Election Day is a week away and we hope that all of our friends, colleagues and customers head to the polls, via mail-in or safely in-person and cast their vote up and down the ballot. Whatever your political affiliation, we encourage you to use this moment to voice your opinion and participate in the grand experiment that is our American democracy.

In the spirit of Rocking the Vote, check out the new film Freak Power: The Ballot or the Bomb which takes the viewer into Hunter S. Thompson’s irreverent and imaginative campaign for sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado staged in the shadow of Ajax and of course against the backdrop the turbulent political world of 1970 in Nixon’s America. During an era when many young people thought the US might be heading for another revolution, Thompson’s progressive and radical ideas resonated with a generation that was deeply disillusioned and actively seeking alternatives to political norms.  Similarly, it was these same reasons why so many of this generation sought refuge right here in the Roaring Fork Valley. 

As Thompson and his friends grapple with the challenges of trying to transform the political landscape in Aspen, they become ensnared in the corruption and cronyism of local politics. Soon there are death threats, bombings, an agent provocateur and Aspen becomes an ideological battleground for what “The American Dream” really means. America today is at another crossroads in history and Thompson’s message, that people must choose between making democracy work or potentially facing a violent revolution, is more relevant than ever before. Though told through the lens of a singularly irreverent personality, Freak Power: The Ballot or the Bomb is the story of the American dream, and how powerful interests collude to undermine liberal democracy.

Please enjoy the trailer below, follow along on Instagram via @freak_power and stream the complete film here.