Utah’s 2009 legislative session opened Monday and will continue through the end of March.
Finalizing state budget cuts after Utah saw a $1 billion drop in revenue, reviewing liquor laws and gay rights bills and deciding how to make health care more affordable are all on the agenda, along with the issue of ethics reform. One bill is intended to create an ethics commission and another proposes to limit gifts from lobbyists.
Last year, there were three highly publicized instances in which legislators behaved unethically in acts of coercion, bribery and leaking information. Currently, lobbyist gifts less than $50 do not have to be reported.
Based on past behavior, it appears as though some lawmakers feel entitled to gifts from lobbyists and big business donors because of the position they hold. To be fair, last year only three out of the 104 members of the Legislature were involved in ethics violation cases that reached the media, which shows that the problem seems to lie with only a handful of politicians and not the majority. Or maybe everyone else is just better at hiding violations. Regardless, these problems should not have happened at all. The Legislature needs to reform.
We expect our legislators to vote their conscience and represent the will of their constituents. They should not be guided by lobbyists. Clear reform would include a bill that requires transparency, no gifts whatsoever and ensures unused campaign dollars go to reliable charities and humanitarian organizations within the representative’s jurisdiction.
Imagine a world, or a state, where the key focus of legislators was the establishment of laws that protect society and support programs that will create sustained economic growth, not pander to special interests. As citizens, we would hope and expect that our elected officials behave honorably, but with recent violations, that behavior needs to be outlined more clearly.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1317262-1.1317262
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Virginity sale is a reflection of lost values
Natalie Dylan is a 22-year-old entrepreneur from California who is trying to raise money to pay for graduate school. Her business idea is all over the Internet. So far, she has a $3.7 million offer from a man in Australia, a book deal lined up and leads from more than 10,000 interested individuals and organizations. Inspired by her sister’s three-week stint as a prostitute, which paid for her own education, Dylan is selling her virginity to the highest bidder.
“You know, honestly it’s never something I anticipated going into when I was younger, but I’m not compromising my own morals,” Dylan said. “I’m not putting more importance on money than family or love. To me, this is just a one-time business encounter. It’s sex for money.”
Her story brings up several ugly issues about today’s society. There is big money in the pornography industry and a lot of people are patrons. Last year, the Ogden-based TopTenReviews found that revenues for the world pornography industry hit an estimated $97 billion in 2006.
In November 2006, Google Trends found that Salt Lake City is No. 5 in the nation for Internet searches for “incest,” No. 7 for searches on “child pornography,” No. 8 for searches on “sex,” and No. 10 for searches on “pedo,” short for pedophile. The world is losing its moral compass. Not to mention the dwindling decency and conscience of the thousands of people who have submitted bids on Dylan’s high-profile public auction.
Most of us are familiar with the risks associated with pornography and reckless sexual behavior. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said women pay the biggest price when it comes to the long-term effects of having multiple sexual partners. They can suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal scarring, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. Sexually transmitted diseases like HIV can lead to death.
According to the Utah Legislature, the age of consent to engage in sexual activity is 16. Utah State Code dictates that “a person is guilty of prostitution when he engages in any sexual activity with another person for a fee.” Prostitution is a class B misdemeanor, which means the violator can be subject to a fine and a 180-day prison sentence.
Although there is wisdom in the pursuit of behaviors that build long-lasting relationships, people often want to learn this lesson on their own terms. A $3.7 million one-night stand might set Dylan up financially for life, but she’s also looking at a lifetime of remorse and emptiness by selling out and refusing to develop life’s hard-earned character traits. It’s disgusting.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1311635
“You know, honestly it’s never something I anticipated going into when I was younger, but I’m not compromising my own morals,” Dylan said. “I’m not putting more importance on money than family or love. To me, this is just a one-time business encounter. It’s sex for money.”
Her story brings up several ugly issues about today’s society. There is big money in the pornography industry and a lot of people are patrons. Last year, the Ogden-based TopTenReviews found that revenues for the world pornography industry hit an estimated $97 billion in 2006.
In November 2006, Google Trends found that Salt Lake City is No. 5 in the nation for Internet searches for “incest,” No. 7 for searches on “child pornography,” No. 8 for searches on “sex,” and No. 10 for searches on “pedo,” short for pedophile. The world is losing its moral compass. Not to mention the dwindling decency and conscience of the thousands of people who have submitted bids on Dylan’s high-profile public auction.
