The other day I received an email from the Utah Replican party. It caused me, once again, to wonder if it is really worth being a member of either party.
The subject of the email was Rep. Matheson, who represents my district in the House as a democrat. I had to shake my head as the email berated Matheson for what they called "flip flopping" on Health Care. Last year he voted against the health care bill despite enormous pressure from his own party. Earlier this year he voted against the repeal of the Health care law. To me, both votes were a refreshing non-partison vote.
Although I have not agreed with Matheson on every issue, I feel at least he is concerned about representing the people who voted him into office instead of his own party or partison wrangling. Some may ask, "why then did he vote against the repeal?" In my opinion he was avoiding partisan politics again. The repeal was merely a political move on behalf of the Republican party or more specifically the tea party movement. No one in their right mind would think that President Obama would sign it or that it would make it through the senate. So why waste time on it? Why not spend time amending the law and making it better.
The end of this email disappointed me even more. According to the email, the Republican party's plan for getting rid of Matheson in the next election is through redistricting. I realize both parties do it, but what happened to just letting the people decide who they want to represent them. Similar underhanded politics forced Bennett out of office this last election. If he would have been allowed to run in the general election, he most likely would have been elected. I'm getting tired of this win at any costs mentality.
Once again I wonder if it is worth being a member of either party.
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At some point I will post on some topic other than politics. I promise.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Not Defending the Defense of Marriage Act?
President Obama made a regrettable decision yesterday, and I feel he stepped beyond the powers granted to the Executive branch. The Defense of Marriage Act was passed by congress and as such the Executive branch (the president) should uphold and defend that law until the courts decide otherwise or until congress passes another law that changes it.
By choosing not to defend this act, the president is basically taking on the role of the judiciary. He is deciding that that act is unconstitutional. That is not the role he plays. There is a reason the three branches of the government are kept separate: checks and balances. What happens when one branch of government takes on the role of another? We are seeing too much of that lately and it concerns me.
By choosing not to defend this act, the president is basically taking on the role of the judiciary. He is deciding that that act is unconstitutional. That is not the role he plays. There is a reason the three branches of the government are kept separate: checks and balances. What happens when one branch of government takes on the role of another? We are seeing too much of that lately and it concerns me.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Religious Freedom in Todays Society
I found this article very enlightening, especially Elder Oaks discussion of the role of religion in our society and its preeminent status as a protected freedom in the constitution.
The examples given of religious persecution for professing religious beliefs really caught my attention and my concern.
Give it a read and see what you think.
Transcript of Elder Dallin H. Oaks' Speech Given at Chapman University School of Law - LDS Newsroom
The examples given of religious persecution for professing religious beliefs really caught my attention and my concern.
Give it a read and see what you think.
Transcript of Elder Dallin H. Oaks' Speech Given at Chapman University School of Law - LDS Newsroom
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A Modest Immigration Proposal
40.5 billion dollars. According to a survey conducted in 2010, 40.5 billion dollars is the cost to businesses for shoplifting. If that cost remained with the business, I might not be concerned, but that cost is passed on to the consumer in raised prices. Something must be done. We can’t just sit by and watch that money drain out of our own pockets.
Some suggest that law enforcement is doing all they can, and I agree. When shoplifters are caught, they are prosecuted, but the problem seems to be that many pass through the doors of businesses without being caught. Once they are beyond those doors, they are very seldom caught, and that cost is passed on to you and I, the law abiding consumer.
These law breakers must be brought to justice and I have the solution.
Everyone that has ever shopped knows that once you have legally purchased an item you are given documentation proving your purchase is legal. It is called a receipt. Those that shoplift, posses no such documentation. Therefore, at any time one could demand of them to produce such documentation. The lack of such documentation would prove that they are a shoplifter and he or she could then be prosecuted.
I realize this causes some inconvenience to those of us that are lawful shoppers. We must keep our receipts about us. But that seems to be a minor concern when we are dealing with such a devastating problem. If for some reason a lawful shopper had misplaced a valid receipt, the truth would be discovered after a certain amount of investigation, without too much discomfort (one to two nights in jail away from their family). That seems like a small price to pay to bring these law breakers to justice.
The real question on my part is who should conduct these investigations asking for legal documents of all purchases? Obviously our law enforcement officers are already doing what they can to stop this problem. They need help. We could spend more tax dollars to hire more officers, but I have a better idea.
Postal workers are employed by the government. It would be a small stretch to give them additional authority to check for legal purchasing documents at the houses they visit when delivering mail. Now I know that it would take an inordinate amount of time to check every single house. I am not proposing that. The postal worker can judge which houses look like they may contain inhabitants that might shoplift. In fact they may already have certain suspicions. We all know that the wealthy have no need to shoplift. So nice looking, well kept houses, could be skipped. Postal workers only need to check those house that seem a bit run down or not taken care of. Or those homes where the postal worker may know that someone has lost a job. Or the homes with teenagers. This has other advantages; those of us that live in well kept houses, have a current job and don’t have teenagers would not need to meticulously keep receipts.
