Simple Utah Mormon Politics

The two most controversial issues today will likely be whether or not to support a repeal of Utah House Bill 116 (regarding immigrant work permits) and whether Article X of the Utah State Republican Party Constitution ought to be amended to allow a 2/3 vote of the State Central Committee to overturn a 2/3 vote of State Delegates.  Updated 1:38 PM 4/3/2011 - See voting results at bottom.

I used to think that the problem of welfare the fraud it engendered, as well as it being a magnet for illegal immigration. In his book, The End of Welfare: Fighting Poverty in the Civil Society , author Michael Tanner points out that neither of these perceptions is true. The problem with welfare, rather, says Tanner, is the kind of unproductive lethargy that it breeds all across society.

One of the most damaging aspects of most religions is that the members of those religions heap upon themselves unnecessary burdens of guilt. In this article, I'll explain why, specifically from a Mormon perspective, this is most unfortunate.

We do need a revamped Government Records Access Management Act (GRAMA), but not like this. House Bill 477 codified legislative secrecy into law--that's what was wrong with it. I agree with Senator Steve Urquhart, Republican of St. George, Utah, who said that ""It is my opinion that we simply messed up. It was no one's fault but ours." I'm glad it was repealed. Now, let's do it right.

Credit: Forbes Magazine I'm glad I attended the BYU Technology Forum today, which featured Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. I once thought Facebook was another time-wasting gizmo like MySpace. Boy, was I wrong. Reflecting the insights of its founder, Facebook allows the passionate to share their passion in productive ways to bring people together in common causes in order to make a better world.

Political meetings are usually nothing to shout about, but the Utah County Republican Party Central Committee meeting that I just attended was great by my standards.  It was educational, it was courteous, and it ended on time.

Can life on earth have been created by some being higher than ourselves, yet continue on as a process of evolution? Sure. I think so. I don't think that God is some debauched Zeus atop a mythical Olympus. Nor do I imagine God as some mystical ethereal unquantifiable essence, as many religionists do. The God I imagine is a perfected human being who, because he is perfect, lives by natural law.