Most of us are familiar with the risks associated with pornography and reckless sexual behavior. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said women pay the biggest price when it comes to the long-term effects of having multiple sexual partners. They can suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal scarring, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. Sexually transmitted diseases like HIV can lead to death.
According to the Utah Legislature, the age of consent to engage in sexual activity is 16. Utah State Code dictates that “a person is guilty of prostitution when he engages in any sexual activity with another person for a fee.” Prostitution is a class B misdemeanor, which means the violator can be subject to a fine and a 180-day prison sentence.
Although there is wisdom in the pursuit of behaviors that build long-lasting relationships, people often want to learn this lesson on their own terms. A $3.7 million one-night stand might set Dylan up financially for life, but she’s also looking at a lifetime of remorse and emptiness by selling out and refusing to develop life’s hard-earned character traits. It’s disgusting.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1311635
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Our local enonomy not all doom, gloom
Since September, we’ve heard nothing but doom and gloom stories in the media about the economy. It’s been portrayed as a beast that cannot be appeased by billions of government bailout dollars.
Earlier this month, consulting giant Mercer reported some 28 percent of 401(k) retirement plan participants saw a 30 percent or more decrease in their account balances in 2008. Last week, Circuit City announced the final closure of more than 550 stores resulting in the loss of 30,000 Utah jobs. Our state’s financial outlook definitely looks grim, until you dig a little deeper.
Spearheaded by KSL radio’s general manager Chris Redgrave, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce is promoting the “What’s Going Right in Utah” campaign. Utah continues to grow, primarily in the health care sector. The Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget is projecting annual growth between 3 percent and 5 percent in the health service industry.
It has been reported by the mainstream media that unemployment numbers are the worst since the Great Depression. But with population growth and new job analytic benchmarks, this assessment is often presented out of context and doesn’t compare apples to apples.
Redgrave said a fully employed America sees an unemployment level around 5 percent (as of Jan. 18, Utah’s Department of Workforce Services reported the nation’s unemployment rate was 6.7 percent). The department also reported that Utah’s unemployment rate is 3.7 percent and a fully employed workforce typically sees a 3 percent level—virtually full employment. Utah is bringing the national unemployment average down.
Utah’s economy continues to grow, albeit at a slower rate. Austin Sargent, an economist with the Department of Workforce Services, said Utah’s demographic makeup is a lot different than other states. Our diverse workforce (start-up companies, jobs in varying industries) is helping Utah spread the risk and see opportunities in more areas to absorb losses in shrinking industries.
“We have a much younger population,” Sargent said. “We’ve had much more household formation, and that’s what was benefiting our housing market.”
According to Downtown Rising, developments such as the City Creek Center are projected to pump $3 billion into the local economy during the next five years. And projects such as the new high-rise at 222 S. Main are bringing in new money as private investors are financing new developments.
Although Utah’s economy isn’t bulletproof and certainly won’t see an immediate end to the recession, we are predicted to do a lot better than the rest of the country. During these times, it’s important to remember to explore non-traditional, yet honest methods to create value and mutual benefits in business activities. With the health care and technology sectors trending growth, it makes a lot of sense to steer your education into those areas.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1307550
Earlier this month, consulting giant Mercer reported some 28 percent of 401(k) retirement plan participants saw a 30 percent or more decrease in their account balances in 2008. Last week, Circuit City announced the final closure of more than 550 stores resulting in the loss of 30,000 Utah jobs. Our state’s financial outlook definitely looks grim, until you dig a little deeper.
Spearheaded by KSL radio’s general manager Chris Redgrave, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce is promoting the “What’s Going Right in Utah” campaign. Utah continues to grow, primarily in the health care sector. The Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget is projecting annual growth between 3 percent and 5 percent in the health service industry.
It has been reported by the mainstream media that unemployment numbers are the worst since the Great Depression. But with population growth and new job analytic benchmarks, this assessment is often presented out of context and doesn’t compare apples to apples.
Redgrave said a fully employed America sees an unemployment level around 5 percent (as of Jan. 18, Utah’s Department of Workforce Services reported the nation’s unemployment rate was 6.7 percent). The department also reported that Utah’s unemployment rate is 3.7 percent and a fully employed workforce typically sees a 3 percent level—virtually full employment. Utah is bringing the national unemployment average down.
Utah’s economy continues to grow, albeit at a slower rate. Austin Sargent, an economist with the Department of Workforce Services, said Utah’s demographic makeup is a lot different than other states. Our diverse workforce (start-up companies, jobs in varying industries) is helping Utah spread the risk and see opportunities in more areas to absorb losses in shrinking industries.
