio Express-News, author of the well-acclaimed series "Breaching America: Examining Illegal Immigration from the Muslim World". Bensman's observations on the recent vicious Islamist terrorist attacks in India should be very interesting to hear. Tune in tonight for the introduction of some new segments, to hear Todd Bensman, and to find out if any other Rocky Mountain Alliance blogger joins us as co-host. And don't forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight’s show, you can go back and download … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, My Life, World Events Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, blogger, Breaching America, download, guest, hosts, India, Islamist terrorist attacks, Joshua Sharf, live broadcast, Mount Virtus, observations, podcast, Rocky Mountain Alliance, San Antonio Express-News, segments, Todd Bensman

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #19: Baseball and the Legendary Ernie Harwell

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. America's pastime. Come November, the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd seem distant memories. But hope springs eternal in the heart of the baseball fan. For the 19th and penultimate edition of this thankfulness series, I want to express my gratitude for a game - yes, but not just any game. And … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: alma mater days, backyard, Baseball, baseball cards, baseball fan, baseball initiates, bat, board game, character, cheating, collecting, college, color, Colorado Rockies, column, creed, democracy, Detroit, diehard fans, disease, enjoyment, Ernie Harwell, excerpts, faith, family room, game, Game 3, gratitude, group outing, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale Daily News, hope springs eternal, local league, memorable, memories, nostalgia, November, organized, pennants, penultimate, race, radio, roar of the crowd, Rockpile, scoreboard, series, Sherco, special, special impressions, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, The Game for All America, Tiger Stadium, Tigers, top row, trading, World Series

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is Upon Us: Let’s Forego the Ridiculous Political Correctness

Thanksgiving Day is here tomorrow: A time to count our blessings and reflect on the faith of our forefathers OR a time to engage in ridiculous, politically-correct posturing at the expense of schoolchildren (H/T Michelle Malkin)? I'll take the former, thank you very much. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General Tagged With: count our blessings, faith, Michelle Malkin, political correctness, reflect, ridiculous, schoolchildren, Thanksgiving Day

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #20: Vision

This is the last in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it, and now Thanksgiving Day is here. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced have not necessarily been in any particular order. I hope the series has been of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic has taken a swan dive. It just occurred to me now that there is a small irony to this 20th and final post in this series. The topic being Vision. 20/20. Get it? Eh? Anyhow... Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained.... I think a lot … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Commemorative, General, My Life Tagged With: 20 things, 20/20, affected, battles, bestowed, blessed, blinding handicap, computer screen, condition, Creator, desperate, distance, economic crisis, eyes, For the beauty of the earth, genetic inheritance, genetic testing, God, grandfather, gratitude, half-brother, humbly, installment, Jack Hutchings, Krista Kafer, macular degeneration, moment, perspective, physical foibles, pride, printed page, Proverbs, reads, reflect, remarkable story, remarkable vision, rich blessings, Savior, savor, small glimpses, spiritual vision, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, trivial things, vision

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Inside

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    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
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  • Writer / Editor For Hire

About Me

Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

Recent Posts

  • AI-Enhanced Cyberbullying: The Dark Side of Teen Innovation
  • My Baker’s Dozen of Top 2023 Reads
  • Common Learning Disabilities in Children
  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
  • The Christmas Music Countdown You’ve Been Looking For: 2022 Edition

Colorado News

  • Colorado Senate News
  • Complete Colorado
  • Independence Institute
  • Loveland Politics
  • The Colorado Observer

National News and Politics

  • Drudge Report
  • Hot Air
  • National Review
  • Politico
  • Real Clear Politics
  • Reason
  • The Washington Times
  • TownHall
  • Wall Street Journal
  • Weekly Standard
  • World Magazine

Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
  • David Harsanyi’s Blog
  • E!! The True Conservative Story
  • EIA Intercepts
  • Evangelical Outpost
  • Hugh Hewitt
  • Instapundit
  • LaShawn Barber
  • Lileks
  • Little Green Footballs
  • Michelle Malkin
  • NRO's The Corner
  • Power Line
  • Red State

Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
  • Blogs of War
  • Eduwonk
  • Flypaper
  • Fraters Libertas
  • Historical Conversations
  • IMAO
  • Jay P. Greene
  • Mike Anderson
  • Mullings
  • Professor Bainbridge
  • Right Thinking
  • Right Wing News
  • Right Wing Nuthouse
  • Shot in the Dark
  • Talking Points Memo
  • Virginia Postrel
  • Volokh Conspiracy

Christian Commentary et al.

  • Kevin Pierpont
  • Sharper Iron

Conservative and GOP Sites

  • Backbone America
  • Cal Thomas
  • Colorado Republican Party
  • Colorado Republican Study Committee
  • Dennis Prager
  • Denver Metro Young Republicans
  • Free Republic
  • Heritage Foundation
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  • Mackinac Center for Public Policy
  • Mark Steyn
  • Michael Medved
  • Rush Limbaugh

Colorado Blogs

  • American Kestrel
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  • Colorado Charter Schools
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  • Rossputin
  • Stop the ACLU Blog
  • The Spot (Denver Post)
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Other Sites

  • Technorati
  • Word Press

Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
  • The Business Word
  • The Daily Blogster
  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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