WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.799
<v Speaker 1>You know, a lot of people, me included, have felt

2
00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:08.720
<v Speaker 1>politically homeless, and the way things are going, it feels

3
00:00:08.759 --> 00:00:11.039
<v Speaker 1>more and more like we do have a uni party,

4
00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:13.759
<v Speaker 1>like everything is the same no matter who you elect.

5
00:00:14.279 --> 00:00:17.239
<v Speaker 1>And there are other parties that are starting to gain

6
00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:20.000
<v Speaker 1>a little traction. One of them is the Forward Party.

7
00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:23.399
<v Speaker 1>And joining me right now from the Colorado Forward Party

8
00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:25.640
<v Speaker 1>is Dave Ryan to talk about what the Forward Party

9
00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:28.039
<v Speaker 1>stands for. If you're looking for a political home, you

10
00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:29.120
<v Speaker 1>may want to listen up, Dave.

11
00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:29.960
<v Speaker 2>Welcome to the show.

12
00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.359
<v Speaker 3>First of all, all right, thanks for having me, Mandie.

13
00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:34.359
<v Speaker 2>So let me.

14
00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:36.640
<v Speaker 1>Start by asking you the simple question. Give me your

15
00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:40.000
<v Speaker 1>elevator speech about the Forward Party. Give me your ninety

16
00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:42.719
<v Speaker 1>seconds on what you guys are doing, what it's about,

17
00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:45.280
<v Speaker 1>and why people should be interested in learning more.

18
00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:47.520
<v Speaker 4>Seri.

19
00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:48.039
<v Speaker 3>Okay, yeah.

20
00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:50.119
<v Speaker 4>More and more hoters feel like they don't belong to

21
00:00:50.119 --> 00:00:53.439
<v Speaker 4>either party. I feel like they're political orphans. So that

22
00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:57.600
<v Speaker 4>you just mentioned and Forward is building a national movement.

23
00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:02.439
<v Speaker 4>Are home for them, and we are the fastest growing

24
00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:05.920
<v Speaker 4>new political movement in the country. And it's built around

25
00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:10.280
<v Speaker 4>the idea that Americans deserve more choice and more voices

26
00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:14.959
<v Speaker 4>in their democracy. Our polling and polling that we look

27
00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.079
<v Speaker 4>across is there's fifty percent of younger adults wish there

28
00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:22.480
<v Speaker 4>were more than two parties. Forty three percent across the

29
00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:27.359
<v Speaker 4>country identify as independence. Around affiliateds here in Colorado is

30
00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:30.799
<v Speaker 4>just past fifty percent now. And if you look at

31
00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:35.200
<v Speaker 4>this registration statistics here in Colorado, Democrats and Republicans are

32
00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:42.400
<v Speaker 4>losing registered voters. Unaffiliateds are climbing rapidly and currently total

33
00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:46.519
<v Speaker 4>more than all Democrats and Republicans combined. So it was

34
00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:50.599
<v Speaker 4>originally formed by good government and governance groups from the

35
00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:53.280
<v Speaker 4>left and the right to come together to work on

36
00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:59.439
<v Speaker 4>system wide approaches that we believe are dividing us rather

37
00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:03.200
<v Speaker 4>than bringing together. It's all about incentives. In our current

38
00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:08.120
<v Speaker 4>system provides incentives that separate us, and the primaries are

39
00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:09.560
<v Speaker 4>just a great example of.

40
00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:10.840
<v Speaker 3>How that works.

41
00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:14.560
<v Speaker 1>I'm right there with you when it comes to primary politics,

42
00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:18.639
<v Speaker 1>because our current system incentivizes a run to the hard

43
00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:22.199
<v Speaker 1>right or the hard left, because unfortunately voters don't engage

44
00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:24.400
<v Speaker 1>in the primaries, So you tend to get the most

45
00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.439
<v Speaker 1>politically purer, to use a word, the people that are

46
00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:29.599
<v Speaker 1>the most passionate about their party, and they tend to

47
00:02:29.639 --> 00:02:32.719
<v Speaker 1>be either the hardest right or the hardest left. So

48
00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:36.120
<v Speaker 1>we then have candidates that run to those edges, and

