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
P.S. If you’re able to make a small donation on Giving Tuesday November 28th, I’d certainly appreciate it!