“We have a much younger population,” Sargent said. “We’ve had much more household formation, and that’s what was benefiting our housing market.”
According to Downtown Rising, developments such as the City Creek Center are projected to pump $3 billion into the local economy during the next five years. And projects such as the new high-rise at 222 S. Main are bringing in new money as private investors are financing new developments.
Although Utah’s economy isn’t bulletproof and certainly won’t see an immediate end to the recession, we are predicted to do a lot better than the rest of the country. During these times, it’s important to remember to explore non-traditional, yet honest methods to create value and mutual benefits in business activities. With the health care and technology sectors trending growth, it makes a lot of sense to steer your education into those areas.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1307550
Friday, January 16, 2009
Save Utah's snow from climate change
Next month, New York Times columnist and author Thomas Friedman will be on campus to inform students about the pressing issue of climate change. Whether people think it’s fact or fiction, scientific studies are indicating that Utah could be facing the consequences of global warming in this century.
The National Wildlife Federation says global warming occurs when coal, gas and oil are burned, producing carbon dioxide that builds up in the atmosphere and traps the sun’s heat. Much of the greenhouse gas released remains in the atmosphere even after 100 years, trapping more and more heat. Since the mid-1800s, emissions of carbon dioxide have skyrocketed, and subsequently, global temperatures have risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the last century.
In 2007, eight scientists presented their draft of “Climate Change and Utah: The Scientific Consensus,” to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change. Jim Steenburgh, a U climate scientist who helped develop the report, emphasized there were no recommendations, just a review of scientific research already done that sheds light on how global warming is affecting Utah and might affect the state’s climate landscape in the future.
Utah’s growing population is putting pressure on the state’s water resources like never before. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates average temperatures in Utah could rise about 6.75 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100 if global warming continues. This will likely bring hotter, drier summers, which are ripe conditions for wildfires. Warmer temperatures also mean less snowpack and earlier snowmelt in the mountains, which means more winter runoff and reduced summer flows in many Utah streams.
In 2007, USA Today reported Utah’s trademark “Greatest Snow on Earth” could be a memory by 2075, citing a report from a pair of Colorado University climatologists. It warned that global warming could shrink the ski season to a mere two months a year. Utah’s ski season could extend only from Christmas to Presidents Day.
The U’s Office of Sustainability is a clearinghouse for information on sustainability initiatives being carried out by other departments and groups on campus. On its Web site it makes several recommendations of how students can do their part to combat climate change.
For example, if people plant shade trees around their homes, they can reduce annual heating and cooling costs by an average of 40 percent. If every household in America replaced its next burned out light bulb with a compact fluorescent, we would prevent more than 13 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted.
Another simple solution is to utilize the big paper bins placed all over campus. The bins with white labels are intended for white copy paper, thicker card stock and envelopes. The Mixed Paper bins with the red labels are for other types of paper such as magazines, newspaper and catalogues.
After you finish reading the paper, do your part and put it in the Mixed Paper bin with the red label.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/save_utah_s_snow_from_climate_change
The National Wildlife Federation says global warming occurs when coal, gas and oil are burned, producing carbon dioxide that builds up in the atmosphere and traps the sun’s heat. Much of the greenhouse gas released remains in the atmosphere even after 100 years, trapping more and more heat. Since the mid-1800s, emissions of carbon dioxide have skyrocketed, and subsequently, global temperatures have risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the last century.
In 2007, eight scientists presented their draft of “Climate Change and Utah: The Scientific Consensus,” to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change. Jim Steenburgh, a U climate scientist who helped develop the report, emphasized there were no recommendations, just a review of scientific research already done that sheds light on how global warming is affecting Utah and might affect the state’s climate landscape in the future.
Utah’s growing population is putting pressure on the state’s water resources like never before. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates average temperatures in Utah could rise about 6.75 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100 if global warming continues. This will likely bring hotter, drier summers, which are ripe conditions for wildfires. Warmer temperatures also mean less snowpack and earlier snowmelt in the mountains, which means more winter runoff and reduced summer flows in many Utah streams.
In 2007, USA Today reported Utah’s trademark “Greatest Snow on Earth” could be a memory by 2075, citing a report from a pair of Colorado University climatologists. It warned that global warming could shrink the ski season to a mere two months a year. Utah’s ski season could extend only from Christmas to Presidents Day.
