Many of you have seen this already. Now that you know Richard Dawkins (see several posts below), having watched the entire 1.5 hour delivery of a most hard-hitting, exhaulted, hallaluyah celebration of atheism, and having thus birthed a new reverence for this man, I give you this: With NO idea who ...
Featured Article from UtahPolitics.org
The Plea of One Utah Veteran
I remember meeting a man whose arm, once broke midway between the wrist and elbow and never set to heal properly, swung freely about, completely unusable. Through a translator, he explained the horrid circumstances that led to such a life changing disability. In short, he wasn’t a Ba’athist and refused to vote for then dictator Saddam Hussein, so election officials broke his arm and threatened any caregiver with death.My own experiences in Iraq and elsewhere confirmed stories most Americans take less than seriously. There are places in the world where bloodlines and dynasties still dictate national leadership. In other countries, leadership is determined by way of the gun. And many countries have elections, regular or irregular where no opposition candidates ever exist.
Tuesday, November 7th is Election Day in America, and given the privilege we Americans were born into, apathetically ignoring the opportunity to vote is a heavy slap in the face to the underprivileged men and women through the world. Vote.
****
James Madison, in Federalist Paper No. 52 wrote, “As it is essential to liberty that the government in general should have a common interest with the people, so it is particularly essential that the branch of it under consideration should have an immediate dependence on, and an intimate sympathy with, the people. Frequent elections are unquestionably the only policy by which this dependence and sympathy can be effectually secured.”
Sure, it’s easy to say, “My vote doesn’t count.” It’s easy to be lazy. However, think of the result if nobody voted. What if every eligible voter voted? It’s easy to say “they don’t listen, they’re corrupt, and it’s all about the power and money,” but is it possible that politicians are allowed to be this way simply because they don’t have an “immediate dependence on, and an intimate sympathy with, the people”? Vote.
****
In most places, polls include propositions, opinions, and amendments. This is law that’s directly effected by the people. In other circumstances, our elected leaders make and vote on law on our behalf because it’s impractical to have an election for every law or squeeze the entire population into a legislative chamber. Take part in the creation or repeal of law; it’s a citizen’s responsibility in a nation of advance democracy. Vote.
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I’m not asking you to vote one way or the other. I’m not asking you to vote Republican or Democrat or Libertarian or Green or independent; I mixed it up this year when I voted early. Vote for your party or against it. Vote for a candidate or against. Or vote to send President Bush a message up or down. Support what ever tickles your fancy. If you only know about one race, vote for just that one and skip the rest. You don’t have to vote in every race, so don’t use your lack of information or time to research the issues as an excuse not to vote entirely. Vote.
****
As a veteran, I’m asking you to vote. On November 7th, make your voice heard. Vote.
Sincerely,
Bryan D. Catherman
Posted by catherman on 09:11 AM | Comments (5)
See more UtahPolitics.org articles on Page Two...
Other Voices on Utah Politics
November 14, 2006
From One Utah...
Intellectual Arrogance
From SLC Spin...
Real Salt Lake: Confident?
We talked about this on The Nightside Project tonight.
Real Salt Lake is apparently working on a plan to make an end run around SLCo by appealing once again to the Utah Legislature.
In the meantime, they have purchased materials and are scheduled to begin excavation next month.
Real Salt Lake is apparently working on a plan to make an end run around SLCo by appealing once again to the Utah Legislature.
In the meantime, they have purchased materials and are scheduled to begin excavation next month.
From One Utah...
Truth . . . Lies . . . Sexuality
This article from The Witness succinctly states the core of the Mark Foley scandal. Money quote: . . . Foley lived in the closet. When it profited him, he cooperated with his party's exploitation of cultural homophobia to gain power. And now Foley finds himself to be expendable to his ...
Can’t We Just Leave God Out of It?
Why do people feel the need to convince the rest of us that God created the universe? The science of evolution does not threaten my spirituality. Why should it threaten anyone else's? Questioner: In continuation of the last fellows question, heh heh. The problem is that you're applying natural laws to ...
Developers Dream Bill for Washington County?
This Thursday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Washington County Growth and Conservation Act (S 3636/H.R. 5769). Although initially described as wilderness legislation, the proposed Washington County land use bill has become known as the "developers' dream." Its primary ...
What If God Existed?
I saw this on C-Span last night and gained a new reverence listening to Richard Dawkins intellectually crushing however kind and eloquent responses to some of the pitifully desperate questioners from neighboring Liberty University who so creatively tried to trick Dawkins into admitting that God might exist. Many of the questioners ...
