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America was founded on the principles of freedom, democracy, and opportunity. A vibrant and strong grassroots democracy is essential to those principles weaved into the fabric of our society. The founders of our great nation felt it essential to provide a system of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The thing is, like most things in life, we get out what we put in. Put another way, we reap what we sow.

I founded the Grassroots Democracy of Idaho, a 501(3) charity, because I believe our state and nation are in distress. The overwhelming majority of the citizens in our state are disconnected, unaware, and apathetic to the awesome gift and responsibility of being part of a participatory democracy.

I am amazed at the number of young adults I meet who dont know what the state Legislature does, or that we have county commissioners.

Moreover, way too many are surprised by the statement that a supermajority of the laws and decisions that affect our daily lives are made at the city, county, and state level. Most alarming is that only about 50 percent of Idahoans even show up to vote. We are at a crossroads Idaho, wake up or be complicit in the destruction of our democracy.

The goal of the Grassroots Democracy of Idaho is to help inspire the disconnected, unaware, and apathetic citizens of our state. Inspire them to care enough to follow and interact with local government. Inspire them to take more seriously the awesome responsibility of being a citizen of this great state. Once inspired we will strive to connect them to political and/or civic action groups that can help harness that passion we cultivated.

I believe that this inspiration is essential to survival of our democracy. I want this organization to help inspire everyone, regardless of political affiliation or ideology. Because of this, and our 501(3) status, we will not be getting involved with specific issues, broadcasting positions on the serious challenges facing our state, or holding rallies in support or opposition of candidates.

This is essential to the goals of the organization because I absolutely believe: It does not matter if someone is Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or none of the above; if they are willing to participate, we will show them how. My organization is in the business of civic education, grassroots cultivation and support, and community Service.

While this organization is new, we have a lot of passion for seeing a better Idaho. We are dedicated to bridging the gap between knowledge and action. We believe if we show people the value in connecting with government, people will get involved in political parties, community groups, and other organizations focused on the issues they are passionate about.

People keep asking me what is the grassroots democracy? A better question is WHO is the grassroots democracy. The answer, all of us. Together, as all the citizens of Idaho, we make up the grassroots democracy of the state and communities we are part of. I really believe that with some education and inspiration we can again have a strong and vibrant grassroots democracy in Idaho.

Remember, we reap what we sow. Whether you are passionate about the work of this organization and want to help or not. I implore you all to stay connected to our local governments, hold our elected state & local officials accountable, and most importantly make your voice heard. Learn how by joining us for our Grassroots Conference in Pocatello Idaho on Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Marshall Public Library in Pocatello.

This event will feature valuable workshops on our local government, civic rights, voting rights, and other important topics. You can also learn more about the Grassroots Democracy of Idaho (and our upcoming events) on our Facebook Page (fb.com/grassrootsofidaho).

I also welcome your feedback, send me an email (grassrootsofidaho@gmail.com) or give me a call (208-380-8673).

J.D. Wardell is the president and founder of the Grassroots Democracy of Idaho. Its a 501(3) non-profit public charity focused on civic education and supporting the Grassroots of Idaho. Learn more on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/grassrootsofidaho).

Original post:
Grassroots Democracy, Say What? - Idaho State Journal