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News Highlights
In televised address, Olene Walker bids Utahns farewell, urges adoption of
her proposed tax policies (Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret Morning News, Associated Press).
Volunteer panel blasts Salt Lake County's car-fleet policy (Morning News, Tribune).
Gov.-elect Jon Huntsman meets with transition team, won't announce cabinet until
Jan. 5 (Morning News and Tribune).
Critics of a USU study favorable to tuition tax credits question the projected savings (Tribune).
Quote of the Day
"He'll have some trouble, but there are a lot of other confirmations that will be much more difficult and I have no doubt Mike will be confirmed."
-- Orrin Hatch, commenting on the likelihood of Mike Leavitt being confirmed as HHS Secretary (Tribune).
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Thursday Buzz
Compiled and
Written by LaVarr Webb |
| So why are we working today? No one else is. Government offices are practically bare. Why don’t you just take the day off. Tell your boss I said it’s OK.
Note: Utah Policy Daily will not publish on Friday (tomorrow) or next Friday, Dec. 31. We will publish all the weekend news links on Monday, Dec. 27 and on Monday, Jan. 3.
Check out the Tribune Bagley cartoon on Olene Walker leaving the governorship.
The State of the Beehive
Utah Attorney Charley Foster is publishing a Web log called The State of the Beehive, focused on “Utah law, politics, history and sports.” Check it out at: http://utahbeehive.blogspot.com.
Readers Response
Bad Jokes
I really appreciate the service Utah Policy provides, and I also love a little humor to start the day, but some of your jokes are in poor taste, today's being one of them, the Wal-Mart jokes being another. – A Reader
Humbug to Religion
Letter to the editor of Utah Policy Daily, by Bill S. Lee
Merry Christmas to all of you out there. And Happy New Year, happy holidays, and happy everything else whatever holidays you celebrate, in whatever manner, at whatever time of year. I don't subscribe to organized religion of any sort but I hope you all enjoy a season that in the eyes of some is supposed to be a time of good will toward everyone.
I only wish some of us could see that a "need" for a religious holiday greeting is indicative of the problem with religion in general. Whether you admit it or not you all think your religion is the correct one. There wouldn't even be anything wrong with that if it didn't also require that veryone else is wrong and "needs to see the light". I know. I know. I heard you all say, "I'm not that way. It is only those extremists who are." But you are that way. Here is the proof: (And
don't try to tell me that religion isn't at the heart of each of these.)
1. Every state in the nation that had an anti gay marriage amendment on the ballot passed it. And you reelected a president who would like to pass a similar national amendment.
2. There is squabbling everywhere about the need for public religious displays. You can't even put the nativity scenes and ten commandments on your own property and leave it at that. You have to force the rest of us to experience it.
3. You want to tell women everywhere what is acceptable with regard to their reproductive systems. Some of you even consider women to be property or second class citizens.
4. You think that uncontrolled breeding is acceptable when the world is struggling with population related problems such as pollution and resource depletion.
5. You can't even dress without demonstrating your religious affiliations. Examples; crosses, yamakas, turbans, head scarves, ringlet sideburns and beards, funny underwear, dots on your foreheads, and on, and on, and on.
6. You can't resist attempting to force the public and even little children to experience your religion by trying to expose them to prayer in schools or at public meetings. You know full well that children are ridiculed for their differences. You either don't care about any but your own, or hope that the others will cave in and join your religion in order to avoid the ridicule.
7. If you can't convert them through missionary you feel a need to baptize every human that ever lived, even the dead ones who (in life) would have preferred that you not. And the rest of you can't ignore some little baptismal ceremony that someone else has in the privacy of their own institution.
Even though there are ten commandments I think I can stop this list at seven because it could far exceed the commandments in number. Instead I would ask that you try the following. Whenever you can, at whatever time of year, say hello to those you pass on the street. Wave to them and smile at them, be you male or female. If they wish you Holiday cheer of any sort thank them. If their holiday greeting isn't the one you would prefer be content to tell yourself (if you must) that you will go to heaven and they won't. But consider that you are none the less for it if that person never knows or experiences your religious affiliations and he may be better off.
Have a happy and a merry whatever you choose!
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Try Christ’s Approach
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(Publisher’s note: Following is an essay I wrote some 30 years ago. I’ve revised it a little over the years and it’s been published in various places.)
During the hectic holiday season we get so busy we sometimes hardly have a moment to think about the truly revolutionary nature of the teachings of the person whose birth we celebrate on Dec. 25.
Jesus Christ, revered as Deity by millions, is recognized as one of the world’s greatest teachers and philosophers, even by non-Christians. No one has had as much impact upon the world as this once obscure man who walked the hills and valleys of the Holy Land in the meridian of time.
It’s interesting to apply some of his counsel and teachings to the current troubles of modern society.
In more than 30 years as a journalist and involvement in public policy, I have watched and read as individuals and governments have grappled with the mighty problems of the day. It has been enlightening and somewhat frightening to note that despite great amounts of legislation, presidential decrees, court orders, newspaper editorials and all else we have been able to do, many of the problems of society are not alleviated; indeed they seem to grow. Society’s solutions are not the entire answer.