Dodging the E-voting Bullet
The main storyline of the Democrats gaining majorities in the House and Senate seems to have caused the traditional media to conclude that e-voting is not as big a threat to democracy as many people have claimed. For a more realistic view, check out this article in Computer ...
A Marine With an Opinion
It appears some Americans continue to think it appropriate to exploit the uniform to perpetuate propaganda. The following comment made on this blog recently demonstrates this shameful combination: Having been a member of the military, I take a different perspective on what Kerry meant. I do not claim to be ...
Utahns Still Don’t “Get It”
I actually though for a moment that it might just be possible that Conservative Utah might actually lead the red states awakening. For the most part, it’s been the most conservative that have been swept out, some by huge margins, unprecedented for incumbents. But not in Utah. Nope. Utah just ...
Whistling Past Zion - a Very Long Post ™
The 2006 election seems to support Thomas Schaller’s Whistling Past Dixie thesis. In a nutshell, Schaller argues that the Democratic Party can and should build a national, majority coalition without the South – Based on the Northeast and the West Coast, Democrats can take control of the Midwestern and western ..
I’m Still Confused
Let's be honest. No one expected Democrats would take the Senate too. It seemed an impossible dream. Not statistically impossible, but "too good to be true" - impossible. At least for me, it hasn't quite sunk in yet. The past six years have been like a ...
The Way Out of War: A Blueprint for Leaving Iraq Now
George S. McGovern and William R. Polk have developed a plan for the U.S. to get out of Iraq and for the Iraqi people to get the genuine assistance needed to rebuild their country. Staying in Iraq is not an option. Many Americans who were among the most eager to invade ...
From For the People...
11/12 For the People: Can leadership positions in the Legislature be bought?
Tonight on KVNU’s For the People….
Does money influence how Utah legislators choose leadership? Candidate for House majority leader, Rep. Steve Urquhart (R-St. George) and Rep. David L. Clark (R-Santa Clara) dicuss the $35,500 in donations that their campaigns donated to those of fellow legislators.
by Tom Grover on November 14, 2006 03:13 AM under State Politics
From Utah Amicus...
43
November 13, 2006
From Brian's Utah Weblog...
The Million-Dollar Failure Of PCE
Out of state corporations invested close to a million dollars to destroy public education in Utah’s 2006 legislative elections. The Background Utah has a lot of children. Utah government spends lots of money on corporate welfare instead of education. Therefore, even with high taxes, we spend the lowest amount per pupil on our public schools [...]
From Orbiter Dicta...
Father's gang knows best?
As President Bush's (43rd President) Republican Party was thrashed last week by the Democrats during the midterm elections, he has all of the sudden shown interest in his father's (41st President) friends. Thus,
Newsweek wonders if father's pals know best this week.
Last week, 43 replaced Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld with Robert M. Gates, 41's CIA Director. Today 43 turned to the Iraq study group staffed by 41's pals Gates, James Baker, and Alan Simpson in anticipation of welcoming their suggestions to dramatically shift current policy in Iraq.
However, why does 43 need them? Doesn't Dubya have his own posse of supporters -- "vestal virgins" as Salon's Joan Walsh refers to them -- comprised of Condelezza Rice, Harriet Miers, and Karen Hughes doting on him for all his needs?
Last week, 43 replaced Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld with Robert M. Gates, 41's CIA Director. Today 43 turned to the Iraq study group staffed by 41's pals Gates, James Baker, and Alan Simpson in anticipation of welcoming their suggestions to dramatically shift current policy in Iraq.
However, why does 43 need them? Doesn't Dubya have his own posse of supporters -- "vestal virgins" as Salon's Joan Walsh refers to them -- comprised of Condelezza Rice, Harriet Miers, and Karen Hughes doting on him for all his needs?
From Utah Democrats...
Democrat - IC Party
Joe McCarthy was the first to use the "Democrat [sic] Party" misnomer. However, its use became much more pervasive when Newt "Divorces his wife on her cancer treatment recovery bed, is a deadbeat dad, but still calls himself the 'Family Values' poster boy" Gingrich, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh practically made it mandatory in the ranks of the GOP. The President, Ken Mehlman, P.J. Heartly, LaVar and LaVarr and even Doug Wright, among many others, have all embraced this touching bit of McCarthyism.
Maybe we should set aside the pretensions and start calling them the "People's Republic Party."
Maybe we should set aside the pretensions and start calling them the "People's Republic Party."
From Orbiter Dicta...
