Category: Featured

Featured posts

Will George Floyd’s Death Lead to Actual Reform?

John English

The death of George Floyd set off a firestorm that might actually lead to some meaningful change. We’ve had some changes in the past, even though this week it might not feel like it. One example: the more widespread use of body-cams have demonstrated that “bad apples” get caught while it can acquit the actions of others. However, things need to calm down before those new changes can happen. I didn’t go to the protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday. I wish I had now. I did go to…

Finding Our Rhythm Again After COVID-19

Curt Bentley

Over the years, I have learned something about performing music: Most of the time no one can really tell if you play a few wrong notes, but they’ll immediately pick up on a break or a pause, no matter how slight. The predictable patterns of sound and space that form the rhythm of a song are taken for granted until taken away.  And, once removed, their absence is profoundly disorienting — both to the player and her audience. Like a melody, the daily details of our lives float along over…

Death of the Democratic Party

David Rogers

“However [Political Parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, unprincipled and ambitious men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people” – George Washington, 1796. If the Coronavirus crisis has revealed anything, it has revealed that certain Parties and players will drop any pretense of constitutional allegiance when the opportunity arises.  Both Parties have elected people in positions of power locally and nationally that have essentially thrown the Constitution to…

A wartime governor?

David Rogers

“Some people might not have realized that World War III has already begun” – Tweet by Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador, March 22, 2020 One of my favorite moments in an epic movie, “The Godfather”, is when Al Pacino’s character Michael Corleone, turns to Robert Duvall’s character Tom Hagen and says “You’re out Tom. You are not a wartime consigliere”. Duvall’s character had been a long standing attorney representing the family’s (legal and illegal) interests with a stellar track record. Yet he was removed in a period where a…

A Plea to Congressman Curtis

David Rogers

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom” – Benjamin Franklin Dear Sir, I write as a concerned constituent and believe I speak for many Utahans when I sincerely inquire after the state of our current representative governance. The Coronavirus phenomenon has clearly become a politicized boondoggle and I perceive flawed analysis of the problem and little critical inquiry into the proposed solutions. I must ask: where is our principled leadership? In your town halls, in our governor’s responses and elsewhere I hear the concern for our citizenry’s well-being and…

Utah County Recorder, Republican Candidates

John Mulholland

With Jeff Smith, the current Utah County Recorder stepping down we have a four-way race. Candidates range from many years working in the office to being totally from the outside. Here is a short write-up on each. Andrea Allen Andrea was born and raised in Spanish Fork and has worked for the county for the past thirty-eight years. She has been the assistant county recorder for the last five years. She thinks it is a great staff and enjoys working with them. The first thing she wants to change with…

Utah County Surveyor, Republican Candidates: Anthony Canto and Todd Osborn

John Mulholland

With the current Utah County surveyor stepping down, there are two candidates vying to replace him. One is from inside the office, the other from outside. Here is a short write-up of each. Anthony Canto Anthony has worked in the surveyor’s office for 15 years, 8 as chief deputy. He loves the job and is passionate about protecting personal property rights. Anthony wants to make sure the office keeps running properly. He really likes that the office understands the statutory responsibilities and does them and only them. They are really…

Utah House District 56 Republican Candidates: Kay Christofferson and Merrilee Boyack

John Mulholland

My name is John Mulholland, and I live in Utah House District 56. This year, we have an exciting race with two very qualified candidates. Both have plenty of experience but somewhat different views and qualifications. Here is my short write-up on each. Kay Christofferson Kay has already served in the legislature for the last eight years. This will probably be his last term in office. He is a solid conservative and has worked hard with the governor to promote taking back states’ rights, especially around land management. He is…

Fear, Freedom, and the Aftermath

Harry Caines

On the first day of March 2020 Anno Domini, I boarded a train with a dear friend in Long Branch, New Jersey and headed to New York City to watch a hockey game. As the train headed north it became more packed at every station on the route, mostly with fellow hockey fans. A majority were wearing blue clothing proclaiming their allegiance to the New York Rangers. Some were in the orange and black of my beloved Philadelphia Flyers.  For me, watching a hockey game in Madison Square Garden was…

Panic, Pandemics, and Politics

David Rogers

“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help” – Ronald Reagan It is a demonstrated fact of history that times of crisis bring out the best and worst in people. Individuals, communities, and societies are tested by the occasional auspices of true calamities. With the Corona Virus spreading globally we are seeing some characteristics of our own economic and political structures being pushed to the limit. And the results are expectedly a mixture of both positive and negative. As usual,…