The U’s Office of Sustainability is a clearinghouse for information on sustainability initiatives being carried out by other departments and groups on campus. On its Web site it makes several recommendations of how students can do their part to combat climate change.
For example, if people plant shade trees around their homes, they can reduce annual heating and cooling costs by an average of 40 percent. If every household in America replaced its next burned out light bulb with a compact fluorescent, we would prevent more than 13 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted.
Another simple solution is to utilize the big paper bins placed all over campus. The bins with white labels are intended for white copy paper, thicker card stock and envelopes. The Mixed Paper bins with the red labels are for other types of paper such as magazines, newspaper and catalogues.
After you finish reading the paper, do your part and put it in the Mixed Paper bin with the red label.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/save_utah_s_snow_from_climate_change
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Sundance rooted in truth: Festival began with political dialogue
Every year, Utah plays host to one of the world’s most respected film festivals. It’s a global phenomenon found in the mountains of Utah that is easily accessible to locals across the Wasatch Front.
The Sundance Film Festival starts today in Park City and runs until Jan. 25. Viewers can go and enjoy cutting-edge cinematography, compelling stories and hours of entertainment, both on the screen and on Main Street.
Last year, more than 45,000 people visited the festival, spending an estimated $63.3 million. Jill Miller, the institute’s general manager, said Sundance ticket sales are “on par with last year.”
The Sundance Film Festival was founded in 1981 and has enjoyed tremendous success and growth ever since.
Festival founder Robert Redford created the festival with a unique vision.
“I want Sundance to be a forum for cultural exchange and for political dialogue,” Redford said in an interview with The Daily Insider, the festival’s news service. “We’re not hearing the truth about a lot of issues and I’m worried that people are giving up and getting numb and not even bothering to look for the truth.”
Some Sundance films such as “Super Size Me” accurately portray truth, at least from the consumer’s perspective. In this instance, one will never look at a Big Mac the same way after seeing Morgan Spurlock slam down dozens of burgers and watching how dilapidated he became. Today, McDonald’s has abandoned marketing its signature sandwiches and is advertising unprocessed foods.
Sundance viewers can judge for themselves as to whether or not they find truth at this year’s festival. Not only are so many competing ideologies presented to viewers, with a common goal for filmmakers to sell their material to willing buyers and gain financial success, but the culture wars are also fully engaged with Hollywood types striving to swat the viewpoint of the average filmgoer. One has to wonder whether the viewer will actually find truth, a peddler hawking his wares or an agitator’s vision of cultural correctness.
The truth is interpreted to mean a lot of different things by different people. Like all things Hollywood, it comes down to the money, the politics and the celebrity sightings. It’d be great if Sundance could return to its roots and put the focus back on inspiring and revealing documentaries and compelling nonfiction stories.
As to finding truth, people should go and see for themselves whether Redford’s stated vision is materialized at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1300945
The Sundance Film Festival starts today in Park City and runs until Jan. 25. Viewers can go and enjoy cutting-edge cinematography, compelling stories and hours of entertainment, both on the screen and on Main Street.
Last year, more than 45,000 people visited the festival, spending an estimated $63.3 million. Jill Miller, the institute’s general manager, said Sundance ticket sales are “on par with last year.”
The Sundance Film Festival was founded in 1981 and has enjoyed tremendous success and growth ever since.
Festival founder Robert Redford created the festival with a unique vision.
“I want Sundance to be a forum for cultural exchange and for political dialogue,” Redford said in an interview with The Daily Insider, the festival’s news service. “We’re not hearing the truth about a lot of issues and I’m worried that people are giving up and getting numb and not even bothering to look for the truth.”
Some Sundance films such as “Super Size Me” accurately portray truth, at least from the consumer’s perspective. In this instance, one will never look at a Big Mac the same way after seeing Morgan Spurlock slam down dozens of burgers and watching how dilapidated he became. Today, McDonald’s has abandoned marketing its signature sandwiches and is advertising unprocessed foods.
Sundance viewers can judge for themselves as to whether or not they find truth at this year’s festival. Not only are so many competing ideologies presented to viewers, with a common goal for filmmakers to sell their material to willing buyers and gain financial success, but the culture wars are also fully engaged with Hollywood types striving to swat the viewpoint of the average filmgoer. One has to wonder whether the viewer will actually find truth, a peddler hawking his wares or an agitator’s vision of cultural correctness.