Media Geek
I must admit that I am an odd geek. Who else is turned on about talking about the future of news media? As a news junkie I sometimes find myself just as interested in the information gathering and dissemination process as politics, economics, international affairs, and other events.
Here's a list of some of the media blogs that I follow or that are of note that discuss the evolving news media paradigm:
Strange Attractor - Kevin Anderson and Suw Charman discuss social media technologies like blogging
Buzz Machine - Jeff Jarvis discusses many topics like networked journalism
Crowdsourcing - Jeff Howe explores the evolving use of crowdsourcing in news coverage
NewAssignment - Discussing the potential of open sourcing journalism by involving normal folk
PressThink - Jay Rosen gives an academic view of networked journalism
Holovaty - Adrian Holovaty is a "journalist slash computer programmer"
MediaShift - Mark Glaser of PBS tracks the digital media revolution
Here's a list of some of the media blogs that I follow or that are of note that discuss the evolving news media paradigm:
Strange Attractor - Kevin Anderson and Suw Charman discuss social media technologies like blogging
Buzz Machine - Jeff Jarvis discusses many topics like networked journalism
Crowdsourcing - Jeff Howe explores the evolving use of crowdsourcing in news coverage
NewAssignment - Discussing the potential of open sourcing journalism by involving normal folk
PressThink - Jay Rosen gives an academic view of networked journalism
Holovaty - Adrian Holovaty is a "journalist slash computer programmer"
MediaShift - Mark Glaser of PBS tracks the digital media revolution
From Voice of Utah...
A financial privacy law that Utah needs
In the mail this week was a Privacy Policy for a Chase credit card. Chase has quite a sense of humor. The “privacy” notice is actually a notice that Chase customers have no privacy. At first, the notice isn’t too distressing. Chase keeps track of my account balance. It monitors my transactions with others. It gets credit reports. OK. But then it says it may share this information with third parties, “including retailers, auto dealers, auto makers, direct marketers, membership clubs and publishers.” Direct marketers? Car dealers? No thanks.
From Utah Amicus...
The Nancy Pelosi Lie
What were you really scared of Mr. Christensen, that this intelligent woman may actually have a higher IQ than you?
Utah Republican leadership has once again decided that breeding fear and hate is the key to success in Utah elections.
One of the disgusting tactics utilized by several Republican candidates this election cycle was the malevolent campaign against House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Another reprehensible campaign used by Republican candidates was the "Democrats don't have a seat at the table so you need to vote for the Republican" campaign, aka the "it's not the person who matters, it's the Party" campaign. Both of these ill-natured campaigns are great indicators of the arrogance that Utah's current Republican leadership radiates and legislates by.
When we awoke on Wednesday morning our American world had changed. Nancy Pelosi will most definitely become the Speaker of the House, and Nevada Senator Harry Reid will become the new Senate Majority Leader. However, here in Utah many Utahns have again made the choice to close their eyes and vote for many Republican candidates that were not nearly as hardworking or as qualified as their Democ
On another blog I read something that rang very true. Mitt Romney, a LDS Republican, was elected to the office of governor in liberal Massachusetts. If the liberal citizens of Massachusetts are so bad, why then were they open minded enough to vote in a qualified Republican? As I see it the good liberal citizens of Massachusetts must have taken a real look at who they thought would be the best governor, but here in conservative Utah, so many of us don't even take the time to find out who is running; we simply go to the polls and vote for whomever is running as the Republican.
We allow our Legislature to gerrymandering our districts. We allow our majority to ignore our minority. We close our eyes to those who would work in our best interest simply because they have a D next to their name, and we close our eyes to ethical issues both in our state and nationwide because it's okay to be a lawbreaker as long as you have the elephant by your side.
I'm damn glad that we have an intelligent and pragmatic Democratic leader like Nancy Pelosi in Washington, and I'm damn tired of listening to the conservative lie that our country will go to hell in a hand basket if she becomes the Speaker of the House. I will no longer listen to these lies, and I will not fear saying what I believe is true, that Nancy Pelosi is exactly what America needs, and that Utah is missing the boat when they don't even consider voting for anyone who doesn't have an elephant on their sign.
I am grateful to be a member of the Utah State Democratic Party. I am a better man because of my Democratic associations, and I will not allow others to scare me into hiding my belief in Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi.
I do not need to agree with everything someone believes or says to respect that person, and I need not fear that my respect for Nancy Pelosi is something immoral. I am grateful that she is in Washington to bring back the civility our nation so desperately needs, and I am grateful that we have a Democratic Congressman from Utah named Jim Matheson who will be working on the side of the majority Party, and not as a minority.
