The Moderate Voting Guide, Part 3

In my opinion, the cardinal sin of state politics is forgetting which race you are running in. For example, almost every tea party candidate is running against President Obama and not standing on issues that are important for their state or district. They forget that they are running for Congress or Governor, not for President of the United States. I was pleased, however, to see the focus of the Republican candidate for governor John Kasich. He recognizes the need for Ohio to become more business-friendly by doing away with needless regulation that is so prevalent in that state. Also Ohio needs to diversify their economy with more service and high tech jobs and not just wait for manufacturing to come back.



Also Kasich recognizes that health care is a pressing issue and has presented a free market alternative to Obamacare. This plan allows consumers to purchase health care across state lines, limit frivolous law suits, and cover pre-existing conditions. Although this plan requires an act of congress, it is refreshing to see a Republican take this issue head on instead of hiding his head in the sand. I believe great things are coming to Ohio if John Kasich is elected.

The Moderate Voting Guide, Part 2

Georgia's governors race has been a classic mud-slinging fest. Sadly, there is no clear cut better candidate. During the campaign, voters have learned how "terribly awful" the other candidate is, but realitvely little about why a certain candidiate would make a better governor than the other.

That being said, I am planning to vote for Democrat Roy Barnes. He seems to have the most common sense out of the two candidates. I like his ideas about bringing Georgia back to the real issue at hand: jobs. This ad pretty much settled in for me:



Roy also has proposed a plan to update state owened buildings to new enviromental standards in order to employ consturction workers.

His competitior Congressman Nathan Deal worries me because of his sketchy past as a congressman and his persoanl finacial disarray. We will ahve to see what the future holds for Georgia and frankly I am not very enthusastic about either candidiate.

Labor Economics at its finest

and Unions at their worst... Enjoy!

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Update on Sam Granato

I was pleased to see that Ogden's Standard Examiner also endorsed Sam Granato for United States Senator from Utah. They also outline Granato's common sense approach to government as opposed to Lee's pandering to the extreme right. As with most Standard editorials it was accompanied by this Grondahl cartoon. Have a nice weekend!

You do have Free Speech but...

...do you really have to use it. KSL is reporting that the infamous Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas is coming to Utah. This church earned a national reputation for protesting the funerals of soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. In their announcement the church said that they will exercise their right to peacefully protest this young man's funeral. The last line says, "Thank God for IEDs". Frankly, this is sick.


Granted they do have their right of free speech, but choosing this venue to do so is twisted and disrespectful. We may have differing opinions about the wars and the decision to go to war, but that is no excuse for abusing this solders family and loved ones. The logic is the same for LDS General Conference protesters and the pastor who threatened to burn the Koran. You have the right to do it, but it still does not make it appropriate or acceptable.

Have some decency people!

The Moderate Voting Guide, Part 1

With the U.S. midterm elections only two weeks away...I have decided to let you all in on who I am going to vote for (or would vote for if I lived in that state). This is a tough decision for me because I have very rarely voted for Democrats, but frankly this year many Republicans scare me.

My first endorsement is going to Sam Granato, who is the Democrat running for United States Senator from Utah.

I have made it my disappointment over the ousting of Senator Bob Bennett in the Utah Republican Convention very clear. My support for Granato comes after much research and inner thought. Sam is a moderate Democrat who shares my views regarding illegal immigration and the Constitution. I am skeptical of candidates who feign love for the constitution, but are quick to want to reshape it in their own image. Lee has openly stated his support for adjusting the 14th Amendment and repeal the 17th Amendment (popular election of Senators).

Wasteful government spending is an issue will rear its head in the upcoming Congressional Session. Mike Lee has promised to bring in no earmarks to Utah. While this stance may be honorable among ideologues, it could hurt infrastructure development, higher education, and key defense jobs associated with Hill Air Force Base. All of these are crucial to Utah's economic future. If Mike Lee won't work for this needed federal spending. Then our tax money will simply go to larger states like California.

Sam is a small business man who has been active in the community. His co-chairman are Frank Layden and Mac Christensen; two trusted men in the community. Sam supports common sense solutions to our perplexing problems that are not extreme to any side. What Utah needs is not someone who can spew out campaign slogans, but someone who will work with both sides and represent the state well.

To read up on Sam Granato before the election check out these links:

Deseret News Bio

Salt Lake Tribune Endorsement

Campaign Website

The True American Spirit.

We all remember the pain and shock that we felt on the morning of September 11, 2001. It was one of the hardest days of my life. I was a sophomore in high school and sitting in my math class when another teacher came in and told us to turn on the TV. I watched in horror as I witnessed the second plane crash live into the World Trade Center and later the attack on the Pentagon. As a fifteen year old, I wondered what the future would have in store for me. I remember sitting in our family van, listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's impromptu concert and have a sweet spiritual feeling that everything would be okay. I was proud of our president and our country for not giving in to hate towards all Muslims who should not be judged on the actions of a few.

