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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

A Little Education Credo

I just posted the following excerpted credo on education in a comment at the Dead Governors Web site. I was getting so much into it that I decided to paste my comment here: ...I beg someone to logically refute the following facts: 1. Colorado spends more per pupil in real dollars on K-12 education now than ever before. In fact, Colorado's per-pupil spending was at an all-time high right BEFORE Amendment 23 was passed... and has reached an all-time high each year thereafter. 2. Colorado spends less than 58 percent of education dollars in the classroom. (Maybe it's how we are spending the money, not how much....) 3. From 1992 to 2003, Colorado significantly improved its ranking on national test scores while its national ranking in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

“Oh how we hate Ohio State”

On this day before the ultimate rivalry in sports, many thanks to Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News for for his sociological analysis of Buckeye fans. All true sons of Michigan could read such passages as the following with a mixture of pride, delight, and amusement: I'm here to study the Buckeyes, not denigrate them. Remember, this whole Michigan-Ohio battle started way back in 1835 when the states actually fought over Toledo, true story. Ohio won but took Toledo anyhow. In exchange, Michigan got the Upper Peninsula, Charles Woodson, Desmond Howard and four free passes to Cedar Point. It's really not surprising that so many Ohio youngsters, such as Heisman Trophy winners Woodson and Howard, dream of coming to Michigan. This year's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Owens: Preserving a Legacy, Defending the Barricades

Yesterday, as promised some members of the Rocky Mountain Alliance sat down for 30 minutes with Gov. Bill Owens. The Kestrel has already posted his thoughts, while Joshua was in attendance, too. While we talked about a range of issues, mostly stemming from his State of the State Address earlier in the day, the Governor gave the sense of a leader committed to defending and extending his legacy in his final year in office. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What You Need to Know about Colorado Dems

Some brief Monday morning thoughts: Colorado Democrats are under a lot of pressure and influence from the aging dinosaur of organized labor, which despite its "pro-worker" rhetoric, champions some legislation bound to have an adverse effect on working families. Working families who shop at - or even work at - say, Wal Mart. Did they take a poll of the giant retailer's employees before deciding to support a measure that would mandate a certain percentage of payroll on health care benefits? This is horrible legislation that would primarily benefit the union bosses and their organizing buddies, and could hurt the many student and second-income employees who already are covered by someone else's health insurance and choose to work at Wal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Leadership Program Kicks Off

I haven't blogged in a week, but here goes: I'm off to the reception to welcome new members (including myself and Joshua) to the Leadership Program of the Rockies. Since the event is at the Governors' Mansion, I suppose Ref C & D will be topics non grata. Thanks for checking in! And stay patient... more posting is coming soon. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Book Review: Clarity and Backbone for a Forgotten Resolution

Paul Coughlin, No More Christian Nice Guy: When Being Nice - Instead of Good - Hurts Men, Women, and Children, (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 2005). 224 pages. Foreword by Dr. Laura Schlessinger When I was not too much younger, I made the same half-hearted New Year's resolution for several years running: "No more Mister Nice Guy." Certain friends balked at the expression, not sure they wanted to see one of my few favorable qualities evaporate. They always got their wish, as the resolution typically died about January 3. I have to say I didn't know quite what I was looking for until I forged my way through a new book recently. Packed with potent medicine for the timid male of faith, Paul Coughlin's No More Christian Nice Guy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Christianity and Faith, General, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Petition on House Leadership Elections for Center-Right Bloggers

As a principled and purposeful conservative Republican partisan activist who believes in the power of ruling majorities to shift debates and move agendas, and as an American dedicated to the highest ideals in the stewardship of our government, I gladly contribute my humble and wholehearted support to the following petition at NZ Bear (and encourage other center-right bloggers to join the growing list): An Appeal from Center-Right Bloggers We are bloggers with boatloads of opinions, and none of us come close to agreeing with any other one of us all of the time. But we do agree on this: The new leadership in the House of Representatives needs to be thoroughly and transparently free of the taint of the Jack Abramoff scandals, and beyond … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Deflating Jobs Myths

There is a great editorial in the Chicago Tribune today (HT: Real Clear Politics) that deflates the mythology of the 'jobless recovery' and other Democrat nostrums about national employment trends. The national unemployment rate stands at an incredible 4.7 percent (4.6 percent in Colorado), but the naysayers press on. More specific Colorado jobs myth deflation to come in the near future, time permitting. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

No on C & D Billboard

Special thanks to Progress Now (you can make your own, too!) for facilitating this campaign message. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

The NEA’s New Proletariat Lunch Program

Courtesy of the Education Intelligence Agency, revelations about an enclave of Communists gathering for regular lunch meetings inside the headquarters of the nation's largest teachers union. That National Education Association (NEA) cafeteria sure caters to a diverse crowd. With the introduction of its new "Proletariat Lunch Program," NEA may be looking to expand its aggressive lobbying efforts. Or maybe union officials are just endearing themselves to the ideological confreres of their most diehard activists. Check out this week's Communique for background, relevant links, and some "biting" satire in the form of the "Cafeteria Manifesto." If nothing else, maybe it will whet your appetite for this week's Thanksgiving feast. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, National Politics, Random and Miscellaneous

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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
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  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
  • The Christmas Music Countdown You’ve Been Looking For: 2022 Edition

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bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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