by Rick Hubbard | Apr 4, 2024
I’ve been doing some warm-up walks, getting packed, and the RV is almost ready to
go!
My plan is to resume walking in mid April from northeastern Colorado, heading across the Great Plains to reach Washington, DC next January. I’ll need YOUR help to keep me on schedule while we support the “fix democracy” efforts by activists and organizations along the way.
Priority #1 – Driving support and “Advance” work. I learned last year that I’d benefit from more field support while I’m walking. If you’d like to come on the road with me for a block of time, I really need help with driving the RV and/or tow car, and doing “advance” work in towns ahead of where I’m walking. C’mon! It’ll be fun! Find more information on our Volunteer RV Driver Info page [Volunteer]
Priority #2 – Coordinate with local activist groups, and getting speaking venues. We had amazing help from state-based groups last year in setting up rallies and talks. But I need a volunteer to reach out to those groups and be a liaison. This can be done either on road or at home. [Volunteer]
Priority #3 – Advance planning of events in states I’m still months away from,
with the state chapters of Common Cause, Represent.Us, League of Women Voters and other groups. This can be done from home, by phone and email. [Volunteer]
Priority #4 – Plan a walk in your area! Whether or not I’m walking near you, host a walk and I’m happy to do a virtual talk with your walkers & supporters. Check out our instructions on how organize one! [Volunteer]
Just since December, the anti-democracy rhetoric from candidates has been frightening. It’s not a time to hide! It’s time to use your voice — and your feet — to bring a message of democracy reform and proper representation to America. Join me in doing just that!
With gratitude for your help, support, and action!
Rick
Rick Hubbard
by Rick Hubbard | Nov 27, 2023
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
After more Colorado stops in Denver and Fort Collins, I’m too far north to cross the Great Plains, facing
freeze-ups from winter blizzards, the support RV, and even me! And if the cold weren’t enough reason, I need to replace my pacemaker next month, so I don’t just sputter to a halt!
My Winter Strategy
So, until restarting the walk in mid April, it’s time to begin my winter strategy of traveling to east coast primary states to challenge Presidential candidates about how they’ll do their job after taking the Constitutional oath to . . .
“establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty”
. . . in ways that improve the lives of all 333+ million Americans on the biggest issues we face. I’ll then explain from a citizen’s viewpoint to the many media reporters and photographers covering these events, how each candidate answered.
Three of many important issues include:
- Making efficiencies of our capitalistic economy broadly benefit all of us
- Providing quality healthcare to us all at the least total cost
- Re-making the way we structure and finance our political process to be fair, equitable, inclusive and competitive for ALL of us, including about one-third of all American voters who consider themselves independents
All of these – and more – flow directly from our elected officials’ job to “promote the general Welfare.”
My Question to Governor DeSantis
As I left Fort Collins and headed home to Vermont, I tried out this strategy in Iowa at two events. In Davenport I got to ask a question to
Governor Ron DeSantis! I asked him (at 48:27) what policies he’d employ on those three issues, so that all Americans can have better lives. His answer? He dodged the question, talking instead about:
- Reducing inflation to fix the economy
- Ending vaccine mandates to fix healthcare
- And no answer on how to fix our political system
His answers didn’t even begin to address these issues broadly and comprehensively.
My Podcasts Answer What Gov. DeSantis Would Not
I have addressed these same issues and proposed specific improvements for each in my five (so far) podcasts. Check them out and see if you agree with my solutions!
Media Coverage from Denver & Fort Collins
Our events in Colorado helped to generate some press coverage, particularly a statewide piece on ranked choice voting on Colorado Public Radio News. My friends from Ranked Choice Voting for Colorado and Denver helped organize an event at the Colorado State House in Denver, which generated a short piece by popular CPR reporter Vic Vela which will help move RCV forward at the statewide level in Colorado. I’m not in it, but contributed some of the background information for it.
We had hoped to have an event in Fort Collins, but DID have an excellent interview with Nick Armstrong for
“Dear Fort Collins,” which has a significant local following. Rick talked small donor funded-elections, the role of the media in explaining reforms, and how important it is for elected officials to LISTEN to their constituents, the majority of whom want to see reforms which can make their lives better.
During my Colorado visit, I also had an excellent phone interview with Vermont Conversation’s David Goodman, a podcast available at statewide online news source, Vermont Digger. I used healthcare as an example of how something so critical to the American people would be transformed if the majority of our elected representatives worked for the people, not special interests like health conglomerates, big pharma and insurance companies.
Until my next post, please be safe and use your own voice to advocate about the ways to fix our democracy, and the stakes if we fail. Thanks for everything you do.
With Gratitude for Your Love and Support,
Rick 
Rick Hubbard
P.S. If you’re able to make a small donation on Giving Tuesday November 28th, I’d certainly appreciate it!
by Rick Hubbard | Oct 16, 2023
Friday and Saturday, I hiked partway up Pikes Peak with my friend Kemper, staying at the legendary Barr Camp Friday night at an elevation of 10,200 feet. Although it snowed Thursday, and a snow squall in the mountains can be life threatening, we had blue sky and saw the eclipse as we hiked down. A 13-mile hike — exhausting but satisfying for two 81 year olds!