49
00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:38.680
<v Speaker 1>even if they try and moderate after you know, they

50
00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:41.560
<v Speaker 1>win the primary, you're still dealing with people that are

51
00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:45.319
<v Speaker 1>not necessarily working in what I call the biggest part

52
00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:48.639
<v Speaker 1>of the political spectrum, which is the flexible center. Right,

53
00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:51.800
<v Speaker 1>the people that maybe pro gun rights on this side,

54
00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:55.159
<v Speaker 1>but they may be pro environmental regulations on another side. Right,

55
00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:58.599
<v Speaker 1>I mean, people that hold varied positions that don't pass

56
00:02:58.639 --> 00:02:59.840
<v Speaker 1>the political purity test.

57
00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:01.960
<v Speaker 2>And when I first moved to Colorado, that was.

58
00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:04.639
<v Speaker 1>One of the things I loved about Colorado is you

59
00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:07.840
<v Speaker 1>would see a pro Second Amendment bumper sticker right next

60
00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:09.400
<v Speaker 1>to a Sierra Club bumper sticker.

61
00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:09.599
<v Speaker 4>Right.

62
00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:11.960
<v Speaker 2>I mean, there's just you could support whatever you wanted

63
00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:12.520
<v Speaker 2>to support.

64
00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:15.400
<v Speaker 1>That has changed dramatically here, And what does the Forward

65
00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:19.000
<v Speaker 1>Party want to do? Let's start with that dynamic. What

66
00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:20.680
<v Speaker 1>do you want to do to change that dynamic?

67
00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:27.520
<v Speaker 4>Well, first off, from a good governance and systems perspective,

68
00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:34.280
<v Speaker 4>so we are firm supporters of independent resistricting nationwide, which

69
00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:37.159
<v Speaker 4>we're fortunate to here in Colorado. That was something that

70
00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:40.960
<v Speaker 4>Colorado embraced recently, which you know, we believe it's just

71
00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:43.520
<v Speaker 4>a great thing to put bringing more of that power

72
00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:46.280
<v Speaker 4>back into the voter's hands rather than the political parties.

73
00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:53.280
<v Speaker 4>We also believe that every vote should count. Right now

74
00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:56.560
<v Speaker 4>with the first past the posts elections, and many elections,

75
00:03:57.400 --> 00:04:00.719
<v Speaker 4>somebody with less than fifty percent can often win. We

76
00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:03.479
<v Speaker 4>believed in things like ranked choice voting, where every vote

77
00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:08.240
<v Speaker 4>counts every like, for my case, in a minor party,

78
00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:10.680
<v Speaker 4>people can vote for a minor party but not be

79
00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:12.479
<v Speaker 4>a spoiler in the overall election.

80
00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:13.599
<v Speaker 3>If people are worried.

81
00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:17.480
<v Speaker 1>About let's call that what it is, Dave like, people say,

82
00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:20.319
<v Speaker 1>you're wasting your vote. If you vote for that third

83
00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:23.439
<v Speaker 1>party candidate, you're wasting your vote. I wasted my vote

84
00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:25.720
<v Speaker 1>in two thousand and voted for Ralph Nader. I would

85
00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:28.000
<v Speaker 1>have been horrified if he'd won, but I was voting

86
00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:29.759
<v Speaker 1>for the viability of a third party candidate.

87
00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:31.240
<v Speaker 2>I love ranked choice voting.

88
00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:35.079
<v Speaker 1>I think it's a great idea, and once politicians start

89
00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:37.560
<v Speaker 1>to understand it, I think they will embrace it as well.

90
00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:40.439
<v Speaker 3>I think so. I think I think there's a great example.

91
00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.600
<v Speaker 4>I mean, we've had several examples just in the last

92
00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:45.360
<v Speaker 4>couple election cycles where.

93
00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:50.920
<v Speaker 3>A minor party actually changed the election. You know, a congressional.

94
00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:53.759
<v Speaker 4>District EID is a great example where Barbara Kirkmeyer ended

95
00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:57.639
<v Speaker 4>up losing, but it was a very close race, and

96
00:04:58.040 --> 00:05:00.199
<v Speaker 4>you know that there was in my opinion, and that

97
00:05:00.279 --> 00:05:01.439
<v Speaker 4>was a spoiler situation.

