Our Platform for Outlining Colorado’s Future

Reasons to Agree: Coincidence in Timing (A1): Megan's performance of "A Marshmallow World" in a minor key aligns humorously with her dating frustrations, symbolizing life's quirky timing. Linkage Score: High (if the argument is that life's coincidences often reflect our personal experiences humorously). Evidence: Personal anecdote, psychological theories of perception and confirmation bias. Prom Date Plan Discussion (A2): The conversation with Megan's father about prom timings humorously highlights parental concerns and the unpredictability of plans. Linkage Score: Moderate (if the argument focuses on the humor arising from generational differences and expectations). Evidence: Personal experience, social norms about dating and parental roles. Reasons to Disagree: Confirmation Bias (D1): People tend to remember and give significance to coincidences while ignoring routine events, leading to a skewed perception of their frequency. Linkage Score: High (arg...

In January 2003 Megan and I moved from Boise Idaho to Chicago Illinois in a 24 foot U-haul. Our fist day we go snowed in at the mountain-pass going into Salt Lake, and we had to stay the night in Burley, Idaho after only traveling a few hours. In that hotel I realized that I had my mother-in-law's keys. We had to mail them to her the next day. We fought icy patches, blowing snow, and light snow flurries all the way across country. All our: shampoo, olive oil, and bath-tub-bubble-bath froze across the plains, as we experienced negative 20 and 30 degree weather. Finley (our dog) seemed depressed on the trip (even thought he got more space than Megan or I), and slept all most the whole way there. Each morning we would have to break the ice out of his doggy bowl. We arrived in Chicago on their coldest day in 4 years. There was a 100 yard walkway between our apartment, up the stairs, and to the U-Haul. It wasn't fun, but we were alive, and finally together again.

There's something truly special about a visit from your parents. It's a gesture that speaks volumes about familial bonds, love, and commitment, and I've been lucky to experience this multiple times. Despite the long, 22-hour drive from their home to mine in Illinois, my parents have made the journey not once, but four times. They've driven here twice, flown twice, and even brought their trailer on one occasion. Sure, my home might not be the Ritz Carlton, and they've had to make do with our pull-out couch, but these small inconveniences never dampen the spirit of their visits. We always cherish their company, the shared laughs, stories, and the joy they bring, especially to their grandkids. One visit that stands out is from September 2010 when both Mom and Dad came out after Philip, my son, was born. Their excitement and eagerness to meet their new grandchild turned their journey into a grand adventure. We spent a lovely day at the Chicago Arboretum, creating me...

Assertion #1: Summer Vacation to visit the family can be hard... Reasons to agree : 1.      It is hard to travel with kids that are younger than 2. 1.      Young kids have separation anxiety. 2.      Young kids may have problems sleeping in new places.  2.      Kids have a hard time getting out of and into routines.  3.      Traveling is hard 1.      Traffic can be annoying 2.      Being in a car for a long time is hard, especially for kids. It hurts my lower back. 4.      Our kids always get sick on vacation. 1.      2012 1.      J through up on a mattress, and in bed two days before we left. 2.      P through up in bed. 3.      My wife was sick, and we got a late start.  4.   ...

Education Reform I have always been frustrated when institutions did not run as well as they could. In ninth grade, a letter I wrote to my school cooks about cafeteria food got me kicked out of the lunch line for a week. Another letter to my English teacher about her teaching method turned into a running debate about different philosophies of education. That thick-skinned teacher eventually pointed me toward Ivan Illich’s Deschooling Society . Ever since, whenever I saw inefficiency in school, I sketched out how it could work better. I once thought about becoming a teacher, but my uncle’s advice echoed in my head: “How can you teach others how to make it in the world until you have?” The Idea Stock Exchange (ISE) grew from that impulse: to collect reasons, test assumptions, and evaluate reforms with transparent pro/con lists rather than with slogans or political tribes. Below are education reform beliefs  expressed in  debate-ready statements , allowing anyone to agree, disag...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13006799/site/newsweek Just as Linux lets users design their own operating systems, so 'netroots' politicos may redesign our nominating system.    MSNBC.com A New Open-Source Politics Just as Linux lets users design their own operating systems, so 'netroots' politicos may redesign our nominating system. By Jonathan Alter Newsweek June 5, 2006 issue - Bob Schieffer of CBS News made a good point on "The Charlie Rose Show" last week. He said that successful presidents have all skillfully exploited the dominant medium of their times. The Founders were eloquent writers in the age of pamphleteering. Franklin D. Roosevelt restored hope in 1933 by mastering radio. And John F. Kennedy was the first president elected because of his understanding of television. Will 2008 bring the first Internet president? Last time, Howard Dean and later John Kerry showed that the whole idea of "early money" is now ob...

