Above you see the previous health care bill (1,018 pages); multiply that by two and you’ll have the most recent version (2,047 pages).
The Democrats have rolled out their latest proposal for health care reform. This 2,047 page version closely resembles previous versions and would push [...]
Ever heard of the acronyms NDEA, ESEA, EAHCA, IASA, IDEA, or NCLB? All these represent former or current federal laws that did or do regulate public education in the states. What kind of impact have these laws had on state governments, schools, and students? Has that impact [...]
Yesterday, Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave what the Church is calling “a major address…on the importance of preserving the religious freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution.”
His speech to BYU-Idaho students is very interesting and important for every Latter-day Saint and every supporter of religious [...]
Rob Miller (D) and Dave Hansen (R)
Last night, I attended a very interesting forum for bloggers at the Sutherland Institute. The discussion was about civility in politics and included representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
As you might imagine, this debate on civility [...]
222 years ago today, America’s founders signed the U.S. Constitution. Since 1787, this inspired document has been a bulwark of liberty and justice for Americans and a pattern for many governments around the world. We would all do well to re-read and study the [...]
1,018 page health care bill
I think we can all agree that America’s health care industry needs help. Costs are rising quickly, the system is riddled with inefficiencies, and many people aren’t receiving needed care. Getting people to agree on what is causing these problems and how [...]
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Ever been pressured by a salesman to purchase something immediately or risk losing a sweet deal? That’s a tell-tale sign that something behind the deal will cause you grief later on and you should just walk away. President Obama is the latest salesman knocking at your door. [...]
Part 2 is based mostly on the ideas of Allan Carlson and Paul Mero from the book Preserving Sacred Ground. They ask:
If you could create society the way you think it should be, what would that society be centered around? The individual? The church? The corporation? The [...]
Independence Hall; Philadelphia, PA
The Fourth of July is almost here. To help get you in the spirit for it, you might want to read an article I recently wrote for Palacio Magazine. It’s called “Living the American Dream” and was published in both English and [...]
Ever since Barack Obama announced Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his first selection for the U.S. Supreme Court, there has been vigorous public debate about whether or not the Senate should confirm her. I believe that the Senate should most likely confirm her.
I was working in Washington, [...]
Photo credit: freeparking
What is a family? Father, mother, and children? Single mother and child? Grandfather and grandchildren? Two men committed to sharing their lives? Any group of people living in the same household?
Society’s view of the family likely includes most of these relational arrangements, if [...]
Photo by Steve Polyak
The Family: A Proclamation to the World declares that the family is “the fundamental unit of society.” It also urges us “to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen” it as such. This call to action brings up two common questions: [...]
This morning, I took my first trip to a private school. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. My impression of private schools has always been what I’ve seen on TV, so pretty much like the wealthy, uniform-sporting kids on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air [...]
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R) recently reaffirmed his support of civil unions. We know that the Church has opposed same-sex marriage, but what is its position on civil unions? There has been some confusion regarding this matter, which I hope to clear up [...]
Photo: French Pyrenees, by Ian Grant
Yesterday was “Earth Day.” What are Latter-day Saints to think about Earth Day and the environment generally? Elder Nelson pretty much sums it up in these words:
As beneficiaries of the divine Creation, what shall we do? We should [...]
I took this picture myself
April 13th was “Tax Freedom Day” for Utahns, meaning that in 2009 the average Utahn had to work the first 103 days of 2009 just to pay their taxes. From that day on, they can work to pay for things like [...]
Average gasoline prices — U.S. and Utah
Source: AAA
Abraham Lincoln “regarded prudence in all respect as one of the cardinal virtues,” and he hoped, as President, that “it will appear that we have practiced prudence” in the management of public affairs.
What is prudence?
What does [...]
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During the current financial “crisis,” I’ve thought a lot about the relationship between freedom and security. Free markets offer more opportunity for material prosperity than any other economic system. But with that freedom and potential for prosperity comes great risk, which means that economic' [...]
According to news reports, the next episode of HBO’s program “Big Love” will portray LDS temple clothing and ceremonies. This insensitive treatment of sacred practices will surely upset, and even infuriate, many Latter-day Saints. It should not.
This is not new. The aftermath of Proposition 8 is not new. [...]
High School Musical
Want to “stimulate” Utah’s economy? Perhaps convincing Hollywood to come set up shop here will do it. Then again, maybe not.
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. wants to “put us on the map” by using $15 million in federal “stimulus” money to lure film [...]
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States [...]
