Shortly after I submitted last week’s column regarding President Obama’s deficit commission, I heard a clip from a campaign speech the president delivered in Colorado in September of 2008. Senator McCain had proposed a blue ribbon, bi-partisan deficit reduction commission. Then Senator Obama reacted by labeling such blue ribbon commissions as the oldest trick in the Washington playbook and as an example of passing the buck. It doesn’t happen that often, but, Mr. President, in September of 2008, you were right.
Confession time, even though the law that created the base closing commission was signed by President Reagan, I was against it.
Over the last few weeks the Chinese have given the United States a lesson in the "Golden Rule". The Chinese government is threatening to sanction and punish American corporations that participate in the upgrade of the Nationalist Chinese Air Force. The Chinese military is also urging the government to punish the United States by selling part of their US T-Bill portfolio on the secondary market. Increasing the supply of US government debt will depress prices and raise interest rates. Does anyone else remember when the stuff you bought at Wal Mart was made in the United States?
The President has complained bitterly about executive compensation throughout his presidency. When the federal government bailed out Chrysler the first time in 1979, Lee Iacocca agreed to be paid $1 a year until Chrysler turned a profit. Fast forward to this past week and the President’s hand-picked head of GM will be paid $9,000,000. And GM hasn’t repaid its government loans or turned a profit. And, Mr. Whitacre isn’t even a car guy; at least Iacocca was a car guy.
Updating the "Little District that Cried Wolf"; sources tell me that unless you’re a teacher who has been laid off by the Jordan District, all other school districts in the valley have imposed a hiring freeze. So even if you wish to substitute teach in the, for example, Granite District, you will not be hired until laid off Jordan teachers have been absorbed by the system.
A new tactic in the ongoing healthcare bill fight. Using reconciliation to pass the healthcare bill is OK because the Republicans used the process to pass Welfare Reform in 1996. What they conveniently fail to mention is that the American people favored welfare reform, a solid majority have consistently opposed both the President’s plan and the two bills produced by House and Senate Democrats.
Next week new information regarding the Court Martial of two Navy SEALS and more on the whittling away of more of your constitutional rights by the Obama Justice Department.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The Little District that Cried Wolf!
I have been politically active or aware since the mid ‘70s. At one time a very good friend of mine and I would wager on the outcome of national elections. (I won lunch at Dee’s on North Temple when the Republicans took the Senate during the Reagan years. Admittedly, I lost a few too.) I worked for Jimmy Carter during the summer of 1976 and for Gary Hart’s short lived campaign in 1988.
But manipulation of the public by elected officials has always angered me. Why is it that city, county and state officials always threaten the public with the loss of public safety first. Agree to a tax increase or we’ll have to fire all of our police and firefighters. School districts and teachers’ unions are just as bad. If we don’t get more money, we’ll have to cancel art, athletic programs, math, reading and science and fire all the teachers!
In the late ‘80s if Proposition A, B and C were passed, our children would surely become Neanderthals and the education system and state would collapse. The fight over vouchers three years ago was met with the same dire predictions.
Every year for as long as I can remember, when class size and per pupil spending numbers have been released, our imminent destruction has been eagerly foretold by the UEA and the PTA. Any increase in education spending was met with cries of inadequacy. Any cuts to the budget were met with the inevitable and predictable, "there’s no fat left to cut."
Well, after more than twenty years of crying budgetary wolf, the Jordan School District has a real wolf. They’ve had a real wolf for the past two years. In addition to the current economic conditions, much of the blame is directed at the split with the Canyons School District. The Salt Lake Tribune’s front page banner headline last week told of 500 layoffs this year. The district, UEA and PTA just may be telling the complete truth for once.
Late last year the hearings required for a tax increase were packed with opposition and the district eventually backed away from a tax increase. But the tax increase is back on the table and according to the PTA is supported by parents. I think a tax increase might be necessary, but in my mind, neither the district nor the UEA have any credibility.
If props A, B and C and vouchers had passed; would we be in the same situation we find ourselves in now?
I don’t know. But if vouchers and the props had passed, I don’t think things would be as bad as they’re represented to be.
I know that it’s the Granite School District that covers the area served by this paper. But, the lesson behind the fable, "The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf" is valid here as well.
Did Peter Corroon threaten to eliminate his "Green Building" programs or fire deputies?
Think about it, won’t you.
But manipulation of the public by elected officials has always angered me. Why is it that city, county and state officials always threaten the public with the loss of public safety first. Agree to a tax increase or we’ll have to fire all of our police and firefighters. School districts and teachers’ unions are just as bad. If we don’t get more money, we’ll have to cancel art, athletic programs, math, reading and science and fire all the teachers!