98
00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:03.959
<v Speaker 3>Now, the liberty we don't want that. We want we

99
00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:04.879
<v Speaker 3>do the ability for.

100
00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:07.800
<v Speaker 4>People to vote who they want to without ruining the

101
00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:10.839
<v Speaker 4>the you know, the the chances of the main candidates.

102
00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:12.120
<v Speaker 2>So what are some of the others.

103
00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:13.920
<v Speaker 1>Well, I've talked a lot about ring choice voting on

104
00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:15.920
<v Speaker 1>the show, so I don't want to derail this conversation

105
00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:18.040
<v Speaker 1>by going deep on that. What are some of the

106
00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:21.519
<v Speaker 1>other ways that you would would perceive it would be

107
00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:25.560
<v Speaker 1>effective to to slow down the polarization or maybe bring

108
00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:26.240
<v Speaker 1>us back together.

109
00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.199
<v Speaker 4>So open primaries to me is a is a is

110
00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:34.600
<v Speaker 4>a great thing. It is It's something that there was

111
00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:38.240
<v Speaker 4>a run taken at its last last election cycle. It

112
00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:42.839
<v Speaker 4>didn't succeed. It took on a number of points to

113
00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:45.600
<v Speaker 4>try to combine it all together on that balance proposition

114
00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:52.439
<v Speaker 4>to me, having a primary where whatever part of the

115
00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:57.360
<v Speaker 4>spectrum you are associate with, you are all combined into

116
00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:01.160
<v Speaker 4>a single primary and the voters choose, you know, the

117
00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:03.959
<v Speaker 4>top four or five, and then those four or five

118
00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:07.879
<v Speaker 4>go on to a general election. It is it forces

119
00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:11.759
<v Speaker 4>every candidate instead of pandering to the extremes, It forces

120
00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:15.079
<v Speaker 4>them to not only focus on their base, but also

121
00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:18.319
<v Speaker 4>on the modern the moderate, flexible middle has to come

122
00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:20.319
<v Speaker 4>along with them, and they have to win those hearts

123
00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:23.040
<v Speaker 4>and minds to be able to be effective in the

124
00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:23.839
<v Speaker 4>in the election.

125
00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:27.480
<v Speaker 1>So let me ask this, because what I see on

126
00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:30.000
<v Speaker 1>the Forward Party platform, and I've been to the website,

127
00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:31.319
<v Speaker 1>I have dug through all the issues.

128
00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:33.920
<v Speaker 2>For me, everything begins and ends.

129
00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:36.240
<v Speaker 1>I'm a single issue voter, and that is debt and spending,

130
00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:38.800
<v Speaker 1>because I think that is like the tip of the

131
00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:43.519
<v Speaker 1>spear in our country because without without managing that, nothing

132
00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:45.360
<v Speaker 1>else is going to matter. Right when we run out

133
00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:47.519
<v Speaker 1>of money and we can no longer no one's buying

134
00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:50.639
<v Speaker 1>our debt and we're just printing money like mad, then

135
00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:53.480
<v Speaker 1>people will begin to understand how significant the debt is.

136
00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:56.680
<v Speaker 1>But I don't see a lot or or a lot

137
00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:59.240
<v Speaker 1>of specifics about.

138
00:06:58.920 --> 00:07:02.199
<v Speaker 2>Those angle issues like abortion.

139
00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:04.439
<v Speaker 1>It's not in here at People on the on the

140
00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:06.920
<v Speaker 1>text line right now saying is the Forward Party pro

141
00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:09.839
<v Speaker 1>life or pro choice. UH. For me, it's about debt

142
00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:12.680
<v Speaker 1>and spending, because all things begin an end for that.

143
00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:16.879
<v Speaker 1>What other policy positions have you guys talked about or

144
00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:18.319
<v Speaker 1>when will those be developed?

145
00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:18.959
<v Speaker 2>If at all?

146
00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:22.199
<v Speaker 3>That's a that's a development situation.

