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4/18/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

The Principled Politician Brings True Tale of Colorado Statesmanship to Life

It's been awhile since I've done any sort of book review. But having just completed Adam Schrager's The Principled Politician: The Ralph Carr Story, it seemed an apt time to change that. Those who won't want to miss this book include students of Colorado history, fans of the World War II era (especially the home front), and anyone interested in a sadly forgotten inspirational story that seems foreign in today's all-too-jaded and polarized world of politics. As introduced to readers in The Principled Politician, Ralph Carr (1887-1950) -- Republican governor of Colorado from 1939 to 1943 -- was a rare model of statesmanship. Fittingly, he held deep admiration and adulation for our nation's 16th president Abraham Lincoln. He recognized the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Book Reviews, Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, History, Random and Miscellaneous, World Events Tagged With: Abraham Lincoln, absence, absolute, accessible, account, Adam Schrager, administration, admiration, adulation, all-too-jaded, Americans, ant-Japanese, book, book review, burdens, Carr Street, circumstances, citizens, Colorado history, commitment, constitutional rights, cost, demigod, devastating, disagreements, domestic terrorism, elected officials, engaging, era, essential, ethnic origin, ex-governor, exhibits, fans, fiscal responsibility, flawed, forgotten, fresh, frustrations, happen, History, home front, humane, hysteria, inspirational, intimately, invasion, Japanese-born, lessons, liberty, limited government, major theme, marble man, maxim, model, narrative, national origin, nationwide, originally researched, overreaching, paean, passions, Pearl Harbor, poignant, polarized, political career, politics, power, principles, public opinion, question, quirks, Ralph Carr, rare, recognition, refusal, Republican, respectfully, responding, sadly, sense of humor, statesmanship, steadfast, story, students, The Principled Politician, ultimately, vindicated, World War II, written

2/12/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Rocky Mtn News Reports: “Panel Votes to Ban Plastic Retail Bags”

And Colorado is a step closer to once again being safe for democracy:The bag ban was the brainchild of a teacher and a group of students at Kent Denver School, who approached lawmakers with their idea. Sen. Jennifer Veiga and Rep. Joe Miklosi, both Denver Democrats, agreed to sponsor the measure. Maybe we can poll some children for the best way to balance the budget, too. And maybe Senator Veiga and Representative Miklosi could help carry all those re-usable bags into Wal-Mart (oh wait, not that evil store where people can save money....) Because we know they don't want to create a renaissance of paper bags and destroy the forests. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, PPC, property rights Tagged With: ban, brainchild, Colorado, Democrats, Denver, destroy, evil store, forests, Jennifer Veiga, Joe Miklosi, Kent Denver School, lawmakers, paper bags, plastic bag, re-usable bags, renaissance, save money, sponsor, students, teacher, Wal-Mart

2/3/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Another Landmark Day for Colorado Citizens Fighting for Open Government

Today was another landmark day in the struggle for open, transparent government spending in Colorado. On CBS4 Denver, the Associated Press reports:About 30 people turned out at the state Capitol Tuesday to show their support for a bill from Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, which originally would have required such reports to be posted monthly in a searchable database. [link added] A memorable line from the bill sponsor:"If you can't defend it, don't spend it," Harvey said, echoing one of the slogans on the signs at the group's rally. Where have I seen that phrase before? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, My Life, PPC Tagged With: 19th century, 21st century, Associated Press, Aurora, average, bill, bowling, Carnival Cruise, CBS4 Denver, checkbooks, citizen activist, citizens, Colorado, common sense, credit card, cruise, debate, defensible, drinks, educating, expenses, faculty, farm towns, fix, fundraisers, if you can't defend it don't spend it, involved, Jeffco Public Schools, Ken Wyble, landmark day, legislation, letter, limited information, Lynn Setzer, miniature golf, money, Natalie Menten, online financial transparency, outings, rally, reports, Rocky Mountain News, school administrators, school system, search, searchable database, small villages, soda machines, spending, spending records, spokeswoman, Starbucks, State Capitol, stress headache, students, tax money, Ted Harvey, tickets, time, transparent government, vocational students, website

1/29/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Colorado Senate Democrats Flee from True School Financial Transparency

Last night I told you about the inspiring testimony of citizens in support of financial transparency for Colorado schools. Today, it was the legislators' turn to do the damage. And damage they did:Senator Bob Bacon introduced an amendment that establishes a “voluntary pilot program” for transparency. It passed and is now on its way to the full floor of the Senate. Senator [Ted] Harvey asked to open up the bill for additional testimony since it had been altered dramatically. Bacon, chair of the committee, said no. Senator Harvey also tried to kill his own bill. Harvey did say he would bring the bill back next year. Bacon, a former educator, used words like “cruel” and “fear” to describe how school districts may respond to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, General, PPC Tagged With: amendment, bill, bill sponsor, Bob Bacon, Chris Romer, citizens, Colorado schools, cruel, damage, Evie Hudak, fear, financial transparency, floor, former educator, grassroots army, hide, inspiring testimony, legislators, obligatory quote, online, passed, Peter Groff, respond, Rollie Heath, school districts, searchable format, senator, students, taxpayers, teaching, Ted Harvey, trend, voluntary pilot program

11/15/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

A Promising Step to Test the Bounds of Colorado Teachers Union Power?

My post-election commentary on the impact for teachers unions and education reform was published today in the Denver Post. A key section to whet your appetite:Peter Groff's Democratic peers voted to re-elect him as state Senate president, and Rep. Terrance Carroll was selected to become the new speaker of the House. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor, My Life Tagged With: anti-teacher, associations, Bernie Buescher, bipartisan issue, bold choice, boundaries, charter schools, citizens, coercion, Colorado, Colorado Education Association, criticisms, Democrats, Denver Post, education reform, fear, honest, honest look, House Education Committee, Laura Bradford, leadership, legislative attacks, leverage, monopoly model, outside observers, outside the box, parents, Peter Groff, post-election commentary, practitioner, profession, professional guilds, promising step, public school choice, question, Republican, scholars, seminar, source, Speaker of the House, state legislature, state senate president, status quo, students, teacher organization, teacher unionism, teachers unions, Terrance Carroll, union power

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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

  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
  • The Christmas Music Countdown You’ve Been Looking For: 2022 Edition
  • Sleep Deprivation and Parental Controls: How to Ensure Your Kids are Safe from Media Exposure
  • 8 Original Ways To Leverage Influencer Marketing
  • Why Every Single Business Needs A YouTube Channel

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