In the late ‘80s if Proposition A, B and C were passed, our children would surely become Neanderthals and the education system and state would collapse. The fight over vouchers three years ago was met with the same dire predictions.
Every year for as long as I can remember, when class size and per pupil spending numbers have been released, our imminent destruction has been eagerly foretold by the UEA and the PTA. Any increase in education spending was met with cries of inadequacy. Any cuts to the budget were met with the inevitable and predictable, "there’s no fat left to cut."
Well, after more than twenty years of crying budgetary wolf, the Jordan School District has a real wolf. They’ve had a real wolf for the past two years. In addition to the current economic conditions, much of the blame is directed at the split with the Canyons School District. The Salt Lake Tribune’s front page banner headline last week told of 500 layoffs this year. The district, UEA and PTA just may be telling the complete truth for once.
Late last year the hearings required for a tax increase were packed with opposition and the district eventually backed away from a tax increase. But the tax increase is back on the table and according to the PTA is supported by parents. I think a tax increase might be necessary, but in my mind, neither the district nor the UEA have any credibility.
If props A, B and C and vouchers had passed; would we be in the same situation we find ourselves in now?
I don’t know. But if vouchers and the props had passed, I don’t think things would be as bad as they’re represented to be.
I know that it’s the Granite School District that covers the area served by this paper. But, the lesson behind the fable, "The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf" is valid here as well.
Did Peter Corroon threaten to eliminate his "Green Building" programs or fire deputies?
Think about it, won’t you.
it's more of a guideline...
Last week President Obama appointed a bi-partisan commission to tackle the problem of the current budget deficit.
As every school child and student of American history should know, the Constitution is rather specific about separation of powers. In fact Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 specifically states, "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"
Apparently the founders wanted to keep taxing and spending as close to the people as possible. All spending bills, by law, originate in The House of Representatives. (It should be noted that up until 1913 U.S. Senators were appointed by the various state legislatures and not directly elected by popular vote. On April 8, 1913 the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution changed that process to direct election of Senators by popular vote.)
The purpose of the President’s bi-partisan commission is to address the deficit. When the commission was announced the President stated that they would address taxes and spending. Mr. President, it ain’t your job to tell the Congress, specifically The House of Representatives, how or where to tax and spend. It’s not the job of a commission that you appoint either; especially a commission that like all of your innumerable czars is not confirmed by the Senate.
Even if the Deficit Commission is powerless to act it’s not the President’s job to pass the buck to a commission. If you’re serious about the deficit Mr. President, show some leadership; submit a budget with real spending cuts. Through members of the Congress in your party propose reforms to some or all of the numerous entitlement programs. Mr. President, you’ve complained endlessly about President Bush’s Medicare prescription drug benefit; work with The Congress and repeal it, you’ve claimed your reform of healthcare can be paid for by addressing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid; well, what are you waiting for, do it now!
Mr. President you’re not a Senator anymore, you’re the President of United States, now act like it. Stop legislating from the Oval Office with 13,000 word Executive Orders. The Constitution already enumerates your duties; read them. The Constitution has separation of powers; pay attention to them.
The Secret Service’s initial code name for President Obama was, "Renegade". Since that code name is now out in the public, I’d like to suggest a new one, how about, "Captain Jack". After all, in so many ways this administration and this President seem to view the Constitution as, "more of a guideline."
As every school child and student of American history should know, the Constitution is rather specific about separation of powers. In fact Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 specifically states, "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"
Apparently the founders wanted to keep taxing and spending as close to the people as possible. All spending bills, by law, originate in The House of Representatives. (It should be noted that up until 1913 U.S. Senators were appointed by the various state legislatures and not directly elected by popular vote. On April 8, 1913 the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution changed that process to direct election of Senators by popular vote.)
The purpose of the President’s bi-partisan commission is to address the deficit. When the commission was announced the President stated that they would address taxes and spending. Mr. President, it ain’t your job to tell the Congress, specifically The House of Representatives, how or where to tax and spend. It’s not the job of a commission that you appoint either; especially a commission that like all of your innumerable czars is not confirmed by the Senate.
Even if the Deficit Commission is powerless to act it’s not the President’s job to pass the buck to a commission. If you’re serious about the deficit Mr. President, show some leadership; submit a budget with real spending cuts. Through members of the Congress in your party propose reforms to some or all of the numerous entitlement programs. Mr. President, you’ve complained endlessly about President Bush’s Medicare prescription drug benefit; work with The Congress and repeal it, you’ve claimed your reform of healthcare can be paid for by addressing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid; well, what are you waiting for, do it now!
Mr. President you’re not a Senator anymore, you’re the President of United States, now act like it. Stop legislating from the Oval Office with 13,000 word Executive Orders. The Constitution already enumerates your duties; read them. The Constitution has separation of powers; pay attention to them.