147
00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:26.240
<v Speaker 4>Maybe the the uh what we don't want to do,

148
00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.519
<v Speaker 4>which which really makes us unique as far enders as

149
00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:33.600
<v Speaker 4>I understand in the political environment, is we don't have

150
00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:38.759
<v Speaker 4>a top down, uh driven platform that says every candidate

151
00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:41.519
<v Speaker 4>must follow this these rules or you're going to run

152
00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:44.279
<v Speaker 4>and follow the party. Right, So somebody in Grand Junction

153
00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:45.800
<v Speaker 4>is going to be different than Boulder, It's going to

154
00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:49.600
<v Speaker 4>be different than Pueblock. And we we have a number,

155
00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:52.959
<v Speaker 4>you know, the many relationships at all levels of government

156
00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:56.519
<v Speaker 4>now that uh, and we talked with people you know,

157
00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:59.120
<v Speaker 4>you know pro gun, as you mentioned before, pro gun,

158
00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:06.519
<v Speaker 4>pro environmental, pro life, and there are so many common

159
00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:11.839
<v Speaker 4>you know, folks who aren't you know, who aren't driven

160
00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:16.279
<v Speaker 4>towards that single issue that realize that we as a

161
00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:19.000
<v Speaker 4>society have to deal with a lot of different things

162
00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:22.120
<v Speaker 4>and we need the best people to come forward and

163
00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:25.000
<v Speaker 4>work together with people that are different than them to

164
00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:27.480
<v Speaker 4>come up with a solution that works for their communities.

165
00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:32.120
<v Speaker 4>Here in Colorado, Colorado Forward Party, we're focused on the

166
00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:35.879
<v Speaker 4>state level, so we're not so much focused on what

167
00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:38.440
<v Speaker 4>goes on at the national level, even though it kind

168
00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:39.879
<v Speaker 4>of sucks the oxygen out of the room.

169
00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:40.480
<v Speaker 3>Sometimes.

170
00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:44.679
<v Speaker 4>We're focused on what's right for our communities, and we

171
00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:48.720
<v Speaker 4>want candidates who put a priority on serving their community.

172
00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:51.600
<v Speaker 4>That's got to be priority number one, and it's got

173
00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:54.840
<v Speaker 4>to be you know, candidates, whether whether they're from the

174
00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:58.480
<v Speaker 4>right side or the left side or in between, they

175
00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:01.480
<v Speaker 4>commit to us that they will work with their peers

176
00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:03.919
<v Speaker 4>to come up with solutions for their community.

177
00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:05.240
<v Speaker 2>I actually like that.

178
00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:09.000
<v Speaker 1>I tell people on this show all the time, and

179
00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:11.320
<v Speaker 1>I mean it that as much as we talk about

180
00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:13.919
<v Speaker 1>federal politics, as much as we talk about the Trump administration,

181
00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:16.120
<v Speaker 1>as much as we talk about Congress, the stuff that

182
00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:18.519
<v Speaker 1>happens here in Colorado has a much more direct and

183
00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:20.000
<v Speaker 1>immediate impact on.

184
00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:22.159
<v Speaker 2>Our lives at a very visceral level.

185
00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:24.879
<v Speaker 1>So I think that's a very smart move too many people,

186
00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.200
<v Speaker 1>And I look at the Libertarian Party in this case,

187
00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:30.919
<v Speaker 1>they run a presidential candidate every single presidential cycle, but

188
00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.279
<v Speaker 1>they're not running anybody in the school board elections, right

189
00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.559
<v Speaker 1>They're not running anything in the county Commission races.

190
00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:37.879
<v Speaker 2>So I think it's a very smart play.

191
00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:41.759
<v Speaker 1>And it sounds like and I'm not that was a

192
00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:44.240
<v Speaker 1>little bit of a hedge on your part, but it

193
00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:47.600
<v Speaker 1>almost sounded like we're gonna let candidates make their own

194
00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:49.440
<v Speaker 1>decisions about social issues.

195
00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:54.600
<v Speaker 4>Is that part of the plan, that is that is

196
00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:57.840
<v Speaker 4>essential to us moving forward here? And because you know,

197
00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:02.080
<v Speaker 4>every community is different, every to every candidate is different.

