NGO Influence on Elections and the Battle Over Colorado Social Studies Standards

On October 24, 2022, Kim Monson explored the troubling intersection of non-governmental organizations and election security with researcher Lisa Bennett, while state legislative candidate Paul Archer discussed his campaign for House District 37. Education policy expert Pam Benigno from the Independence Institute and retired educator Joe Boyle examined Colorado’s controversial new social studies standards.

Running for Colorado House District 37

Start listening at 17:39 – Hour 1

Paul Archer, a business owner employing 55 people in Colorado, explains why he decided to run for state legislature. Archer points to his practical experience surviving the 2008-2010 crash and COVID pandemic, when his business was down 80 percent. He contrasts his real-world understanding with career politicians who treat policy as theoretical rather than seeing its direct effects on families and businesses.

Archer addresses the crime wave hitting suburban Colorado, recounting how a family in his district had their car stolen from their driveway in broad daylight. He attributes the surge in crime to deliberate policy choices by Governor Polis and the legislature that decriminalized auto theft and drug crime while putting criminals back on the streets.

“And when you go down to the legislature, and I’ve been down there a lot with not just self-tax, but other issues, it’s interesting how many people in the legislature have no idea how our system actually works and how it actually affects people. They don’t have the experience to say, you know, if we do this, it’s going to have that effect on people.”

Paul Archer, Candidate for Colorado House District 37

NGO Influence on Election Software and Voting Security

Start listening at 34:28 – Hour 1

Lisa Bennett, an election integrity researcher and owner of Wild Skies cabin rentals, exposes concerning vulnerabilities in mobile voting software used by Colorado and other states. Bennett explains that voting software companies like Democracy Live, Konnech, and Votem include disclaimers admitting there is no way to verify hackers have not changed votes before reaching election officials. The software also captures IP addresses and geolocation data, raising security concerns for overseas military personnel and diplomats.

Bennett reveals that over 20 state attorneys general have written to the Los Angeles District Attorney seeking information about the 1.8 million records found on Chinese servers connected to Konnech CEO Eugene Yu. She details how Votem, based in Cleveland, acquired voting software from Konnech despite being so financially distressed in 2018 that it needed board member loans and payday-style financing to make payroll.

“And a lot of times people don’t realize this either, but all of these voting groups, whether it’s Connect, whether it’s Votum, whether it’s Democracy Live, which is what we use in Colorado, they actually include your computer’s IP address or your phone’s unique ID, if you’re voting on a phone versus computer, and also other geological or geolocation information about where you are when you voted. And for me, that’s a big concern because a lot of our overseas voters are diplomats or, in the case of the CIA, potentially spies.”

Lisa Bennett, Election Integrity Researcher

The Fight Over Colorado Social Studies Standards

Start listening at 71:51 – Hour 2

Pam Benigno, Director of the Independence Institute’s Education Policy Center, traces the controversy over Colorado’s new social studies standards to House Bill 19-1192, which created a governor-appointed commission to influence history and civics content. The commission originally added LGBTQ content starting at preschool. After public outcry, the teacher review committee moved it to first grade, then to fourth grade following thousands of comments from concerned parents.

Benigno reports that two Democrat State Board of Education members have refused to vote for the standards unless LGBTQ content is included at all grade levels. The final vote is scheduled for November 10th or 11th, making the upcoming State Board of Education races crucial.

“And so this commission actually added in LGBTQ starting at preschool. And then the review committee made up of teachers, the one I mentioned before, decided not to start LGBTQ, adding that group in until first grade. And then when they heard the comments, the public comments, people were concerned about sexuality being introduced at such a young age. And so they removed it from first grade and started it at fourth grade.”

Pam Benigno, Director, Independence Institute Education Policy Center

Standards Focus on Activism Over Academics

Start listening at 75:34 – Hour 2

Joe Boyle, a retired educator and grandparent from Colorado Springs, identifies three core problems with the originally proposed social studies revisions. First, they prioritize training activists over teaching academics. Second, they stereotype students into identity groups pitted against one another rather than treating each child as a unique individual. Third, they present American history and institutions in a one-sided, negatively biased manner.

Boyle notes the imbalanced emphasis: the standards mention the Bill of Rights three times but Indigenous Peoples nearly seven times. Oppression dominates as a theme while America’s inspiring defense of the free world in World War II receives scant attention. He urges parents to make their voices heard before the final vote.

“So at least our standards should get students to a place where they need to think critically about things that are being told, about the United States being systemically racist and irredeemably evil, and try to critically square that circle with the fact that millions upon millions of people around the world want to come here to live.”

Joe Boyle, Retired Educator