If you're in Colorado, stop scrolling; you have ONE DAY to send this email!

The speaker discusses a fundamental issue in Colorado where citizens appear to have no real influence over their government, using a recently passed right-to-repair bill as a prime example. The bill, which took over three years to develop, saw all proponents being paid lobbyists from companies like Cisco or IBM and their trade associations. In contrast, every individual who opposed an exemption within the bill was an ordinary citizen, such as someone who fixes things for a living or a community member. Despite unanimous opposition from everyday citizens and unanimous support from paid lobbyists, the bill passed with a 5-0 vote. This outcome, according to the speaker, suggests that Colorado citizens have no say in their government. The speaker urges constituents to contact their state senators, specifically regarding their vote on SB26-090. A template message is provided, highlighting that all supporters were paid lobbyists while all opponents were everyday citizens, and stating that passing the bill after years of deliberation sends a message that the words of ordinary citizens are disregarded. The message also includes a threat to vote for the senator's primary challenger or direct opposition, regardless of who they are, if the bill passes. The speaker emphasizes that this issue extends beyond the right to repair. They cite an instance in Denver where the mayor bypassed city council approval for flock surveillance by reducing the contract value, despite public and council opposition. They also mention efforts to push age verification through operating systems, sponsored by the Colorado State Senate. The concern is that if citizens are "railroaded" by corporate interests like Cisco and IBM on an issue with near-universal public approval, it sets a dangerous precedent, eroding public control over government and potentially worsening at all levels. The speaker, who now runs a data recovery company and is no longer directly involved in repair, still believes in the philosophy of right to repair. They share a message from Andy at Salem Experts, expressing frustration over persistent corruption and the feeling that efforts to fight it are futile. The message highlights the intent to set precedents that prevent any future attempts at similar legislation, noting that logical right-to-repair laws are unlikely to pass. The speaker points out the numerous exemptions already present in right-to-repair bills, such as the exclusion of game consoles in Minnesota's bill and a problematic clause in the Colorado bill allowing manufacturers to designate products as "critical infrastructure," thereby exempting them. The core issue, according to the speaker, is that even with all these existing carve-outs and limitations, corporate interests still sought additional exemptions to further undermine public input. This, they argue, is a direct assault on the democratic process, sending a clear message that citizens' opinions do not matter. The speaker implores Colorado residents to send a strong message to their state senators, asserting that they are watching and will not tolerate being ignored. They mention having written a detailed article explaining the financial flows, the proponents of the exemption, their spending, and how they manipulated support figures. This information is offered for those who wish to craft more detailed responses. The ultimate message is that if citizens allow this to slide, the erosion of their influence will only intensify across all levels of government.