198
00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:04.759
<v Speaker 4>We are going to be developing a platform over time,

199
00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:07.480
<v Speaker 4>but it's got to come from the ground up. And

200
00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:10.080
<v Speaker 4>as we build our base here in Colorado, as we

201
00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:13.000
<v Speaker 4>build it nationally, we're first going to start here in

202
00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:17.200
<v Speaker 4>Colorado and and come together on the issues that unite us.

203
00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:21.120
<v Speaker 4>And and we're also going to ask our candidates to

204
00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:25.360
<v Speaker 4>take a very you know, a very earnest and hard

205
00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:30.080
<v Speaker 4>working effort at resolving some of those those critical cultural

206
00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:33.600
<v Speaker 4>issues that divide us. Well, we don't we don't take

207
00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:36.960
<v Speaker 4>a hard position on some of those things that you

208
00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.480
<v Speaker 4>just mentioned.

209
00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:39.919
<v Speaker 2>What what are the hard planks?

210
00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:42.000
<v Speaker 1>What what are the things that you feel like are

211
00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:45.240
<v Speaker 1>the key cornerstones of the forward party that if you

212
00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:48.039
<v Speaker 1>had to tick the boxes and say here's what's really

213
00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:50.360
<v Speaker 1>important to us, that we do want you to focus

214
00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:51.320
<v Speaker 1>on what are those things?

215
00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:54.879
<v Speaker 4>So if if I look at you know, I mentioned

216
00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:59.440
<v Speaker 4>the the the ability for every vote to count, right,

217
00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:02.799
<v Speaker 4>and do we call it ranked choice voting or uh,

218
00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:07.440
<v Speaker 4>you know, a different form of that where every voters

219
00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:10.600
<v Speaker 4>has an ability to choose, Hey, here's my first choice,

220
00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:13.080
<v Speaker 4>but here's my second choice. If the first person doesn't win.

221
00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:18.600
<v Speaker 4>That engages every voter, and it causes our our candidates

222
00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:22.120
<v Speaker 4>to appeal to a much broader spectrum than they normally would.

223
00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:26.480
<v Speaker 4>I mentioned open primaries absolutely, and for a minor party,

224
00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:30.600
<v Speaker 4>I mean rank choice voice voting is essential for a

225
00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:35.159
<v Speaker 4>minor party to be able to express itself and have voters,

226
00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:37.720
<v Speaker 4>you know, express their opinion. And we may not win

227
00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:41.279
<v Speaker 4>a race, but well, our talent will increase just because

228
00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.559
<v Speaker 4>that people will realize I can vote for forward first,

229
00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:48.320
<v Speaker 4>but boy, that Democrat or Republican is likely going to win,

230
00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:51.879
<v Speaker 4>so I'm going to vote them second, right, And and

231
00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:55.399
<v Speaker 4>so that's real. Open primaries I just see as essential

232
00:11:55.519 --> 00:12:02.799
<v Speaker 4>to removing the captivity that our political leaders have over

233
00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:10.840
<v Speaker 4>over politicians. Open primaries free up our elected officials to

234
00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:14.120
<v Speaker 4>be able to vote their conscience. And we've seen a

235
00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:18.399
<v Speaker 4>number of cases where candidates would prefer to vote something different,

236
00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:21.519
<v Speaker 4>but they're forced into positions to go along with the party.

237
00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:24.039
<v Speaker 4>We've got to find a way to break that cycle.

238
00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:27.840
<v Speaker 4>And uh, you know, just I get to like good governance.

239
00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:29.080
<v Speaker 3>We've had.

240
00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:33.399
<v Speaker 4>Down testifying in front of the Legislature on a couple

241
00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:37.440
<v Speaker 4>of different issues good governance around just basic things like

242
00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:42.679
<v Speaker 4>you know, our our constitution. We have a requirement that

243
00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:47.879
<v Speaker 4>every county have three commissioners for you know, a certain population,

244
00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.480
<v Speaker 4>and it's optional if you grow, you can still stay

245
00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:53.720
<v Speaker 4>with three if you want. That sets up some pretty

246
00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:59.240
<v Speaker 4>our dynamics when now you're county is you know, a

247
00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:02.399
<v Speaker 4>five hundred thousand people and you still have three commissioners.