If there is any lesson we should learn from this last election it should be that citizens do have a choice, but only if they choose to exercise it by taking a closer look at all of the great candidates that run, not just those who simply say, "I am so and so and I am the Republican candidate...".
November 12, 2006
From Utah House Democrats...
Congratulations, Representative Jim Matheson!
Way to go, Senator Scott McCoy and Dr. Joe Jarvis!
From Utah Amicus...
Full Circle Sami
Precinct Caucus Meeting ( March 2006)
Half way there
Election night
From Brian's Utah Weblog...
More Leadership Elections
The Utah legislature held elections on Friday to pick leadership teams for the upcoming two years. The House Democrats elected the most progressive team you could possibly imagine, Leader Ralph Becker (D-Avenues) Whip Brad King (D-Price) Assistant Whip Carol Spackman Moss (D-East Bench) Caucus Manager David Litvack (D-SLC) The Senate Democrats stayed the course but selected new senator (and experienced legislator) [...]
From SLC Spin...
Utah And Negative Campaigns
I disagree with
From Utah Democrats...
Late Posts
From Orbiter Dicta...
Listen to my blog
Ha, ha, ha... My precious RSS feed subscribers, now you have a reason to visit my actual blog site.
Those who visit my blog can listen to my blog posts read aloud by a female voice by clicking the link at the bottom of each post as powered by Talkr technology. While the voice is not sultry nor human-like, it does an excellent job for most things that I type -- including an up tick in pitch when I use a question mark. Does she raise her pitc
News at Seven: Bad News for Broadcast Journalists
The news media paradigm is shifting dramatically from a system that protects trained professionals. Now with modern communications technology normal folk can participate in the news and information gathering, synthesizing, and dissemination process. Citizen or networked journalism is rightfully concerning many traditional journalists.I have mentioned this before here on the blog, and the Northwestern University's Info Lab is not helping as it has rolled out a daily newscast called News At Seven . Here computer generated characters -- of shoot em' up video game fame -- present the news and opinion from the blogosphere. The News At Seven crew even has some examples of entertainment and science news reporting. This is all done autonomously by computers that scour the Internet for information and media. There are still some kinks like video or pictures that really do not fit the news at hand, but it is nonetheless amazing -- if not hilarious at times. Imagine what time and further innovation will do with this disruptive technology.
In fact, NPR's JJ Sutherland said at the now defunct NPR Mixed Signals blog that "I have seen the future of my profession, and it does not include me. News at Seven looks like a personal unemployment campaign directed at me."
It gets funnier when you think about how this is coming out of Northwestern since the Medill School of Journalism there is considered top-notch. I wonder how the techie and journo students feel about each other.
There is a silver lining here though. Broadcast journalists do not have to worry about Alyx Vance -- the main News At Seven anchor -- and company pulling out their guns and annihilating them. They are simply content with stripping them of much of their job security.
Now take text news RSS feeds and plug them into the Talkr narration puppy I have on this blog, and those poor broadcast journalists have even more to fret about. Further, Thomson Financial's computer program that spews out text blurbs probably should concern print journalists as well.
Don't get me wrong, I do think that homo sapien and robo journalists will coexist, but fewer humans likely will. Those who do probably will have the privilege to focus on analysis and long form reporting.
From Utah Amicus...
43
Uncle Don Says:
A riveting local story reported in the Spectrum. Rep. Dave Clark is named majority leader in the Utah House, thereby surpassing his mentor, Rep. Steve Urquhart. Rep. Urquhart then loses his leadership job as a result of Clark's victory. The unselfish Urquhart was instrumental in getting Rep. Clark appointed to a leadership job in the Legislature in the first place. However, the only thing that Dean Cox, chairman of the Washington County Republican Party, can think of to describe the accomplishments of these two legislative stalwarts is that during the floods they "both were the go- to guys that helped to arrange the $25 million emergency loan package from the state to the county." Amazing, they helped to get us a loan.
Never mind that the state is benefiting greatly from the taxes from the booming economy here, but neglecting educational opportunities here. Dixie State College operates on a state allocation that is one-third below other similar colleges in Utah and the bachelor degree attainment rate in Washington County is only 16 percent -- 75 percent below the national average.
Don Miller
St. George
Never mind that the state is benefiting greatly from the taxes from the booming economy here, but neglecting educational opportunities here. Dixie State College operates on a state allocation that is one-third below other similar colleges in Utah and the bachelor degree attainment rate in Washington County is only 16 percent -- 75 percent below the national average.
Don Miller
St. George