The Misery Index
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold looks at the “Misery Index” in his weekly Tea Leaf economic update newsletter. The Misery Index was made famous by Jimmy Carter, who criticized Gerald Ford for the high “index” obtained by adding the unemployment rate to the rise in inflation as measured by CPI increase over the past year. Carter beat Ford, but then was destroyed by his own creation when the Misery Index continued to climb under his watch. Says Thredgold: “This combination was a simple way to measure the level of ‘pain’ or ‘misery’ of the American people when it came to the overall level of joblessness and the loss of purchasing power due to rising inflation.” Today the Misery Index is pretty modest and politicians aren’t talking much about it.
Blog Watch
At the Senate Site blog, Senate President John Valentine says of departing House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander: "The House of Representatives will lose a bright, articulate leader at the end of the year. We'll miss his wit and honesty. I have good memories serving with Jeff when we were colleagues in the House and on dozens of issues with substantial impact to the state and that great little valley we both represent and love. Utah is a better place to live because of Jeff Alexander. This isn't an obituary, this is just a good man prioritizing his life as he sees fit. His family misses him. His business needs him. The state will continue to benefit from his talented, tireless advocacy. We appreciate him and wish him well" (see also here, here, here, and here)... Rep. John Dougall says he's "surprised that many in the media think that the legislature will limit free speech on the Capitol complex. Free speech is such a fundamental right, the legislature won't adopt any rules that limit the right of citizens to peaceably assembly. ... In the House chamber (currently being renovated) the Latin words 'vox populi' are painted on the wall above the Speaker's chair. 'Voice of the People' is more than just a motto; it's the goal for each member of the Utah House of Representatives. The best way to achieve that goal is to ensure that the voice of the people can be heard, throughout our communities and especially at the Capitol!"... Rob Miller posts a recap, complete with photos, of a recent breakfast with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (see also here)... Tech Loves Art posts an interview with Senate candidate Pete Ashdown... Jeremy's Jermiad says: "I've always believed that neither major political party has been good at implementing libertarian ideals in government. For most of my life I've believed Republicans were better at maintaining my property rights while Democrats were better at maintaining my civil liberties. It is clear that both parties have been very willing to compromise both of these values throughout our nation's history. In my opinion Democrats are currently the lesser of the two evils when it comes to violating my economic freedoms and my civil liberties. That is why I'm a Democrat and that is why I urge other libertarian leaning individuals to support the Democratic Party over the Republican Party"... Utah Taxpayer notes: "City Creek Center -- the LDS Church's recently announced downtown development -- will not be subsidized by taxpayers. ... Let's hope this marks a turning point in Utah. If a retail project of this magnitude that requires expensive demolition and site preparation doesn't need taxpayer subsidies, then other retail projects don't either."
Washington Watch
Hill Selected for F-35As
Sen. Orrin Hatch announces that Hill Air Force Base has been named as one of two operational bases for the F-35A Lightning II, or Joint Strike Fighter: "This is great news for Hill, and for Utah; it's going to keep Hill strong for decades. We were the Air Force's top choice for the F-16. The Lightning is going to replace the F-16, and the Air Force turned to Hill first to base its new generation of fighters" (see press release).
National Politics
Shift Toward the Democrats
With a disastrous last several days, including the Foley scandal, momentum that had been shifting toward the Republicans in maintaining control of Congress has turned back in favor of the Democrats, says Charlie Cook in his “Off to the Races” NationalJournal.com column. ... Remember the bar scene in Star Wars? That’s what the U.S. Congress is beginning to resemble as it is engulfed in scandals and an inability to get much done. And that is reflected in its approval ratings, as noted by the Washington Post’s The Fix blog. ... Utah’s Legislature doesn’t make any list of legislatures in danger of changing party control in Lou Jacobson’s state legislative races outlook.
Busy in New Hampshire
Mitt Romney’s Commonwealth PAC has issued a press release (no link available) announcing a New Hampshire steering committee consisting of no less than 58 prominent leaders from every county in the state. … Romney gets a lot of support in comments by conservatives (scroll down to comments) in response to Dr. James Dobson’s comments that conservative Christians won’t support Romney.
CUF Common Good Awards
The Coalition for Utah's Future, sponsor of Envision Utah, celebrates its 11th annual Common Good Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 11:30 a.m., at Little America Hotel (500 South Main). At the luncheon, the Coalition recognizes organizations or individuals that have benefited the community as a whole. The Coalition created the Common Good Awards in 1996.
This year, the Coalition will honor The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Services and Merit Medical for their generous community service. The Reverend France Davis will deliver the keynote address.
Individual tickets are $50 and a table is $500 ($32 per ticket or $320 per table are tax deductible). Checks should be made out to the Coalition for Utah's Future. The luncheon generates funding for the Coalition's general operations as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. For more information or reservations, contact Kevin Fayles, (801) 303-1462 or kfayles@cuf-envision.org.
Border Security Forum
The National Immigration Advisory Committee will hold another live forum on its website this Friday from 11 a.m. to noon on the topic of border security. Matt Throckmorton, Tiani Coleman, and Matt Iandoli will moderate. The NIAC encourages people interested in immigration policy to join the discussion. Go here, create an account for active participation, click on "Enforcement Approach vs. Comprehensive Approach," then click on "Live Forum 10-06: The Inside Scoop on Immigration Reform: Prospects Before Year's End?"
Status of American Society
The Tenth Annual Rocco C. and Marion S. Siciliano Lecture at the University of Utah will feature a speech by Laughlin McDonald on Considerations on the Status of American Society, Thursday, Oct. 12, noon, in the Dumke Auditorium of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, 410 Campus Center Drive.
McDonald is director of the Voting Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union in Atlanta. He has represented minorities in numerous discrimination cases, has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, has testified often before Congress, and written for scholarly and popular publications on civil liberties issues.
Sponsored by the U.’s College of Social and Behavioral Science and the Institute of Public and International Affairs, the annual Siciliano event offers an open forum for students, faculty and the citizenry to focus on the most important current and long-range public issues facing America. For more information, contact Aleta Tew, 801-587-3556 or visit www.csbs.utah.edu.
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