If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that principles matter. In 1968 Ezra Taft Benson said, “If principles are correct, then they can be applied to any specific proposal with confidence. Unlike the political opportunist, the true statesman values principle above popularity and works to create popularity for those political principles which are wise…
Today, split along party lines, the US House of Representatives passed HB 51. This bill would make Washington, D.C. the 51st state. The legislation would actually leave a small piece of property around the White House, the US Capitol and the National Mall as a federal district, but the rest of the area would form…
Lately I have found myself reflecting on the classic, The Road to Serfdom, where economist Friedrich Hayek wrote a fascinating chapter called, Why the Worst Get on Top. In it, he asserts that benevolent dictatorships exist only in theory because authoritarian regimes with positions of power and control tend to attract people who desire power…
Article V Convention In 1787, following the Revolutionary War, delegates from 12 of the 13 states met in convention to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it quickly became apparent that there was too much to fix: they needed to start over. And as you know, they threw out the Articles of Confederation and wrote…
The original Constitution created a check and balance within the legislative branch: a bicameral legislature with each house going through a different selection process. The House of Representatives was elected by the people and represented the people. The Senate, on the other hand, was appointed by the states and represented the states. Senators were not…
How do you see your role if you are governor during a future pandemic? Madeline Kazantzis (Rep.Write-In): I would reject the forcing of people to stay home or close their businesses and would not mandate masks. I believe in the case of a pandemic, I would do my best to ensure that all Utahns have…
It is important to realize that all lives matter: young, old, rich, poor, brown, black and white all matter. Racism= when someone shows or feels prejudice against people of other races or believes that a particular race is superior to another. If one race is protected more than another, than it is implied that race…
1) What is your stance on state standardized testing (RISE/ASPIRE/Dibbles)? Scott Smith-I am against Nationalizing our Education, Common Core and Standardized testing. I do believe we need to test, especially in the form of benchmark testing for comprehension throughout the year. I also believe we need to have some way to gauge the effectiveness of…
How do you select the best candidate? Do you vote for someone because you saw them at the temple last month? you saw them at church this week? They live in your neighborhood? They are a good teacher? They are a good contractor? They have served in public office before? They have lots of signs…
In D&C 98:4-10 the Lord speaks of befriending the constitutional law of the land. The statements and admonitions in these verses are quite powerful and we should feel some measure of joy that there exists such a law that the Lord Himself established (D&C101:80). Ezra Taft Benson said, “The Constitution of the United States is a…
I am a little nervous about the growing call for mandated vaccines. Full disclosure: I am fully vaccinated, and so are my 5 children. I am by no means an “anti-vaxxer”. But I am certainly not fully on board with “fully vaccinate no matter what”. Last week I recieved a HEALTH Magazine in the mail…
What is the Federal Reserve? With a name like the Federal Reserve, you would think that it is a government agency, right? In fact, the Federal Reserve is NOT a government agency at all. Some people have suggested that it is a private corporation. It certainly seems possible based on the Fed’s own website because…
My name is Molly Miller, 11th grade student of SUCCESS Academy and Dixie State University. I want to share with you a little of my experience. In recent years my mom has opted me out of SAGE testing. When I enter the testing center and begin my test, I start to get restless, I start…
Several years ago, I was working on some local political issues with my good friend, Jenny Baker, when she said to me, “You know, I feel like the watchman on the tower who notices that the city is burning and yells FIRE! I expect people to come running with hoses and shovels, but instead they…