Lest We Forget

Happy Veteran's Day

School Vouchers are Dead, but We're Brand New

Just a couple of quick notes today.

First, the Utah School Voucher Program (Referendum 1) was overturned to the surprise of nearly no one. What did surprise me was the spread. It was a near landslide opposition. That put me, once again, on the other side of the majority.

No surprises for me there, either. I just thought it would be a closer contest than it was.

Second, I wanted to bring your attention to my new masthead and (slight) site rework. What do you think? I kind of like it.

Let me know what you think, though, will you? I'm emotionally needy, like that.

Haloween Link Karma

Happy Halloween!

Just a quick post today, I'm afraid. I've been very busy with my day job, and not been able to blog about some of the things I've wanted to.

With that in mind, let me give you this "link karma round-up" of things I've been finding about the ongoing saga of the Utah School Vouchers:

• KSL News Report on 'Truth in Advertising' in voucher ads is getting KSL some flak.
• Spending on voucher ads, both pro and con, tops the $7 million mark.
• Parents and legislators debate the issue.
• KSL "Truth in Advertising" test on the voucher ads gets drawn into the battle.

One more thing.

Next week, November 8, is voting day. It's going to include more than just the voucher issue. Get out and vote, people! Make your voice heard!

Why are Utah Mormon's So Angry at Harry Reid?

A couple of days ago, Senator Harry Reid (D - Nevada) spoke at Brigham Young University (BYU) about the importance of public service. Since then, he's been the subject of scorn and ridicule on a few local and national talk shows. Not always by the talk show hosts, to be sure, but certainly by many of those who called in.

Some of them are screaming about how he's deserted his faith. Some even want his temple recommend revoked (as if they were his Bishop, for heaven's sake).

I don't get it.

I'm LDS (Mormon). I've read the transcript. He sounds like a Mormon, and a Democrat, talking to a group of students at a university owned and operated by the LDS Church, and mostly attended by Mormons.

What's the problem here? He hasn't disparaged any of the leaders of the Church, at least not beyond simple disagreement on political, not religious, issues. He even cited the exemplary public service records of many of the current Church leaders.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't agree with Senator Reid on many political issues. So what? That doesn't make a bit of difference to my understanding of his position within the Church. And let's face it. I'm not in a position to even determine what his church standing is or should be. I'm just a fellow member. I'm happy to refer to him as "Brother Reid" as much as call him Senator.

Are we really so embroiled in the whole "left wind vs. right wing" thing that we can't see beyond that? Are we really so entrenched in partisan politics that we can't see our common ground?

Are we really so worried about politics that we can't separate them from religion?

Come on, Utah. Aren't we better than that?