Oct 12
Boring…Can Be Good.
2009 at 4:03 pm | posted by Rep. Craig Frank 3 comments
Here’s a few thoughts by Bob Bernick of the Deseret News worth reading:
“Moderation in most things works here.
Politically speaking, Utah is stable, accountable, conservative. In other words, boring.
But in the recent hard times, boring can be good.
Don’t stand out, get the job done, don’t complain too much — a recipe for success for most Utah politicians.”
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CLICK HERE for full article.
October 12th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
To quote the articlel: “The flow of power: 30 years of Republican Party power in Utah has brought stability to state politics.” Another way to describe it is “the bland leading the bland”.
Seriously, it has also brought a state legislature where there are no checks and balances that exist in a “two party” system found in most other states. The Republican majority usually has its way in all things. That way may be good in some instances, but it also can be a dangerous concentration of power. The most recent example was the arrogance of the conservative majority in passing the school voucher bill against the will of the majority of Utah’s citizens. Millions of dollars on both sides were spent in an election to repeal that misdirected legislation. Its too bad that money couldn’t have been spent on Utah’s school children instead.
The most egregious abuse of the conservative Republican power in the legislature in my opinion is deliberate killing of bills in committees that are all controlled by the majority party. These decisions of which bills are to die quietly in committee are made behind closed doors by those wielding the most power and then marching orders are given to their party underlings with less seniority, who know if they don’t play along that they can be ostracized at anytime and treated just like one of those, you know “Democrats”.
As a result of this “one party” system each session there are many well written and important bills that never make the floor for an open public discussion and an up or down vote of the body of each house. In effect the state’s laws are being dictated by a handful of powerful conservative Republicans. Much of what goes on in the legislature throughout the session is window dressing, since a small group of powerful men know upfront most of what will be allowed to get through and and what will not.
This is not a representative democracy by any stretch of the imagination in this state. It is no wonder those who have held such a tight grip on the legislative branch of government for so long are so fearful of any change that might upset the “status quo”.
There is a big concern about voter apathy in Utah at the present time. One doesn’t need a “blue ribbon” governor’s commission to find the causes and solutions of that problem. It is right under our noses. The Republicans don’t get out to vote since they know their candidate is going to win anyway. (Choose the Right has a familiar ring to it.) The Democrats don’t get out to vote since they know that their candidate isn’t going to win anyway.
Until it is really, really, really, ok for a Mormon to be a Democrat in the state of Utah. then there is little hope of improvement. The alternative solution would be to attract enough Hispanic Catholics move into Utah county so more Democrats could get elected. Unfortunately that would not help the overcrowded and underfunded schools since the Catholics seem to be as fond of making little copies of themselves as much as Mormons do.
I know, “if you don’t like it here, then leave”. Yeah, I’ve hear that before. Maybe I will someday, but right now I’m having too much fun observing the circus in Utah County and reporting what I see.
October 12th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Ok, I made a typo—”article”. Plezz get a blog with and edit fecher Rep. Frank
October 13th, 2009 at 8:49 am
I don’t grade (or judge) people on/by their spelling.