Photo: Tim Bartel
The Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT) published an op-ed I wrote about the federal “stimulus” money soon to come from Congress. I challenge Utahns to reject the money, and the regulations that come with it, in order to remain independent from the feds. Please read [...]
Today is a time for choosing–not only what to have for dinner, but also, much more importantly, how much government influence we want in our lives. We are amidst difficult economic times. We have a new president who is promising “hope” and “change.” The decisions we make as a nation [...]
Artist: Clay Bennett
Special interest groups and lobbyists often get a bad rap. For instance, Barack Obama stopped taking donations from them when he began his run for the presidency. He says we need to prevent our law-making process from being “hijacked by lobbyists [...]
A responsible U.S. citizen knows the basics about U.S. government, history, and current events. Are you a responsible citizen? The Intercollegiate Studies Institute recently released a report card on America’s civic literacy. It administered a 33 question quiz about “America’s founding principles and [...]
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich
The arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) is only one of many criminal charges made recently against public officials. In the past few years, many politicians have been convicted of serious charges and sent to prison.
Distrust of public officials is rampant. [...]
I just finished writing a policy report that addresses the conflict between Utah’s laws regarding enrollment in public high schools and rules that govern the transfers and eligibility of student-athletes. You can click on the link below to read it:
My guess is that most Utahns probably couldn’t tell you how much the state spends on each child’s education or what the average Utah teacher’s salary is. Watch this video from www.utaheducationfacts.com to see how some people responded to questions about education in Utah:
The wide range of [...]
The most common argument for legalizing same-sex marriage is that homosexual partners have a right to marry just like everyone else. People often compare the current movement to the civil rights movement of the 1950-60’s. This argument is compelling to many people, but it is also [...]
The most common argument for legalizing same-sex marriage is that homosexual partners have a right to marry just like everyone else. People often compare the current movement to the civil rights movement of the 1950-60’s. This argument is compelling to many people, but it is also [...]
Do right and wrong exist? If they do, then what is right and what is wrong? And who decides which is which? Also, what role, if any, should right and wrong play in public policy?
Truth exists. There are two kinds–absolute truth and relative truth. Absolute truth [...]
Backlash from the passage of California’s Proposition 8 has been widespread, aggressive, and, in some cases, deplorable. And it may be just the beginning. People have been protesting nationwide in front of government buildings and religious sites, and even [...]
Barack Hussein Obama will be the next president of the United States. I congratulate him and all the other candidates who won yesterday. November 4, 2008 was a great day in the history of our nation.
Yesterday was not great because any particular candidate won. Yes, Obama’s victory [...]
The elections for the next president of the United States are tomorrow…finally. After two years of campaign ads, news reports, yard signs, and debates, either Barack Obama or John McCain will take office in January. The new president will be at the helm of the largest, most productive economy in [...]
Gas prices are finally starting to fall. The average price in the U.S. has fallen from $4.11/gal in July 2008 to $2.91/gal today. Americans are happily embracing this relief at the pump. At the same time, they’re still searching for ways to save on transportation costs. [...]
The Connecticut State Supreme Court just ruled that it is unconstitutional in Connecticut to deny same-sex couples the opportunity to marry. Connecticut is the third state after Massachusetts and California to legalize same-sex marriage. It seems that the domino effect has begun.
Unless these states approve constitutional [...]
The stock market is down 39.4% from a year ago today and is at its lowest point since May 2003. Call me insane or delusional if you’d like, but I think this financial crisis is good for America. First, I’ll explain what effect the crisis is [...]
Do you think health care is a right, a privilege, or neither? If neither, then what is it?
I just wrote an article for the Salt Lake Tribune on this topic. Please have a read and let me know what you think.
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The stock market has taken a hit lately. Homeowners are defaulting on their loans, credit is tightening, and banks are failing. Some people are calling this the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression. Part of the problem began with people taking out risky subprime [...]
The Church just released a statement on Utah’s liquor laws. Both the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune are reporting that Gov. Huntsman’s office and others that back reforming Utah’s liquor laws find the Church’s statement to be supportive of reform. [...]
Happy Constitution Day 2008! The U.S. Constitution is a masterful synthesis of enduring principles that has allowed everything that is great in America to become what it is today. Here are some of my favorite quotes on the Constitution:
Abraham Lincoln:
“Let [the Constitution] be taught in schools, [...]
Jason Chaffetz
Yesterday, I attended a debate between Utah 3rd congressional district candidates Jason Chaffetz (R) and Bennion Spencer (D) at the Sutherland Institute in downtown Salt Lake City. The most interesting, and intense, part of the debate was when Chaffetz pointed at [...]