The Secret Service’s initial code name for President Obama was, "Renegade". Since that code name is now out in the public, I’d like to suggest a new one, how about, "Captain Jack". After all, in so many ways this administration and this President seem to view the Constitution as, "more of a guideline."
Friday, February 12, 2010
Dancing with Gratitude
I stayed up late last night writing a column about President Obama’s State of the Union address and how the President just doesn’t get it. But just as I was drifting off to sleep I decided it just wouldn’t do.
You see on Saturday we went to the Ririe-Woodbury dance concert at the Capitol Theatre. During the last week of January, Ririe-Woodbury’s dancers presented the same show we saw to 9,000 elementary school children. This was all done courtesy of The Eskuche Foundation, Larry H. Miller Charities, Wells Fargo and a grant from the Utah Office of Education and the Legislature.
I believe that out of music, dance and drama, dance is the most difficult of the arts to master. I marvel at the strength and flexibility it requires as well as a dancer’s ability to perform the movements in a precise sequence in coordination with other dancers on the same stage at the same time. Utah is blessed both by the number of dance troupes and by the fact that we have a nationally recognized school of dance at the University of Utah. Over the last two television seasons the Emmy award winning Fox TV show, "So You Think You Can Dance" has been in Salt Lake City for auditions and this past season three of the top six dancers were from Utah.
But this isn’t about dance. It’s about gratitude. Gratitude is a virtue that seems to be increasingly rare in our modern society. I think all of us like to be on the receiving end every now and then. More important is that we demonstrate gratitude in our everyday lives.
I’m a member of a facebook group whose goal it is to keep arts in the public schools. On behalf of the members of that facebook group I’d like to ask you to express your thanks and gratitude to The Eskuche Foundation, Larry H. Miller Charities, Wells Fargo and to the Utah State Legislature. Ririe-Woodbury is a wonderful group that offers innovative choreography and high quality entertainment.
I don’t know of any other city our size in the United States with three professional modern dance companies. But, the point of all of this is to recognize the good in others as well as the courage of the legislature to use a few tax dollars to give school children a little something extra during difficult economic times. A little something to expand their life experience. On behalf of the facebook group dedicated to keeping the arts in public schools, thank you. And, if you paid any Utah state taxes or fees, bought or had your car serviced at a Larry H. Miller dealership or bounced a check at Wells Fargo, thank you. (I don’t know where the money from the Eskuche Foundation originates, but a special thank you to them too)
If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, say thank you to Ririe-Woodbury, RDT, Ballet West or Odyssey Dance Theatre by attending one of their performances. Sit with your child or grandchild and marvel at the skills and wonder at the dedication and then just one more time say thank you.
And finally, I’d like to thank you too.
You see on Saturday we went to the Ririe-Woodbury dance concert at the Capitol Theatre. During the last week of January, Ririe-Woodbury’s dancers presented the same show we saw to 9,000 elementary school children. This was all done courtesy of The Eskuche Foundation, Larry H. Miller Charities, Wells Fargo and a grant from the Utah Office of Education and the Legislature.
I believe that out of music, dance and drama, dance is the most difficult of the arts to master. I marvel at the strength and flexibility it requires as well as a dancer’s ability to perform the movements in a precise sequence in coordination with other dancers on the same stage at the same time. Utah is blessed both by the number of dance troupes and by the fact that we have a nationally recognized school of dance at the University of Utah. Over the last two television seasons the Emmy award winning Fox TV show, "So You Think You Can Dance" has been in Salt Lake City for auditions and this past season three of the top six dancers were from Utah.
But this isn’t about dance. It’s about gratitude. Gratitude is a virtue that seems to be increasingly rare in our modern society. I think all of us like to be on the receiving end every now and then. More important is that we demonstrate gratitude in our everyday lives.
I’m a member of a facebook group whose goal it is to keep arts in the public schools. On behalf of the members of that facebook group I’d like to ask you to express your thanks and gratitude to The Eskuche Foundation, Larry H. Miller Charities, Wells Fargo and to the Utah State Legislature. Ririe-Woodbury is a wonderful group that offers innovative choreography and high quality entertainment.
I don’t know of any other city our size in the United States with three professional modern dance companies. But, the point of all of this is to recognize the good in others as well as the courage of the legislature to use a few tax dollars to give school children a little something extra during difficult economic times. A little something to expand their life experience. On behalf of the facebook group dedicated to keeping the arts in public schools, thank you. And, if you paid any Utah state taxes or fees, bought or had your car serviced at a Larry H. Miller dealership or bounced a check at Wells Fargo, thank you. (I don’t know where the money from the Eskuche Foundation originates, but a special thank you to them too)
If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, say thank you to Ririe-Woodbury, RDT, Ballet West or Odyssey Dance Theatre by attending one of their performances. Sit with your child or grandchild and marvel at the skills and wonder at the dedication and then just one more time say thank you.