The truth is interpreted to mean a lot of different things by different people. Like all things Hollywood, it comes down to the money, the politics and the celebrity sightings. It’d be great if Sundance could return to its roots and put the focus back on inspiring and revealing documentaries and compelling nonfiction stories.
As to finding truth, people should go and see for themselves whether Redford’s stated vision is materialized at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
http://dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/1.1300945
Monday, January 12, 2009
Don't be fooled by promises made on infomercials
Perhaps the holidays allow vacationers more time to indulge in television watching, because there seemed to be dozens of new infomercials during December. The Black Magic Pro-Dry Absorbing Cloth can not only pick up soda stains off the carpet, but can also scrub cars and polish countertops. If you’re experiencing a receding or thinning hairline, you can confidentially purchase the Just for Men brush-in hair gel.
The Snuggie is a blanket with sleeves that you can buy for only $14.95. It is touted as a product that keeps you warm while watching TV, reading a book or bundling up during a sporting event. Without this infomercial packed full of information, one would never realize how incredibly difficult it is for many people to get their hands out from under a blanket. It also makes you look like a member of the Emperor’s Royal Guard from Star Wars.
It’s easy to spot an infomercial with lines like: “A (amount) dollar value, absolutely free, if you call now/within the next (number) minutes!,” “But wait, there’s more!” or “But that’s not all!”
Infomercials are paid programming whose content is a commercial message designed to represent the viewpoints and to serve the interest of the sponsor. Because it is pay-for-play information, consumers are often put at risk and enticed with appealing offers on a product that doesn’t always live up to its promises.
For example, OxiClean is marketed by its sponsors as a “miracle cleaner” that can remove any stain. However, consumer feedback in some instances has been quite different. Reviews from www.infomercialscams.com say the product disintegrated bed sheets, left white spots on laundered clothes and left little holes in a pair of white pants. When product defects like this occur, beyond complaining to the manufacturer, there is help for consumers.
To assist consumers with getting quality products and services and companies with improving customer satisfaction, the Better Business Bureau works to facilitate communication between a company and the consumer. It serves to help both sides come to a satisfactory resolution to any complaints that might occur. Also, if a consumer complains about a product or service rendered and paid for, the Federal Trade Commission is in place to investigate fraud, and can lead to law enforcement action.
The best advice is, before you buy, make sure you do your research online and see what other consumers report about their experience with infomercial products. But that’s not all! If you have a complaint to add about a product or service you’ve purchased, be sure to file your complaint, especially if your Snuggie traps your arms and leaves your behind exposed to the breeze.
http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/don_t_be_fooled_by_promises_made_on_infomercials
The Snuggie is a blanket with sleeves that you can buy for only $14.95. It is touted as a product that keeps you warm while watching TV, reading a book or bundling up during a sporting event. Without this infomercial packed full of information, one would never realize how incredibly difficult it is for many people to get their hands out from under a blanket. It also makes you look like a member of the Emperor’s Royal Guard from Star Wars.
It’s easy to spot an infomercial with lines like: “A (amount) dollar value, absolutely free, if you call now/within the next (number) minutes!,” “But wait, there’s more!” or “But that’s not all!”
Infomercials are paid programming whose content is a commercial message designed to represent the viewpoints and to serve the interest of the sponsor. Because it is pay-for-play information, consumers are often put at risk and enticed with appealing offers on a product that doesn’t always live up to its promises.
For example, OxiClean is marketed by its sponsors as a “miracle cleaner” that can remove any stain. However, consumer feedback in some instances has been quite different. Reviews from www.infomercialscams.com say the product disintegrated bed sheets, left white spots on laundered clothes and left little holes in a pair of white pants. When product defects like this occur, beyond complaining to the manufacturer, there is help for consumers.
To assist consumers with getting quality products and services and companies with improving customer satisfaction, the Better Business Bureau works to facilitate communication between a company and the consumer. It serves to help both sides come to a satisfactory resolution to any complaints that might occur. Also, if a consumer complains about a product or service rendered and paid for, the Federal Trade Commission is in place to investigate fraud, and can lead to law enforcement action.
The best advice is, before you buy, make sure you do your research online and see what other consumers report about their experience with infomercial products. But that’s not all! If you have a complaint to add about a product or service you’ve purchased, be sure to file your complaint, especially if your Snuggie traps your arms and leaves your behind exposed to the breeze.
http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/don_t_be_fooled_by_promises_made_on_infomercials
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