All sorts of horror stories are going around the conservative media and blogosphere right now. Bob on The World According to Me shares his own experience with US health care, which adds a little context to the topic. [...] 
Allie of The Life I am Choosing has a very elegant response to the most recent bile from Chris Buttars. [...] 
With the Chris Buttars apparently jonesin’ for some capital punishment in the state, The Voice of Utah figured out the good senator’s game.
A fine bit of deduction, Voice. [...] 
The Lord does care about Christmas retail campaigns!
Jesus Returns To Give Consumers Christmas Pep Talk
warning: contains satirical references to Christ. Do not click if you find such humor offensive [...] 
One of my favorite quasi-Christmas songs, particularly in light of the last few years. It was fun to find the video recently. Rather poignant. [...] My wife and I like to have nieces and nephews over for over-nighters whenever we have the chance. On one such occasion a year or so back, we took a batch of them to Liberty Park to play around on the Saturday evening. They splashed gleefully in the Seven [...]
From Rabbi Michael Lerner of Tikkun, a great essay which not only addresses the current discussion of a federal bailout, but which touches on a number of topics on which I hope to elaborate some day:
Rabbis of antiquity interpreted the attempt by humanity to build a Tower of [...]
If you’ve been concerned about the state of the U.S. market, you can breath a sigh of relief: brilliant investor Warren buffet signaled confidence by investing five-billion dollars in financial giant Goldman Sachs. While relatively fit compared to many of the U.S. financial institutions in the news, Goldman [...]
Among the things I do when not pretending to be a political commentator or actually doing my job at the library is I pretend to be a web designer. I’ve put together a few small websites (honest, Kyle, yours is coming together!), and try to keep follow the latest [...]
I’m passionate about and fascinated by political theory and ideology. But when I observe electoral politics, such as the current presidential campaign, I’m reminded of how nauseating it is to watch the sausage being made.
Much has been made of experience by both major parties in this race. Curiously, the [...]
This Saturday (September 13), the Utah Solar Energy Association is sponsoring the Northern Utah Solar Tour. It appears that over fifty buildings will be exhibited in Ogden, Park City, SLC, and Orem/Provo showing off various types of solar energy features. The tour is part of the National Solar [...]
A few days ago, Tom Ashbrook interviewed Phyllis Schlafly, founder of the Eagle Forum and a primary leader in grassroots conservatism. One particular exchange caught my attention.
CALLER CAROLINE: …I would like to ask her: If Sarah Palin were a Democratic candidate with a tiny special needs child at home [...]
So President Bush has chosen to take the opportunity afforded by publicity of the Olympics and his trip to China to advocate greater freedom of expression in that nation.
It is certainly a worthy goal. Freedom of speech is one of the most essential freedoms we can hold.
However, given [...]
Yesterday, BYU Professor Chris Foster gave an interview on KCPW’s The Public Square about animal advocacy and humane treatment. I think his arguments are very persuasive. Of course, I’ve never been a fan of the machismo and violence of the rodeo. And over the recent years, I’ve been [...]
Utah’s big holiday is fast approaching. Our state pulls out all the stops for its Days of ‘47: Parades, picnics, fireworks, the whole nine yards to celebrate the Mormon pioneer trek to Utah.
My wife and I enjoy the holiday, but not in the traditional way. We tend to [...]
Jeffrey Nielsen, professor at Westminster College and UVSC who fired from BYU after writing an editorial questioning the LDS Church’s support of the federal marriage amendment, has again been taking a very public stand as the issue resurfaces. He recently released “An Open Letter to California Mormons.”
I am a [...]
I know of a number of liberals who are (understandably) frustrated and pessimistic. Snakebitten by the previous elections, they don’t believe Obama is going to win, and that we will be stuck with another Republican president.
I’m not saying Obama supporters can be complacent or that it is in the [...]
We now know (finally!) who the two players are in this year’s general election. We have Barack Obama and John McCain. Both have been cast as “different” politicians at various times, and both come with some questions.