And finally, I’d like to thank you too.
The Golden Rule
Shortly before the 9/11 terrorist attacks President Bush was attempting to reform Social Security. One of the main components of that reform was to give people a choice between the current system and private accounts or super IRAs. Predictably the Democrats in congress opposed giving people a choice. Eventually, some Democrats claimed they would consider allowing a small portion of the employee share of Social Security to go into three or four government approved funds. I was very leary of that plan. I could see a time or circumstance when those fund managers would be brow beat into "Politically Correct" choices such as the boycott of firms who were doing business in South Africa in the early ‘80s. In my mind it was the "Golden Rule" in its worst form.
When I speak of the "Golden Rule" I’m not talking about Christ’s teaching during his ministry in Palestine, I’m speaking of a modern interpretation; he who has the gold, makes the rules.
When President Clinton introduced his version of health care reform in 1993, one of the provisions called for the federal government to dictate to medical students not only what branch of medicine they would be allowed to practice, but if, when and where they would attend medical school. Once again, the tyrannical version of the "Golden Rule" raised its ugly head.
That particular part of "Hillary Care" is the first thing that came to mind last summer when I heard that the student loan program had been taken over by the government. I wondered then and I wonder now how long before some government bureaucrat dictates where and what people are allowed to study, or even if certain studies are allowed.
Of course the "Golden Rule" applies to more than student loans and health care. Ford is the only American car company that did not take bail out money and Ford also reported a profit for the fourth quarter of 2009. I hope Ford is taking note of Toyota’s recent treatment. Ford has just as big a target on their back as Toyota. I freely and readily admit that Toyota could not have done a worse job handling its recent problems. Toyota bungled it from an engineering and safety standpoint as well as on the public relations front. The Toyota acceleration problem will probably be a business school case study of what not to do for years to come. That said, the Federal government in the guise of the President’s Car Czar and Secretary of Transportation were very heavy handed while administering the Golden Rule. They have the gold and I believe used and abused their power over Toyota to promote Government Motors, formerly known as General Motors. The Secretary advised people to stop driving their Toyotas and later claimed he was misquoted. Mr. Secretary, I saw and heard the video, you weren’t misquoted.
Last summer health insurance companies were threatened with the loss of Medicare reimbursement if they opposed the President’s health care reform plan. Banks were cowed into silence and bullied when they attempted to repay unwanted bailout funds. Just more examples of heavy, ham handed bullying or if you will, he who has the gold, making the rules.
Is this the "Hope and Change" you expected and maybe even voted for or is this just Chicago style politics at its worst?
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."
Luke 6:31
When I speak of the "Golden Rule" I’m not talking about Christ’s teaching during his ministry in Palestine, I’m speaking of a modern interpretation; he who has the gold, makes the rules.
When President Clinton introduced his version of health care reform in 1993, one of the provisions called for the federal government to dictate to medical students not only what branch of medicine they would be allowed to practice, but if, when and where they would attend medical school. Once again, the tyrannical version of the "Golden Rule" raised its ugly head.
That particular part of "Hillary Care" is the first thing that came to mind last summer when I heard that the student loan program had been taken over by the government. I wondered then and I wonder now how long before some government bureaucrat dictates where and what people are allowed to study, or even if certain studies are allowed.
Of course the "Golden Rule" applies to more than student loans and health care. Ford is the only American car company that did not take bail out money and Ford also reported a profit for the fourth quarter of 2009. I hope Ford is taking note of Toyota’s recent treatment. Ford has just as big a target on their back as Toyota. I freely and readily admit that Toyota could not have done a worse job handling its recent problems. Toyota bungled it from an engineering and safety standpoint as well as on the public relations front. The Toyota acceleration problem will probably be a business school case study of what not to do for years to come. That said, the Federal government in the guise of the President’s Car Czar and Secretary of Transportation were very heavy handed while administering the Golden Rule. They have the gold and I believe used and abused their power over Toyota to promote Government Motors, formerly known as General Motors. The Secretary advised people to stop driving their Toyotas and later claimed he was misquoted. Mr. Secretary, I saw and heard the video, you weren’t misquoted.
Last summer health insurance companies were threatened with the loss of Medicare reimbursement if they opposed the President’s health care reform plan. Banks were cowed into silence and bullied when they attempted to repay unwanted bailout funds. Just more examples of heavy, ham handed bullying or if you will, he who has the gold, making the rules.
Is this the "Hope and Change" you expected and maybe even voted for or is this just Chicago style politics at its worst?
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."
Luke 6:31
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