248
00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:05.000
<v Speaker 4>But because of the way we elect those commissioners in

249
00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:08.480
<v Speaker 4>that county, political party controls the process.

250
00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:11.519
<v Speaker 2>Douglas County, you're talking about Douglas County.

251
00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:13.440
<v Speaker 3>Not the names, right, that's the names.

252
00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:16.279
<v Speaker 1>I'm just saying, you're talking about Douglas County. And I'm

253
00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:18.559
<v Speaker 1>right there with you, Dave, I'm right there.

254
00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:20.600
<v Speaker 3>There's a couple of them. There's a couple of so

255
00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:23.320
<v Speaker 3>you know, we we have we have.

256
00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:28.000
<v Speaker 4>People elected officials that we support and I'll shout out

257
00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:30.799
<v Speaker 4>Bob Marshall as one. We have elected officials that we

258
00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:34.840
<v Speaker 4>support that are that drive those kind of that drive

259
00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:40.440
<v Speaker 4>those kind of discussions, you know, vacancy boating or vacancy sold.

260
00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.320
<v Speaker 2>Many vacancy committees of garbage.

261
00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:47.679
<v Speaker 5>Colorado is notorious nationwide the number of people that we

262
00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:51.799
<v Speaker 5>haven't elected office that gout there by vacancy and end

263
00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.120
<v Speaker 5>up going on and because they're now incumbents, they have

264
00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:55.799
<v Speaker 5>a much greater chance. We have thirty percent of the

265
00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:58.759
<v Speaker 5>legislators came through the venacancy appointment process.

266
00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:03.759
<v Speaker 3>There was some I'm gonna let me go into this

267
00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:07.559
<v Speaker 3>if I could. I mean, we have legislation passed this year.

268
00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:14.159
<v Speaker 4>That triggers if a person resigns within a certain time

269
00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:18.879
<v Speaker 4>frame after election, it forces a special election in an

270
00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:22.320
<v Speaker 4>odd year, which we don't haven't haven't done before here

271
00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:28.679
<v Speaker 4>in Colorado. And coincidentally one of the bills, two days

272
00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:32.279
<v Speaker 4>after it became effective, a commissioner in al Paso County

273
00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:37.200
<v Speaker 4>resigned and that triggered an appointment which was quite contested,

274
00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:38.440
<v Speaker 4>and it.

275
00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:42.799
<v Speaker 3>Triggers a special election on November fourth. In that election.

276
00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:48.320
<v Speaker 4>Limits who can participate as a candidate, and it limits

277
00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:50.000
<v Speaker 4>who can vote.

278
00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.679
<v Speaker 3>That happens.

279
00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.320
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, it happens to be a repof we can who

280
00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:58.399
<v Speaker 4>resigns or a normal appointment processes.

281
00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:00.519
<v Speaker 3>You have to appoint a report.

282
00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:04.879
<v Speaker 4>But now we're calling this a special election funded by taxpayers,

283
00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:10.480
<v Speaker 4>and if you're a Democrat, you can't run as a candidate.

284
00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:14.360
<v Speaker 4>We have a guy that wants would run, that would

285
00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.159
<v Speaker 4>run for office.

286
00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.200
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, we've done there is replace the people of the

287
00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:23.399
<v Speaker 1>vacancy committee with other partisans that will only be allowed

288
00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:26.600
<v Speaker 1>to vote in an election that will only have people

289
00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.000
<v Speaker 1>from their party in it.

290
00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.360
<v Speaker 2>That's what you're telling the Well.

291
00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:33.519
<v Speaker 4>Another was some negotiations that allows unaffiliated voters to vote

292
00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:38.720
<v Speaker 4>in that election, but Democrats registered Democrats can't vote, No

293
00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:40.360
<v Speaker 4>minor party candidate.

294
00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:43.480
<v Speaker 3>Can run, and the Democrat candidate can't run in us

295
00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.759
<v Speaker 3>what we call a special election.

296
00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:48.960
<v Speaker 4>That should be it's a taxpayer funded election and it

297
00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:51.320
<v Speaker 4>constrains who can run or who can vote. I just

298
00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:53.840
<v Speaker 4>didn't that'd be the type of thing that we're be

299
00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:55.679
<v Speaker 4>We kind of scratch our head.

