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The Week Ahead
It’s the last week of August, still hot outside, and no cool spell in sight. But even in the heat you can feel that summer is in retreat. The days are noticeably shorter and nights in the high country feature a nip in the air. I’m looking forward to a glorious September/October, my favorite time of year. I love the golden period of fall with warm days and crisp nights.
On the political front, municipal candidates are increasing their campaign intensity as the Sept. 11 primary election nears. Only one legislative subcommittee is scheduled this week. See agenda. For all the week’s political events, see the Utah Policy.com calendar.
Utah Crime Rate Rising
United Way of Salt Lake's recent e-newsletter highlights Utah's crime rate, which has been increasing while the national crime rate has remained at near 30-year lows. Reports indicate that U.S. crime rates, particularly for violent crimes, are near 30-year lows. "In 2004, Utah’s total crime rate surpassed the U.S. total crime rate, and the overall trend is not promising," the UWSL newsletter says.
Utah Trade Experts
Global Utah, the e-newsletter published by World Trade Center Utah, has been featuring key individuals within the international trade and development office of the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED). The latest issue features Miguel Rovira, regional director for Latin America and Canada. Other issues have featured Franz Kolb, director for India, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Brett Heimburger, Asia director .
Learn How to Franchise
The Zions Bank Business Resource Center's newsletter, "Taking Care of Business," has been running a series of interesting articles about franchising. You can read the latest issue here.
Today in Political History
August 27, 1928: Treaty between the United States and other Powers providing for the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy (Kellogg-Briand Pact) is signed in Paris. (Source: Yale)
Aug. 27, 1962: The United States launches the Mariner 2 space probe, which flew past Venus the following December. (New York Times)
Wise Words
“My great-grandfather used to say to his wife, my great-grandmother, who in turn told her daughter, my grandmother, who repeated it to her daughter, my mother, who used to remind her daughter, my own sister, that to talk well and eloquently was a very great art, but that an equally great one was to know the right moment to stop.”
-- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Source: Quote Garden)
Leadership Tip
The Girl Scout Example
Leadership is a cornerstone attribute that many in positions of power have used to better themselves, their people, and their organizations. As such it does not belong in the ivory tower; it is part and parcel of the fabric of a successful organization. Peter Drucker is often quoted as saying the best run organization is the Girl Scouts of America. The quality of the young girls who participate and the quality of the women who lead the Scouts are examples of leadership in action. Likewise, young people who participate in team sports, or any kind of activity that involves the cooperation of others to achieve a common aim, also demonstrate leadership attributes. (Source: About.Com)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- New York Times: The Democratic National Committee threatens to disallow Florida delegates if the state doesn’t delay its Jan. 29 presidential primary election.
-- Wall Street Journal: Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili is making a heroic effort to turn the former Soviet republic into a shining star of freedom and free markets. But Russia threatens to drag it back into darkness.
-- The Politico: "He may be on his way out the door at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in coming days. But the party Karl Rove has labored to build over the past eight years seems to have picked up his talking points on next year's presidential race: Hillary Rodham Clinton is going to be the Democratic nominee and that could be the GOP's saving grace in an otherwise uphill battle."
-- Washington Post: David Broder: "Chuck Hagel, the senator from Nebraska, describes himself as a 'tidal' politician, one who believes that larger forces in society shape careers more than the ambitions of individuals. ... Today, that tide may be carrying him ... toward a third-party or independent ticket with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- a development that could reshape the dynamics of the 2008 presidential race."
-- Weekly Standard: Bill Kristol: "Like a pig in muck, the left loves to wallow in Vietnam. But only in their 'Vietnam.' Not in the real Vietnam war. ... In his speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars [last week], [Pres.] Bush ... told the truth about Vietnam. Now he has to be steadfast in supporting General Petraeus and ensuring that the [Iraq] war is fought as intelligently and energetically as possible."
-- New York Daily News: Editorial: "National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell [puts] it bluntly: 'Some Americans are going to die' because congressional Democrats forced into public a battle over national security eavesdropping before okaying, temporarily, the program sought by President Bush."
-- Wall Street Journal: Peggy Noonan writes about the impression our soldiers leave in Iraq.
UTA Draft ESR Meetings
The Utah Transit Authority has scheduled two public meetings on Wednesday and Thursday in Utah and Salt Lake Counties to receive comments on the Draft ESR for the proposed Provo to Salt Lake City FrontRunner Commuter Rail project. For more info, click here.
Blog Watch
-- Rep. Steve Urquhart says: "The editorial boards for the Deseret News and Tribune didn't like the outcome of the special session. Dang. I was sure they'd give the Legislature a gold star. Maybe next time. Both editorials stated that one reason the County Council postponed a decision on the district splits issue (a.k.a., 'punted') was that a provision in the law needed to be 'corrected,' allowing all residents of a district to vote on the split, instead of just the voters in the area wanting to split off. Um, no. That issue was debated at length in establishing the law on district splits, a decision was made, and a law was enacted. Like it or dislike it, that is the law. If the Council thought the law was unfair, rather than punt, it could have voted 'no.' But taking positions tends to displease some group or other. So, if a governmental entity that represents an extremely small percentage of voters (4% in the Jordan school district) refuses to make a decision, you bet the Legislature will make the call for them. Someone has to govern." (For more on the special session, see CoolestFamilyEver.)
-- At Out of Context, Dan Harrie says he's unimpressed with the Senate's efforts to investigate “the strange case of a rogue elephant parade float." (See also related posts at Part of the Plan and Jeremy's Jeremiad.)
-- Raymond Takashi Swenson says: "The news that Utah has joined other western states to pledge to 'fight' greenhouse gases means that Utahns are going to get shot in the crossfire. After all, greenhouse gases come from the energy we use to eat, travel, build homes, make clothing, run computers, worship, get educated, and be entertained. Government regulation of these activities will make all aspects of our lives more costly and more constrained."
Lighter Side
“If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you’ve never tried before.”
-- Unknown (Quoted in Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf) |