According to the old adage, two heads are better than one. It turns out that in most cases the more heads the better. As intelligent and wise as one person can be, the more people involved in making a decision, generating an idea, or predicting an outcome [...]
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Growing up in Utah was good. I enjoyed the small-town (but not too small) atmosphere in Provo. I also enjoyed taking trips to the big city–Salt Lake City. I’ve always been fond of [...]
The Church recently released a document called “The Divine Institution of Marriage.” The document explains the Church’s “reasons for defending marriage between a man and a woman as an issue of moral imperative” and is intended to “reduce misunderstanding and ill will” regarding its position.
I’m glad [...]
John McCain is no smooth talker. His talk, though straight, is a little dry. His temper is prone to flaring, and he seems to admit rarely when he’s wrong. No, McCain is no Jack Kennedy, no Ronald Reagan, and no Bill Clinton. And yet, he’s [...]
The opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics in China and the recent death of Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn give us an opportunity to reflect on Communism…and Mormonism.
Have you ever heard someone in church say, “Communism is a good theory that just hasn’t worked out [...]
The Church’s recent letter on same-sex marriage in California has caused quite a stir. The typical gay rights supporters outside the Church oppose the Church’s position, but many latter-day saints have told me they don’t support the Church’s position and may even fight [...]
The other day, I watched Amazing Grace, the movie. Several people had recommended it to me, and I highly recommend it to you. The movie tells the story of William Wilberforce (1759-1833) who was a member of the British Parliament. During his [...]
We Latter-day Saints need to be more active in public dialogue and debate. We need to vote more often and inform ourselves better as we do. We need to study the issues and voice our opinions to government officials, private institutions, friends, family, and [...]
Pepperdine University–Malibu, CA
During the second year of my graduate program, I helped start up the Pepperdine Policy Review and served as its first editor-in-chief. This academic journal includes articles–long and short–on various public policy topics. If you’d like to take a look at the [...]
For some time now, I have struggled to understand whether or not government should define marriage as between a man and a woman. The Church has very specifically counseled us to do all that we can to support constitutional amendments (state and national) that ban same-sex [...]
This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to own guns for self-defense and hunting. This landmark case was the first in the Court’s history to address the Second Amendment explicitly. The Court’s ruling overturned a 32-year-old [...]
With gas prices at $4/gallon, drivers finally seem to have reached a tipping point. At last, people are starting to drive less, use public transportation more, and grasp for any opportunity to save money on gas. Auto dealers, retailers, and blood banks, [...]
Economic freedom and economic development are essential for a prosperous society, but they aren’t everything. Some things are more important. Sometimes as a society we must choose to restrict economic freedom in order to create or preserve a prosperous, moral, and civil society.
More economic development and [...]
On May 15, the California Supreme Court ruled that the state of California cannot prevent same-sex couples from marrying. The Court declared that sexual orientation, like gender or race, is not “a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights” such as “the [...]
I now have a Master of Public Policy degree and start a new job in June. I’ll be a policy analyst at the Sutherland Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sutherland is a public policy think tank that focuses on Utah issues. I believe [...]
In the U.S. today, there are 104 million pounds of used uranium stored in 39 states. The sites that store this high-level radioactive waste, mostly from nuclear power plants and weapons, are within 75 miles of more than 161 million people. State and federal officials have been [...]
Yesterday at 8:00 A.M., I found myself in the Santa Monica Courthouse anxiously awaiting the opportunity to do something I had always wanted to do: jury duty. After enjoying some leisurely reading and hearing a pep talk about civic duty, justice, and the American way, a woman [...]
Since I graduate in two weeks, I’ve been very busy writing papers on many interesting public policy issues. For this reason, I haven’t written much lately, but here’s a quick post to keep you interested until I have time to write more often.
Church leaders voice opinions on specific political issues, [...]
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Courtesy: Kris Johnson
During my environmental policy course this semester, I’ve thought a lot about what my attitude toward our earthly environment should be. People often talk about reducing pollution, conserving the earth’s resources for future generations, or saving nearly extinct species of animals and plants.
What [...]
As the primary elections end, debates leading up to the general election are sure to be intense. If the 2008 election resembles 2004, then divisions among Democrats and Republicans and “liberals” and “conservatives” will be once again distinct. Throughout this political season and always, I think it’s [...]
The race for the presidency is down to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, and Mitt Romney. I bet you’re all wondering who will get my vote on Super Tuesday, right? I was planning to keep silent, but I don’t think it will hurt to say.
I am a [...]