Later I served a mission to Europe where I taught not only Swedes, but Iraqis, Iranians, Afghans and others from the Middle East. I saw the human impact of war and those who are disposed of their homes as part of the uncalculated consequences of combat. I experienced the sweet goodness of these humble people who fed us as missionaries and in many cases thanked us as Americans for disposing a dictator or a regime who slaughtered their relatives and countrymen.

After returning home, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Muslim students in student government at Weber State University. I am grateful for the support I received from the Muslim Student Association ranging from a much appreciated endorsement to being a guest at a Ramadan celebration.

In recent days, I have been repulsed and disgusted by the actions and rhetoric regarding the mosque (or more accurately the community center) near Ground Zero. I understand the sensitivity that many people feel regarding the issue, but if we do not allow this mosque we are cheating the ideals and philosophies of America. If we give into hate, we shame the ideals of the Founders and the memories of those who have given their lives to preserve our freedoms. Freedom is a precious and fragile jewel that can easily be lost through fear and intolerance.

Additionally I have been dismayed by the actions of a preacher in Gainsville, Florida who is promoting "Burn the Koran Day" on September 11. Granted his actions are protected through his First Amendment rights, his actions are distasteful, reproachable, and most importantly un-Christlike. Gen. David Petraus was absolutely right by warning this pastor that by doing so he endangers our own troops. It also might cause us to lose the most important battle: for the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.

Enough is enough. Let us commemorate September 11 by rejecting hate and embracing those who may believe different from us. It is what makes America great! It is what makes America free!

For all the grad students out there...

A cohort member showed this to me today. I was having a tough time convincing myself to chock down one more paper on monopoly theory and it put a smile on my face....Enjoy!

No More Seminary, really?

(from KSL.com)

The Utah's governors race heated up this week when religion was inserted into education policy. (It was just a matter of time for Utah). Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon proposed a number of education reforms. One that I absolutely agree with: adding additional math and science requirements for high school graduation. In our vastly changing world, these skills (along with excellent writing) are vital for success in the job market. A highly educated workforce is key not only for personal income, but also the state's economy as a whole. Sadly I think our high school graduates are given the wrong idea when the minimum requirement for graduation is 9th grade Geometry. Another worrisome statistic is that the average math ACT score for the entering class at Weber State University is 20.9 and at the University of Utah it is 23.4. Remember it takes a math score of 23 to be exempted from remedial mathematics. (Taking classes on the same level as beginning high school algebra).

Governor Herbert's response? We can't strengthen our graduation requirements because we would have to get rid of seminary. Really?! I am sorry governor but during my senior year, most of my class were taking Principles of Underwater Basket-weaving (not really, but classes from the same tier). I wonder if the Governor is truly worried about the religious education of high schoolers (he is the governor, not the state bishop) or about inserting religion in order to win reelection. Don't get me wrong, I love seminary, but we need to move ahead in pubic education or risk falling behind.

The governor continues, accusing his challenger of not caring about public education because he sends his children to a private Catholic school. Wait a second, wasn't the governor taking it upon himself to defend religious instruction? I don't know....I gave up trying to understand. It is an election year, of course.

Happy New School Year

Happy New School Year! Below is some advice on how to get good grades!

To govern the GOP needs ideas and leadership not just slogans and name calling.

This speech by Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT) was given to the Ripon Society. Many of the points that he made rung true to me including the example of Ronald Reagan.

Who is Obama most like?

As the midterm election approaches both parties are creating a sense of nostalgia for themselves. Republicans are using Reagan as the inspiration for everything that they stand for (and the yardstick to measure everything Obama is not). The Democrats are reaching much farther back into history and characterizing themselves as the heirs of the progressive era (TR and Wilson). Have you ever noticed that the shows on MSNBC no longer use the word liberal? They are now progressives!

I don't quite buy the argument that Obama will be the downfall of the Republic (sorry Glen Beck). He also lacks the big stick philospohy of Teddy Roosevelt on both foreign and domestic issues, rather I see him as Carter 2.0.

Jimmy Carter was swept into office because he represented everything that Richard Nixon wasn't: an all around nice guy. People felt the Nixon had betrayed the ideals of the presidency with Watergate and Ford was merely a caretaker president. Carter's ideals resonated with many people who had grown cynical about politics and the leaders in Washington. However his leadership has been defined by the Iranian Hostage Crisis. The crisis seemed to drag on forever and people could not believe that the indestructible country that could do anything and solve any problem could not seem to handle a small group of revolutionaries? Carter floundered and the American people questioned his competency as chief executive.