300
00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:58.600
<v Speaker 1>So essentially, the Forward Party seems to be focused like

301
00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:01.639
<v Speaker 1>a laser on the strung true imbalances that have created

302
00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:03.919
<v Speaker 1>an unfair advantage for the two party system. I mean,

303
00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:07.240
<v Speaker 1>that's really what it gets down to, right, Yeah, exactly no.

304
00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:11.840
<v Speaker 4>But the two major parties control everything, right, and we

305
00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.720
<v Speaker 4>have we have to find from a system perspective, the

306
00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:17.759
<v Speaker 4>ability to I mean moost two major parties are essential

307
00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:20.600
<v Speaker 4>to our democracy. There's no, I mean no debate on this, right,

308
00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:23.399
<v Speaker 4>but it is it is the control that they have

309
00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:27.039
<v Speaker 4>and the ability to shut down other voices that need

310
00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:30.519
<v Speaker 4>to be heard. Uh, that that is really problematic for us. Man.

311
00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:32.879
<v Speaker 1>So I just got this text message and they said,

312
00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:35.240
<v Speaker 1>how about a balanced budget amendment? But let me ask

313
00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:37.279
<v Speaker 1>that as a follow let me ask a follow up question.

314
00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:42.279
<v Speaker 1>When will the bigger platform items be decided? Where is

315
00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:44.639
<v Speaker 1>the where are we in the process of the formation

316
00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:47.080
<v Speaker 1>of the Forward Party? If people want to get involved

317
00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:49.480
<v Speaker 1>now so they can be a part of these discussions,

318
00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:52.919
<v Speaker 1>when will those discussions move forward? Because like it or not,

319
00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:55.519
<v Speaker 1>I agree with everything you're saying about the structural issues,

320
00:16:55.559 --> 00:17:00.720
<v Speaker 1>but this is like very granular politics stuff, right, most

321
00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:03.879
<v Speaker 1>people are are we going to have a balanced budget amendment?

322
00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.880
<v Speaker 1>Do we have a pro life or a pro choice

323
00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:10.119
<v Speaker 1>playing do? What are what is our opinion on various issues?

324
00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:12.240
<v Speaker 2>Like how is that all getting sorted out?

325
00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.799
<v Speaker 4>You know? That's a great question because I mean, when

326
00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:19.319
<v Speaker 4>do we talk about, you know, the nuts and bolts

327
00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:25.279
<v Speaker 4>of changing things structurally so that things are less polarizing

328
00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:27.519
<v Speaker 4>people's eyes beully is over ye. I mean you've got

329
00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:30.400
<v Speaker 4>to really be a political junkie to get into these

330
00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:33.480
<v Speaker 4>nuts and bolts. But it's the foundation of making improvements

331
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:37.720
<v Speaker 4>in our society. Uh So, but answer answer the question directly.

332
00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.640
<v Speaker 4>Anybody can get involved with us right now. Go to

333
00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:44.480
<v Speaker 4>calif Coloradofward party dot com. There's an easy way to

334
00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:48.440
<v Speaker 4>sign up. Somebody will contact you and indicate where your

335
00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:54.359
<v Speaker 4>interests are. We have, uh, you know, weekly meetings, we

336
00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:58.839
<v Speaker 4>have subcommittees that are chartered on specific tasks and and

337
00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:01.799
<v Speaker 4>we have different topics that we that we do that

338
00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:06.480
<v Speaker 4>we do talk about and admittedly it's focused on uh

339
00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:11.039
<v Speaker 4>it's focused on helping our our nonpartisan candidates at school

340
00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:15.920
<v Speaker 4>board and municipal levels be successful. It's focused like next year,

341
00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:18.440
<v Speaker 4>you'll see us at the at the county and legislative level,

342
00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:23.640
<v Speaker 4>supporting various candidates and promoting certain legislation around good governance,

343
00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:28.039
<v Speaker 4>the the the the overall score. I mean, we're a

344
00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:32.000
<v Speaker 4>brand new party. We're just getting our feet on the ground.

