From the time President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill establishing Idaho Territory on March 3, 1863, through the early part of the 21st century, Idaho has been a haven for independent, community-minded people and a reasonable, problem-solving government.
Idahoans of all political persuasions were able to work together for the education of our children, the advancement of our economy, and the development of a harmonious Idaho identity. All of that began changing after the turn of the century. With a dramatic 44.5% percent increase in the state population from 2000 to the present, politics in Idaho have become increasingly divisive. Many of its politicians have forsaken the concept of responsible government.
The hearty, forward-looking men and women who founded this great State and nourished it through good and bad times into this new century would be greatly saddened to see the depths to which far too many of the Republican members of our Legislature have descended. Reason and common sense, which used to be the guiding stars of that party, have given way to conspiracy theories and manufactured facts among several Idaho Freedom Foundation-backed legislators.
Divisiveness and dysfunction have replaced pragmatism and civility.
Three factors seem to account for that once-admired party's sad state of affairs. First, the party adopted a closed primary election in 2011, which ensures that the most extreme and disruptive candidates end up on the general election ballot in this essentially one-party state. Second, the Idaho Freedom Foundation draws substantial support and direction from out-of-state interests and has gained a stronghold over a sizable minority of Republican legislators. Third, the national political environment in the United States has taken a drastic turn for the worse in the last seven years.
Take Back Idaho's mission is to maintain the peaceful and respectful way of life that Idahoans have enjoyed for generations. They provide crucial information needed to make informed voting decisions, utilizing a variety of mediums backed by data and evidence.
Take Back Idaho emphasizes empowering Idahoans by providing context and data on special interest groups that use confrontational tactics to promote self-serving agendas that do not prioritize the well-being of Idaho citizens.