Given these choices, I will tentatively support Obama. I’m not locked in; the [...]
With the recent legal brouhaha over homosexual marrige in California and the LDS Church’s response, the homosexual marriage issue is again a hot topic in religious circle and around the blogosphere. One of the big arguments of those advocating for homosexual marriage bans is that we must protect “traditional [...]
For five years now, Republicans high and low have scoffed at the Iraq War skeptics. They’ve routinely protested any suggestion that the conquest had anything to do with oil or empire. This is a war of liberation, an act of benevolence to free an oppressed people, a noble act [...]
One thing I hope to continue doing on the blog, and do more consistently, during my step back from blogging is to promote local social and political events I think are worthwhile. I’m looking for some sort of web calendar service or application I can use. I’d prefer not [...]
Anyone who has poked around the links in the right-hand column of this blog will have noticed that I’ve done a very poor job of keeping them updated. It’s a pain to try to decide what blogs and other links are most important and worth putting up in that [...]
(It appears that since writing this post, others in the Utah blogosphere have linked to it as a rundown of the candidates. While I appreciate the love, I should make clear that I did not intend this post as a comprehensive rundown of the candidates. I just wanted to [...]
The worst thing about the perpetual campaign for the Democratic nomination is that while the race dominates the airwaves and internet, precious little substantive discussion is going on. Most media coverage, including the debates, is dominated by superficial trivialities. It seems to me particularly pronounced in the coverage of [...]
I’ve been outdone. Artemis of the blog Feminist Mormon Housewives has written a great little primer on slow food and local foods, with a number of resources I missed. And a fantastic discussion on how to garden and how to eat locally has blossomed in the comments of [...]
This morning, while Barak Obama’s Pennsylvania concession speech played on the radio, my wife turned to me and sighed.
“I’m sick of Obama.”
If my wife, who has been swooning over Obama since the 2004 Democratic Convention, is sick of Obama, the election season has gone on far too long.
UPDATE: I [...]
There is reason to be optimistic about the environmental movement as we celebrate this Earth Day. No longer the province of hippies and other “fringe” members of society, Earth Day has become more mainstream. While there may not be unanimity about global climate change, acceptance is spreading even [...]
There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that modern U.S. food industry, a combination of agribusiness and corporate food processors, tends to be harmful to our environment, our health, and the viability of our rural communities. Many of the leading agribusiness companies [...]
Former labor secretary Robert Reich recently blogged about those recent comments of Obama which have been so distorted over the last several days. The point was to take the media to task for their superficial coverage. An interesting read. But what really caught my eye was the way [...]
In responding to my last post The Triangle Waistshirt Fire, one commentor assured me that the market is self-correcting and capable of protecting workers and the public. He raised the example of the Crandall Canyon mine disaster, suggesting that the the owner (Robert Murray) will somehow get his [...]
Just a few days ago, we passed the anniversary of a seminal tragedy. On March 25 1911, a fire tore through the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City. 146 people, mostly young girls, died in fifteen minutes time. Many died in the flames and smoke, unable to [...]
…when I am reminded of McCain’s foreign policy, and the general attitude of the vast majority of the Republicans in that regard, the prospects of voting for McCain dim considerably. While I’m not certain either of the Democratic candidates are as willing to stand for an ethical foreign policy [...]
I’m on record as having previously been a fan of McCain. Over the past six or so years I’ve been extremely disappointed and disillusioned by his seeming veer to the right, and I’m vehemently opposed to his hawkish foreign policy tendencies. But when McCain continues to say things like [...]
From Post Carbon Salt Lake:
- Friday, April 4, 2008, 7:00-9:00 pm
- First Unitarian Church, 569 S 1300 E, SLC
How far does food travel before it reaches your plate? What chemicals are added, what fossil fuels are burned to deliver your food to you each and every day? Was it always [...]