345
00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:35.799
<v Speaker 4>We we intend to stay bottoms up, but that it

346
00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:39.279
<v Speaker 4>is essential over time that we develop platforms that people

347
00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:42.960
<v Speaker 4>can that resonate with people. And whether it's a balanced

348
00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:47.559
<v Speaker 4>budget or or you know, or or water rights or

349
00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:53.559
<v Speaker 4>you know, environmental issues. You know, everybody wants our country

350
00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:55.920
<v Speaker 4>to be healthy, in our communities to be healthy, and

351
00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:00.000
<v Speaker 4>people to be have access to you know, the success

352
00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.519
<v Speaker 4>will path no matter whether in the rural areas or

353
00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:06.960
<v Speaker 4>in an urban center. And so it's it's it's uh,

354
00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:09.000
<v Speaker 4>you know, that's got it. It's got to come together.

355
00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:16.839
<v Speaker 4>We have conceptually a Project twenty twenty eight. We and

356
00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:19.240
<v Speaker 4>we we had we had Project twenty twenty eight before

357
00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:24.279
<v Speaker 4>the other projects started, namely, but Project twenty twenty eight

358
00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:28.160
<v Speaker 4>is about because we're we're we're we're accepted in a

359
00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:30.200
<v Speaker 4>dozen states right now here here we have we have

360
00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:32.799
<v Speaker 4>ballot access here in Colorado and the total of five

361
00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:36.759
<v Speaker 4>states and another another seven who are recognized by those states,

362
00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:40.279
<v Speaker 4>and and and quite a few more states coming on

363
00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:43.880
<v Speaker 4>board with us. And so it's all about building a

364
00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:50.720
<v Speaker 4>national recognition and national visibility. Uh. And it's that brand awareness,

365
00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:53.440
<v Speaker 4>right so people and people hear the word Forward Party,

366
00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:57.039
<v Speaker 4>they understand what it represents, so I would say, by

367
00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:59.759
<v Speaker 4>you know, towards twenty twenty eight, that's what we're driving

368
00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:00.240
<v Speaker 4>toward too.

369
00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.720
<v Speaker 2>Well. I want to just say this.

370
00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:03.839
<v Speaker 1>One of the things that's missing from the Forward Party

371
00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:07.160
<v Speaker 1>national website that is I think a core issue and

372
00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:10.640
<v Speaker 1>incredibly important is fair districting. And if you want to

373
00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:12.720
<v Speaker 1>have an issue that you can get out in front

374
00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.920
<v Speaker 1>of right now, the jerrymandering that's going on all over

375
00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:17.680
<v Speaker 1>the country, I don't care which party's doing, and it's bad,

376
00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:20.880
<v Speaker 1>it's bad, bad, bad bad. But I don't see a

377
00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:23.519
<v Speaker 1>specific point on the Forward Party website. But Dave, let

378
00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:26.720
<v Speaker 1>me do this. We'll check back in with you periodically.

379
00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:29.160
<v Speaker 1>We'll find out what's going on with the Forward Party.

380
00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:31.359
<v Speaker 1>I'm very interested and if I have listeners out there

381
00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:33.920
<v Speaker 1>who are very big and concerned about some of these issues,

382
00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:36.440
<v Speaker 1>go ahead and get involved. They're not going to make

383
00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:38.400
<v Speaker 1>you stay if you don't like it, right, I mean,

384
00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:40.039
<v Speaker 1>if you don't enjoy it.

385
00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:43.599
<v Speaker 4>You can believe life gets it the way a lot

386
00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:47.759
<v Speaker 4>of times. So we we certainly acknowledge that we love

387
00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:50.160
<v Speaker 4>people who come forward. We love people who are interested

388
00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:54.440
<v Speaker 4>in our democracy and making sure their communities are moving forward.

389
00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:57.279
<v Speaker 1>Dave Brian from the Colorado Forward Party, A pleasure to

390
00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:59.319
<v Speaker 1>talk to you. We'll check back in in a few

391
00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.599
<v Speaker 1>months and see what's happening.

392
00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:02.319
<v Speaker 2>New stuff in the Forward Party as well.

393
00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.440
<v Speaker 4>Cool.

394
00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.759
<v Speaker 2>Thank you, Madie, all right, thanks Dave,