Promoting democracy in Utah one pint at a time.
Promoting democracy in Utah one pint at a time.
I am so battle weary. As if the war in Iraq weren’t enough, the political battle ground here at home competes with the unrelenting summer heat causing hot under the collar temperaments far and wide. How ironic that in an effort to foster peace, end a war and save lives, our own nation is being torn to shreds. Tattered shreds that barely resemble a “united” anything, let alone a coordinated effort in the best interests of all to put differences aside, and actually reach a consensus that translates to meaningful legislation.
How do we move our elected representatives forward? Ego, face saving, and posturing must be taken out of the equation. Putting the interests of those whose shoulders have bared the weight of Iraq for 4 1/2 years ahead of politicking would be a good start, and must be demanded. And in a wider view, considering carefully the price we all will pay well into our grandchildren’s lives for this misbegotten, mismanaged, ideologically driven war. I wonder if there are any “deciders” in Washington who can actually decide any thing? As the debates persist, mothers and fathers continue to welcome their fallen heroes home from the bellies of airplanes, in flag covered pine boxes. What will it take to energize and unify our representative government in an effort to reclaim our national identity, and save untold numbers of lives in the process?
The Salt Lake Tribune has a cool little interactive (cool for the increasingly un-cool Trib) page where you can pick a candidate and just choose to listen to the answers you care about.
Now if I could just find the YouTube debate somewhere (hint: it’s not on YouTube, strangely). If anyone has a copy or know where I can see it, please post it in the comments.
P.S. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the small scandal surrounding the Trib’s editorial board endorsement of Keith Christensen. If you haven’t heard about it, check it out at Holly Mullen’s site, mullentown and City Weekly’s website.
From Esquire Magazine:
An excellent letter to the City Weekly:
“I say what I think/ that the company stinks/ ’Cause I’m a union man!”Bravo, John Saltas, for your editorial [“Coal Miner’s Fodder,” Private Eye, Aug. 16, City Weekly]. The Republicans, the business owners and almost all the rich people of the world have been putting their Cole-Hahn shoe in the ass of the working people of this country for too long, and it’s about time we started to strike back.
If the Republicans don’t want national health insurance, don’t want government to make employers carry insurance for their workers, won’t regulate living wages and won’t legislate safe working conditions, who’s going to?
Mining magnate Robert Murray is the face of everything wrong with business and politics in this country. Hate the science, hate the workers, love the money. And talk about Jesus as much as possible, because he’s going to be back soon, and we don’t need to take care of the planet or the poor.
My parents were both college graduates, and they were both from West by-God Virginia and from poor backgrounds. My father, the rocket scientist, grew up in a log house. My mother’s father worked for the Works Progress Administration, and was an engineer on the B&O Railroad. But they both taught me that Roosevelt was right, and Reagan was wrong, and while it’s OK for government to help people, it’s not OK for the rich to use government to harm people for their own benefit.
Social Security isn’t a handout to the poor; it’s the least this government can do for the folks who worked to make this country great for their entire lives.
Health care isn’t a privilege; it should be a right for everyone in the greatest country that ever was.
Do you know what your sprinkler system does in the dark? Many of us – rightly – set our sprinkler systems to go off during the night or early morning hours. This reduces evaporative losses compared to mid-day watering. However, if your sprinkler system develops problems such as broken sprinkler heads, you might not see the water waste because you are tucked in your bed. Periodically, turn on your sprinklers during daylight hours to inspect the system for broken, clogged or misaligned heads. For more information and for additional tips on sprinkler efficiency, visit the Smart Sprinkling techniques area of the Utan Rivers Council website.
“Check this out: It’s blueprint man! It’s different, fun, and I’m sure you will enjoy it!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiiMUQt9ehA
- Matt Lyon (Becker Backer and Young Dems Pres)
*** From the Humane Society of the United States ***
Surprise Second Chance for Animals In Utah!
Dear Friends of the Animals,
Fantastic news! Governor Jon Huntsman has just called a special legislative session to be held Wednesday, August 22 –- and included on the agenda is a bill to toughen the penalties for animal cruelty. Last session, both the Utah House and Senate passed versions of legislation that would make the torture of an animal a felony, but time ran out before the two versions could be reconciled. This important anti-cruelty legislation will get a second chance when the Utah legislature meets this week.
Utah is one of just seven states with no felony-level penalties for the most extreme and malicious forms of animal cruelty. Passage of felony animal cruelty legislation during the special session would protect animals from the worst forms of abuse and would bring Utah’s cruelty laws into line with those of most other states in the country.
TAKE ACTION
Please make quick, polite phone calls to your state representative and your state senator and urge them to support legislation with a felony penalty for the FIRST offense of animal torture. Animal cruelty is a violent crime that should result in a serious penalty, and since very few perpetrators of animal cruelty are charged twice, it is critical that this felony penalty apply to the first offense.
Making a phone call is simple — you will speak with a staff person who can take your message and pass it along to your legislator. You can say:
“Hello, my name is [your name] and I am calling from [your town] to urge [Senator Davis/Representative Wiley] to vote YES on legislation to make the torture of an animal a felony — on the FIRST offense. Animal cruelty is a violent crime that should result in a serious penalty. Thank you.”
The Salt Lake Tribune and KUTV will be hosting a SLC mayoral debate on August 26th at 5:00pm. Questions for the candidates may be submited via email at webmaster (at) sltrib (dot) com or via YouTube at www.youtube.com/group/slcmayor.
Friday, August 17 at Drinking Liberally, we plan to record and submit questions to the debate. If you missed one of the candidate’s visits, now is your chance to ask your question. You might want to consider starting your question with “Dave Buhler, since you refused to visit Drinking Liberally, I will ask you the same question I asked ALL the other candidates…[insert question here].” Just a thought. If you are not able to attend the meetup, post your question here. We will record it for you this Friday. Simply “raise your drink!” to add your question.
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Welcome to Drinking Liberally Salt Lake City. We meet at 6:30 p.m. every second and fourth Friday in the back room of Piper Down [Map] and go to 9:30. All are welcome.
click here to learn more
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