The BP oil leak such as crisis for the Obama administration. Instead of a foreign country causing the country heartache it is an environmental disaster and like Carter, Obama seems disconnected. Until recently, Obama had not allowed foreign countries to lend us their oil skimming boats. Efforts by State governments to defend their own shores were denied by the Federal Government. Currently the president seems more concerned about enforcing a moratorium on off shore drilling which many economist believe will be more dangerous to jobs than the oil spill itself.

Finally the $20 billion escrow fund secured by the administration has posed an interesting issue. Although I believe that BP should pay for the damage, it worries me that the White House unilaterally negotiated this fund. I would feel more comfortable if it was awarded by the courts (after a suit pursued by the DOJ) or a windfall profits tax was passed by Congress. Checks and balances were installed for a reason.

Mr. President, we need leadership. We need to know that are working with all affected parties to solve this problem. We need to know that we can solve this problem through our classic American ingenuity and determination. Please be the leader we want and need you to be!

Immigration Reform...Its about people, not fear

The dialogue in our country has exploded over the last few weeks (to say the least) about illegal immigration. It is sad to see that most of the discussion on both sides has been centered around fear not logic. Both sides are living in a fantasy world and refusing to face the problem head on. The left acts like a porous border where people can come and go as they please has no implications to our national security, while the right reverts to illogical xenophobia where all immigrants are 1) from Mexico and 2)here to deal drugs, murder, and attack our sovereignty (etc).

Recently NBC Nightly News did a story about illegal immigration in Utah:

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We as a society as a whole (including our politicians) need to get real and implement humane reform. Illegal immigrants are human beings and are children of our Heavenly Father and as such need to be treated with respect and human dignity. They also contribute greatly to our economy and result in lower prices for many goods such as restaurant meals and construction. If all immigrants magically disappeared, we would have enormous labor shortages which would result in dramatically higher prices across the board and consumer welfare would decrease. I don't believe that unemployment would go down because there are already labor shortages in these markets (mostly due to a high minimum wage). Otherwise there would be no incentive for an "under the table payment" system.

I believe a good solution would be like this:
First we need to secure our border with the right number of troops and the resources to do their jobs (unlike what the Obama Administration is proposing now). Then we need to implement a work visa program that would document those that are here. Under a work visa program, immigrants pay income tax just like a citizen does, but will not receive entitlement benefits. Particularly concerning seasonal workers, we can then allow then to return home when their temporary jobs are done. Finally, if an individual on a work visa is convicted of a felony, their visa will be revoked. Working here is a privilege and as such we should have a zero tolerance policy for convicted felons.

We can fix this problem and treat immigrants humanely while preserving our dignity as Americans, but it requires leadership not slogan shouting. Something that (I am afraid) is lacking right now.

Extension of Last Post

Speaking of Bob Bennett. On Sunday morning, the Washington Post ran an op-ed piece by him that was very interesting. He has decided not to run as a write-in candiate, but seems to be taking the role of a moderate voice in the future of the GOP.

You can read it here:

The Direction of the GOP

Recent congressional primaries across the country have caused me to think about the direction that the Republican Party is taking and what the consequences may be. I have been a registered Republican since I turned 18 and have been active in Republican politics at multiple levels. However the recent tea party movement has me worried. In order for parties to be successful (especially in a two party system) it is critical that the party expand its base. It seems however that as the GOP moves to the right) (and to a lesser extent the Democratic party shifts to the left), the party is leaving more moderate members behind.

Two events have especially concerned me. The first is the dumping of Senator Bob Bennett from Utah at the convention. I feel that the party has done itself and the state a disservice by not nominating Senator Bennett. I believe he cast many votes such as TARP and immigration reform that were very unpopular but in the end were right. I dislike the philosophy behind TARP, but we could not watch our nation's money supply (and individual consumers' deposits) vanish overnight. What was truly his major crime, however: working across the aisle with Democrats.

Meet the Press:



KSL:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

It starts...

Hi Everyone. I guess it is the small amount of narcissism in me, but I decided to start a politics/economics blog. My senior year at Weber State, one of my good friends and I wrote a point-counter point column for the Signpost (Weber State's student newspaper). I was a great experience sharing my thoughts and it opened me up to opinions and thoughts of people across campus. Now whenever I watch the news or read an interesting book or column, I wish I was still writing that weekly column. So I guess this is my imperfect substitute for that.

As I hopefully post new issues and my initial thoughts on them, please feel free to post your thoughts as well. Just keep it clean and respectful.

Thanks for reading!