There is a lott of Mitt-miss-information out there, but with all the people in these groups, with all the possible Mitt supporters, I think we could respond to a good portion of the missleading post. For instance, from : http://republicanbydesign.com/wordpress/2006/05/2008-mitt-romney-for-president "The investigative report continues. Mitt Romney is sometimes touted as a pro-life conservative. Given the right forum, he will even claim to be pro-life. But like other chamelons previously covered in this blog , Romney's record deserves closer scrutiny." " Romney on Marriage . Romney's positions here are clear-cut. He refused to support Massachuetts' 2003 Protection of Marriage act. He has been backed by Log Cabin Republicans and other gay groups; he even met with them before the Massachusetts Gubernatorial election. He brought gay activists onto his camp and into his team early on in the process." "In his 1994 race challenging Ted Kennedy for U.S...

Good teachers should make more money than bad teachers. Reasons to agree Society should reward good behavior and punish bad behavior. (reasons to agree & disagree) Wiling and eager labor is impossible without incentive. Of all forms of incentive – the freedom to attain a reward for one's labors is the most sustaining for most people. Sometimes called THE PROFIT MOTIVE, it is simply the right to plan and to earn and to enjoy the fruits of your labor. There is no reasons that the number of years you have taught should be the only thing that affects your pay. Reasons to disagree Teacher's with Master's degrees already get paid more. A student's performance depends on more than just a teacher's influence. Parents involvement is probably the biggest factor. Wiling and eager labor is impossible without incentive (From above) Reasons to agree: Of all forms of incentive – the freedom to attain a reward for one's labors is the most sustaining for mos...

http://pasquinader.blogspot.com/2006/05/mitt-romney-doesnt-care-about-gay.html You infer that "Mitt Romney Doesn't Care About Gay Youth" because he does not want them to participate in a parade. However, even a lot of Gay people even think the parades have gone too far. Some people think that homophobia would't be so bad if people wer n 't constantly trying to shove gay culture down our throats.   http://www.tvguide.com/TV/Roush/AskMatt/default.htm?cmsRedir=true&rmDate=01202006&cmsGuid={56A3322C-418F-4190-B89B-44028E065DB1}&cmsSrch=true  Lets just get this out of the way. Mitt Romney said, "Like me, the great majority of Americans wish both to preserve the traditional definition of marriage and to oppose bias and intolerance directed towards gays and lesbians."  Re: "Just, wow. When I let my guard down and think, hey, maybe Mitt Romney has the capability to feel for people who have different lifestyles than him, he pull...

http://state29.blogspot.com/2006/05/robotic-looking-special-underwear.html Re: "I don't get why some Republicans like Mitt Romney, the Governor of Taxachewshits. For me and others, interest in Romney ended when we discovered he's one of those weird underwear-wearing Mormons." Here is an example of one person, in his own words, explain why he would not vote for a Mormon. Apparently no one from the Mormon religion is good, and everyone from the Mormon religion is bad.   Re: "Look at the dude. Lantern-jawed, excellent physical shape, jet black hair with graying temples, crisp suit, and too long in the tanning booth. He's a caricature of your slick and soulless politician." So we can judge people by there looks now? Should we only vote fore people that are out of shape? That don't have gray hair? That don't tuck their shirts in? If you want to hate someone, you can say they don't have a soul. You can say they are no longer people. That makes it e...