I hadnt intended to make any comments on the self-destruction of Eliot Spitzer. Ive tended to avoid discussing the sexual behavior of politicians, for a variety of reasons: the most prominent being that the personal vices of individuals doesnt really relate to ideological issues. Heaven knows weve seen people [...]
Tonight are the Utah party caucuses. Are you going to participate?
My own participation has not always been a sure thing. In American History class in junior high (was it 7th or 8th grade?), we were required to read George Washingtons farewell address. At the time I was much [...]
Im far from the only blogger who commemorated the Iraq Wars pentannual mark with an evaluation. In response to my own, one commentor linked to the assessment of Bob Lonsberry, a right-wing journalist and radio personality who also happens to be lds. This commentor advertised Lonsberrys essay, “Iraq [...]
Five years ago, I was involved in an online Christian forum which frequently veered off topic and onto politics. The invasion of Iraq was a primary subject of conversation for much of 2003. Most of these people proudly counted themselves among the Religious Right, and staunchly defended the conquest. [...]
In my last post, I used the example of one particularly widespread argument against the Kyoto Protocols as an example of the sort of inappropriate moral relativism which is often used in politics. I made the case that you cannot ethically use the argument that if they dont [...]
Want a non-military related example of the principles I referred to in my recent post, Moral Responsibility is not Anti-Americanism?
Think the Kyoto Protocols.
Back in December, the very first act of the government of newly elected Australian Prime Minister Rudd was to ratify the Kyoto Protocols. This leaves [...]
The Voice of Utah is one of my favorite local blogs; their satire is second to none (and their research seems to be pretty accurate). Their recent entry, “Buttars’ illegal-immigrant/lifestyle ancestors give one pause,” is just about their best yet in exposing the hypocrisy of those who veil [...]
From Post Carbon SLC:
This Green House — Building and Remodeling to Reduce Energy Consumption
- Friday, March 7, 2008, 7:00-9:00 pm
- First Unitarian Church, 569 S 1300 E, SLC
Did you know that buildings are the largest users of energy in the United States (Almost as much as industry and transportation combined!)? Did [...]
(Shortly after I first posted this essay, I found that I had inadvertently uploaded an earlier draft of the post. I’ve now uploaded the intended final version, with some slight revisions. Sorry for the error.)
“Anti-American.” “You hate America.” “Blame America first.” These are some of the epithets repeatedly [...]
Courtesy of Utah Moms for Clean Air:
Our big focus right now is the Utah legislative session in progress, and we’re writing to ask you to contact your legislators regarding important clean air legislation.
Home energy use is a major source of air pollution in Utah. Inefficient homes burn more [...]
Im glad I pull some weight in this town. Mayor Becker has reconsidered his support for SB 260, citing erudite and compelling letters from certain members of the Salt Lake City blogging community.
Okay, he may not have exactly said that nor attributed his change of heart to me. [...]
I just listened to a very compelling show on NPR’s Speaking of Faith, “Diplomacy and Religion in the 21st Century.” Douglas Johnson,a founding member of The International Center for Religion & Diplomacy and Evangelical Christian, discusses some of his experiences helping diffuse conflict in the Middle East [...]
Yesterday, Ralph Becker came out in favor of Senator Buttars SB 260, which would ensure that disciplinary charges against police throughout the state are kept private, as noted by Jeremy and later by one of my commentors.
Well, now that Ralph supports the Bill, Im okay with [...]
Mayor Becker continues to prove to be a person of conviction and compassion.
On Valentines Day, Mayor Ralph Becker will host a special breakfast with the wives of Utahs 116th National Guard unit. The womens husbands have been serving in Iraq since May and are expected be gone for [...]
A Utah Senate committee recently passed SB 190, which would require all public school classrooms to display the U.S. flag and Constitution, and each school prominently display the national motto (In God We Trust).
I very much agree with the stated intent of the bill, as listed in section [...]
Romney’s “surrender” statement provides us yet another opportunity to reflect on foreign policy and militarism.
Jeff Huber of Pen and Sword, a retired Navy commander, looks at the attitude of the presidential candidates towards war and foreign policy in Blooper Tuesday.