The weather has NOT been so good in the U.S. House of Representatives, where the stormy search for a new Speaker of the House is emblematic of the disfunction of our government. The majority in Congress care more about agendas than getting work done for the people. Extremists get elected because only +/-10% of Republican Voters and 15-20% of Democrats – mostly party activists – vote in a primary.
Imagine how different the results would be with single ballot open primaries and ranked choice voting, where extremists are less likely to make it to the general election, and more rational, responsive candidates could rise to the top!
This Tuesday, October 17th at 4 p.m., I’ll be taking that message to folks in Colorado
Springs outside the Pioneers Museum, then walking 15 minutes down to Rico’s Wine Bar for a Q&A with folks who care about the future of our Democracy. Both events are free admission (food and drinks on you) and I’m really looking forward to it. RSVP here, and please share with your like-minded friends in Colorado.
From here, it’s north to Denver, Fort Collins, and possibly Boulder, before heading east into Nebraska. Thanks for all your notes of encouragement and your donations. Together, we’re convincing a lot of people to take action!
Onward!
Rick
Rick Hubbard
PS: A thank you to my new friends Katrina Nguyen and at Colorado Forward for all their logistical efforts for the rally and walk!
by Rick Hubbard | Sep 29, 2023
I walked into Walsenburg, Colorado Thursday, and am taking a day off Friday to catch up on my email and rest my weary feet!
New Podcast Upload: Reason #5 to Fix Democracy
I also have some great news: I’ve completed the
fifth installment of my “Reasons to Fix Our Democracy” podcast. This is is an important one. In past episodes, we’ve made the case that Congress isn’t serving the common good — the oath our elected representatives took when they swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
Congress gets away with it, in part because our media follows the horse race and not the substance. My fifth episode discusses why the majority of our national, mainstream media isn’t asking the right questions of our elected representatives, and not giving citizens enough information to realize they’re not being served as our Constitution intended. I ask you to please take a listen, and SHARE it with your friends, or with your local media. Let them know you want more informative coverage about our Democracy!
New Colorado Spring Rally & Walk Event Oct. 17th
Thanks to my hosts the Colorado Forward Party, and independent candidate for Congress Katrina Nguyen, we now have a planned rally and walk in downtown Colorado Springs. If you are in Colorado Springs or know someone who is, RSVP/Share at our Colorado Springs event page. Coming up are hopefully Pueblo, Denver, Fort Collins and possibly others.
I don’t endorse candidates or parties, but it is heartening to see candidates and parties working to fix Democracy, not tear it down or mangle it beyond recognition.
You Made Me Smile!
Thank you for your emails of encouragement, and the donations you sent last week. I’m humbled by your generosity, and energized by your support for Democracy.
Thank you.
Rick
Rick Hubbard
P.S. – Don’t forget to SHARE message with your friends!
by Rick Hubbard | Sep 21, 2023
Just three days ago, I passed the 1,000 mile mark of my
journey, and I’m just a couple of days from the Colorado border. With the help of some amazing people in New Mexico, we had a very successful rally at the state capitol, known as the Round House.
Round House Rally
My visit Sept. 1 rally at the Round House could not have been possible without the help of a number of volunteers, including Bruce Berlin, Joh
n House, Leslie House, Sheila Burns, and Marilyn Winter-Tamkin who did much of the on-the-ground organizing and publicity. In addition, four state organizations promoted the event and attended: Common Cause NM, Indivisible Santa Fe, Represent.Us NM, and Breaking Money’s Grip on America. THANK YOU all, and keep the pressure on for reform in New Mexico!
Getting Out the Message
Through the hard work of those volunteers, I got two solid radio interviews, and pictures and long caption in the Santa Fe New Mexican. No TV coverage, despite our best efforts.
- August 29, 2023, KTRC Santa Fe/SantaFe.com – The Richard Eeds Show
- September 6, 2023, Santa Fe New Mexican
– Walker encourages fixing democracy (3 photos)
- September 11, 2023, KCEI Cultural Energy, Taos, NM – Interview with Rick Hubbard
- September 13, 2023, Taos News, My Turn Op-Ed: “Why I’ve been walking across the country at 82 years old”
Watch & Share the Santa Fe Video
If you missed the event,
a video has now been posted to YouTube of the rally, including some of my solutions for getting our elected representatives working for US, instead of their party agenda and special interest donors! Apologies: There’s a video gap at the 45 minute mark which skips a topic!
New “Reasons to Fix Our Democracy” Podcast Next Week!
Later next week, we’ll have a new podcast on the how Congress isn’t doing its job, and how better reporting by the media could strengthen our Democracy. See past episodes and subscribe for free
here, or at your favorite podcast platform.
I Couldn’t Do This Without YOU!
Onward,
Rick
P.S. — It’s OK to SHARE this email with your like-minded friends and ask them to
sign up!