40.5 billion dollars is at stake. Yes, it requires a bit of a sacrifice, but nothing that is not worth it. After all, these people are breaking the law and all means must be used to bring them to justice.
Some suggest that law enforcement is doing all they can, and I agree. When shoplifters are caught, they are prosecuted, but the problem seems to be that many pass through the doors of businesses without being caught. Once they are beyond those doors, they are very seldom caught, and that cost is passed on to you and I, the law abiding consumer.
These law breakers must be brought to justice and I have the solution.
Everyone that has ever shopped knows that once you have legally purchased an item you are given documentation proving your purchase is legal. It is called a receipt. Those that shoplift, posses no such documentation. Therefore, at any time one could demand of them to produce such documentation. The lack of such documentation would prove that they are a shoplifter and he or she could then be prosecuted.
I realize this causes some inconvenience to those of us that are lawful shoppers. We must keep our receipts about us. But that seems to be a minor concern when we are dealing with such a devastating problem. If for some reason a lawful shopper had misplaced a valid receipt, the truth would be discovered after a certain amount of investigation, without too much discomfort (one to two nights in jail away from their family). That seems like a small price to pay to bring these law breakers to justice.
The real question on my part is who should conduct these investigations asking for legal documents of all purchases? Obviously our law enforcement officers are already doing what they can to stop this problem. They need help. We could spend more tax dollars to hire more officers, but I have a better idea.
Postal workers are employed by the government. It would be a small stretch to give them additional authority to check for legal purchasing documents at the houses they visit when delivering mail. Now I know that it would take an inordinate amount of time to check every single house. I am not proposing that. The postal worker can judge which houses look like they may contain inhabitants that might shoplift. In fact they may already have certain suspicions. We all know that the wealthy have no need to shoplift. So nice looking, well kept houses, could be skipped. Postal workers only need to check those house that seem a bit run down or not taken care of. Or those homes where the postal worker may know that someone has lost a job. Or the homes with teenagers. This has other advantages; those of us that live in well kept houses, have a current job and don’t have teenagers would not need to meticulously keep receipts.
40.5 billion dollars is at stake. Yes, it requires a bit of a sacrifice, but nothing that is not worth it. After all, these people are breaking the law and all means must be used to bring them to justice.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Disappointing Poll
A recent poll conducted in Utah. It showed that 57% of utahns support sandstrom's immigration bill even if it costs taxpayers more.
At a time when so many programs are hurting for additional funds why would so many people want money spent on a federal responsibility?
More disappointing to me though is that so many people support a bill that doesn't work with the Utah compact. Perhaps these people feel it does support the Utah Compact, but I don't know how you can argue that an Arizona style law is a federal solution, supports families, serves the Utah economy and takes a humane approach.
To some extent, I can understand the feelings of many in Arizona. They are much closer to and experience more of the problems with immigration. But here in Utah, very few of us experience those negative aspects. In fact we are neighbors to and go to church with many illegals. So why the anger? Why the support for this bill when we could do so much better?
At a time when so many programs are hurting for additional funds why would so many people want money spent on a federal responsibility?
More disappointing to me though is that so many people support a bill that doesn't work with the Utah compact. Perhaps these people feel it does support the Utah Compact, but I don't know how you can argue that an Arizona style law is a federal solution, supports families, serves the Utah economy and takes a humane approach.
To some extent, I can understand the feelings of many in Arizona. They are much closer to and experience more of the problems with immigration. But here in Utah, very few of us experience those negative aspects. In fact we are neighbors to and go to church with many illegals. So why the anger? Why the support for this bill when we could do so much better?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
There will be Days Like These
Somedays I just feel really tired. It is not the kind of tired the sleep will cure.
I get tired of things going wrong. I get tired of the same routine without much to look forward to. I get tired of so many things that need fixing. To me it feels like I am tired of life.
The funny thing is, I could easily spice it up, make changes, go a different direction, but I don't. Why is that? It must be because I am content with the direction I am going; I am content with life. It may be strange to be content, but to also be tired on occasion, but really it is not strange. I am content because I'm leading the kind of life that I want to lead. Those days that I am worn down is no time to decide to change direction. Lack of contentment is when you should change direction.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Why Take Time to Write
Life is so busy. There is plenty to do each day, which causes me to ask, why take time to write a blog. I resisted for a long time because I didn't feel I had enough time. Finally, I realized, that is the exact reason I need to take time to write.
Life can get very stressful and full of things that keep me busy. Writing does two things for me. It forces me to take time to consider life and what is happening, and it is a great way to learn from life.
I guess to sum it up, for me, writing is very cathartic and what a better time to start writing than when life is stressful and there is no end of things to do.
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