Whatever line may have once demarked American foreign policies [...]
If all of these Republicans, both nationally and in Utah, want to raise such a ruckus about immigration, maybe they should take a careful look at the roots of the problem. Jim Hightower explains.
The question that policy makers have not faced honestly is this one: Why do these [...]
A few days ago, on my post about year-round school, one individual left a complaint about teachers.
You know I am getting very tired of the school teachers getting everything they want, yes there are some very good teachere [sic] but most of them couldnt get a job anywhere [...]
It appears that Mitt Romney has all but thrown in the towel on his presidential aspirations. His campaign never really gathered any steam, despite the copious amounts of personal money he put into the campaign. Was the anti-Mormon bias among much of the mainstream Christian world to [...]
While battling illegal immigration is the trendy fight for the Utah Republican party, it is almost reassuring to see that some continuing to tilt with one of the tried and true straw men of conservatism: homosexuals.
Chris Buttars, tireless champion of Utah’s sodomy ban and sponsor of Utah constitutional amendment [...]
From Utah Moms for Clean Air, a fine local environmental advocacy group:
Rowland Hall St Marks and Utah Moms for Clean Air present:
Air Quality Where Children Live and Breathe: A Focus on Schools, a free informational lecture for parents, teachers, students, or anyone else interested in learning more about [...]
Super Tuesday today. Did you vote? I havent talked much about the primary race. The point of my blog is to discuss principles, not politics per se. But today, why not? Heres my take on the current field.
It should come as no surprise that I am not particularly fond [...]
As part of their ongoing struggle to pulverize their straw man du jour, the Utah Republican Party has found yet another method of defeating the plague (presidential candidate Romneys less-than-charitable description) of illegal immigration.
Greg Curtis wants to use Oxbow jail for the detention of illegal immigrants.
Presumably because [...]
Thank goodness that representative Donnelson is sponsoring the Immigration Enforcement Act in the Utah legislature this year. We have to do something about the hordes of Godless, Marxist plundering our pretty, great state. The local police are a perfect solution. They have loads of extra time on [...]
It is refreshing (and frankly pleasantly surprising) to see that the Utah legislative leaders have (seemingly) finally given up on their school voucher fetish and begun to look at more productive and sensible methods of improving our school system. I’m particularly pleased to see year-round school being proposed, both [...]
There are a number of serious problems in the system with which we elect our President. Ive discussed a couple of the big ones before. But the worst problem with elections is that people keep playing politics with them.
I just learned that the Daily Kos has been [...]
Out with the Old, in with the New. Rocky has moved on to other things, and Ralph Becker is now mayor of SLC.
A grateful adieu to Rocky. The pugnacious and passionate mayor really earned my respect for his vision and determination to improve the quality of life in SLC [...]
In a day when some think that Utah is “for war,” it is worth recalling with the Centerville Citizen the words of the First Presidency during WWII—a war which was unquestionably a just war (at least in the Atlantic Theatre). How much more should we take to [...]
Yesterday at work, a co-worker informed me that Mitt Romney had denied modern revelation to the press. I was skeptical, but later found that she was right.
I found it very ironic to hear the report of this incident the very day on which I was preparing my Gospel [...]
Very rarely do I find myself agreeing with Utah Representative Jim Matheson, a politician neither hot nor cold, one who usually tries to straddle the fence and like most of his “Blue Dog Democrat” ilk, is all too willing to be duped by those who would dispense with any [...]
Now here’s a family which understands Christmas.
No doubt, they are hardly unique. I’m sure there are many individuals and families around the nation (and world) who forgo the conventional commodified Christmas for one more representative of him for whom the holiday is named. But we’re so bombarded by [...]
One of the big issues which has been looming over the federal government over the past several weeks is the Alternative Minimum Tax. The House of Representatives recently passed a bill reforming the AMT and making up for the reduced revenues in other places. The administration, however, has [...]
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