The man whose birth we celebrate addressed the same problems confronting nations and individuals today.
It is interesting to compare his and society’s approaches to these problems.
The most striking difference is that society generally works on the effects and results of the problems while Christ zeroed in on the roots and causes. Christ advocated preventive measures, while society attacks troubles after they have already risen.
Society’s answer to crime is better law enforcement, better equipment, bigger and better prisons and half-way houses. Christ’s answer was to love your neighbor as yourself; do to others as you would have them do to you; live an honest and upright life. One approach attacks the effects of crime, one the causes. Both are certainly necessary, but it is apparent which could really eliminate crime.
Society’s answer to poverty is public welfare through food stamps, loans, low-income housing, and other things. Christ’s answer was to teach self-reliance; to help people help themselves.
Society’s answers to the problems of immorality are birth control pills, homes for unwed mothers, treatment for sexually-transmitted diseases, sex education and divorce counselors. Christ’s answer was to teach the virtues of chastity, love and purity.
One approach could potentially solve these problems, the other simply helps those currently afflicted.
Other comparisons could be made. In each case, society centers on the results, while Christ focused on the causes of the problems. Once again, both are necessary, but the latter should be emphasized.
There are a few catches in Christ’s approach. It is a longer and more difficult process because individual lives must be changed.
Nevertheless, Christ’s approach to solving the world’s problems is designed to revolutionize society and soothe the troubles of mankind.
And the few times peace and harmony have reigned among a group of people, it has been because they used Christ’s approach, not society’s.
So why don’t legislatures, courts, Congress and presidents change national and state policies to implement Christ’s approach? That would be impossible. Each individual must implement it within himself. Christ’s approach is bottom up, not top down. Heart by heart. Family by family. Neighborhood by neighborhood. Perhaps this holiday season would be a good time to begin.
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Thursday
December 23, 2004
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Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- Dec 28: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 E, just past 2100 S, Salt Lake City. Contact: 801-486-2558.
- Jan 2: Inuaguration Interfaith Music Service, 6 pm to 7 pm, First Presbyterian Church, 12 C Street and South Temple, Salt Lake City. Open to the public.
- Jan 3: Gubernatorial Inauguration, doors open to ticketholders at 10 am and Inauguration begins at 12 noon, Abravanel Hall, 123 W South Temple, Salt Lake City.
- Jan 4: Utah Statehood Day Celebration, 6 pm, E Center, 3200 S Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City. No charge for admittance, open house for all citizens of Utah.
- Jan 10: Leadership breakfast hosted by Senate Republicans. 7:30 am, Grand America's Imperial Ballroom B, 550 South Main Street, Salt Lake City. Cost is $125 per person or $1000 per table. RSVP to a member of Senate Republican Leadership or Ric Cantrell: 801-673-1603.
- Jan 12: 8th Annual Washington County Economic Summit with Governor-Elect Jon Huntsman as key-note speaker, 7 am to 2 pm, Dixie Center, St. George City. For information see www.whatsupdownsouth.com.
- Jan 15: Utah Democratic Party Legislative Ball 2005, 6 pm to 11 pm, Marriott Hotel Downtown, 75 S West Temple, Salt Lake City.
- Jan 17: 2005 legislative session begins.
- Jan 20: Presidential Inauguration.
- Jan 27: Last day to request bills (by noon).
- Jan 27: Last day to approve bills for numbering (by noon).
- Jan 29:Central Committee Meeting.
- Feb 5: Annual Green Party of Utah Convention, 10 am to 2 pm, Anderson-Foothill Library, 1135 E 2100 S, Salt Lake City.
- Feb 12: Morgan County Lincoln Day Dinner.
- Feb 12: Utah County Lincoln Day Dinner.
- Feb 18: Last day for legislators to prioritize bills and other programs with fiscal impact.
- Feb 23: Final meeting for the Executive Appropriations Committee on all budget matters.
- Feb 25: Salt Lake County Lincoln Day Dinner.
- Feb 25: Bonding bill available to legislators by noon and final action taken on it by calendared closing time.
- Feb 25: Last day to pass bills with fiscal note of $10,000 or more.
- Feb 26: Republican Women Federation Fundraiser.
- Feb 27: Last day to consider bills from own house.
- Feb 27: Last day for a motion to reconsider.
- Feb 28:General appropriations bill, supplemental appropriations bill, and school finance bill available to legislators by calendared floor time and final action taken on each bill by calendared closing time.
- Mar 2: Second supplemental appropriations bill available to legislators by calendared floor time and final action taken by noon.
- Mar 2: 2005 legislative session ends.
- Mar 22: Last day governor may sign or veto bills.
- May 1: Last day a veto-override session may begin.
- May 2: Normal effective date for bills.
- May 2: First day to file bills for the 2006 General Session. |
| - See the entire calendar
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