The Unlucky 436!!

Isn’t it a shame State Legislatures can’t hold “General Sessions” more often? But then again what type of elected body needs multiple opportunities when looking to “over-kill” the legislative minds of a given constituency? But when have you ever heard of, let alone experienced, a State or Federal legislature that was really all that genuinely interested, let alone concerned, about the impending short and long term needs of a given population? And the Utah State Legislature is no exception.

Having just recently passed a total of 436 “new” legislative measures, the Utah State Legislature has officially made its annual contribution to of all things….decreased political inclusion. By not catering to a society already plagued by the overwhelming forces of political division and economic hardship, the Utah State Legislature, instead chose to focus on the concept of never-ending expansion, and with it the unremitting realization often associated with government generated and enforced regulatory intrusion.

This tax based means of state enablement becomes even more tragic when you consider it takes even more time, money, and yes regulation in order to sufficiently put into practice the regulatory controls deemed necessary when looking to properly attain expected outcomes and/or results. But then again, in a country whereby the merits of one’s political aspirations have come to outweigh the validity of one’s realistic scope of proper implementation, who’s to concern themselves with cyclical antics and unequivocal disregard? Umm, something tells me this isn’t exactly what the founders had in mind when they instituted a federalist system of localized problem solving, which when paired with the US constitution, produced a unifying force of constitutionally infused collectivism.

So what are we to make of this political craftiness? And how are those affected by its confining grasp supposed to interpret this blatant abuse of legislative authority? Well for starters I believe it:

· Greatly Reduces political interest and involvement. The sheer size and complexity associated with most if not all of our governmental entities is simply too much. Now days those responsible to act and participate within the confines of American democracy too often find themselves either overwhelmed or fundamentally misinformed by a system they see as being any thing but responsive and practical. Thus, it is largely believed that in order for one to demonstrate sensible political inclusion one must either be a full-time member of the systems exclusive class, or an over engaged, politically enthused, self proclaimed pundit.

· Severely Increases governmental dependence at the expense of personal duty. Upon returning from his studious adventure into the very fabric of American Democracy, the famed political theorist Alexis de Tocqueville, observed in 1840 this aboriginal flaw inherently woven into its very political make-up.

“The American future is an innumerable multitude of men, all equal and alike, incessantly endeavoring to procure the petty and paltry pleasures with which they glut their lives. Government becomes the parent, as “it provides for their security, foresees and supplies their necessities, facilitates their pleasures, manages their principal concerns, directs their industry, regulates the descent of property, and subdivides their inheritances: what remains, but to spare them all the care of thinking and all the trouble of living? Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd.”

Enough said!!

· Overextends the original intent of democratic self-governance. By continuously enlarging the scope of state and/or federal authority, modern day politicians find themselves at the helm of today’s political control tower. In doing so, and for reasons of sustained elect-ability, they have willingly risked the founding principles of self-governance, personal freedom, collective independence, and individual happiness. And looked to replace them with an institutionalized, largely dysfunctional system, based upon dwindling levels of personal action, accountability, responsibility, and above all sovereignty. Which leads me to recall the day’s of Henry Thoreau’s poignant charge of how “people should not permit government to overrule”. Because it is widely believed that efficiency and effectiveness are not marked by government overextension, but rather in the esteemed belief that a government governs best when it governs least.

While it remains to be seen what affect if any the latest Utah “general session” will have upon the everyday lives of those living under its reign, one thing is all but certain. The American political landscape, built upon the founding principles of democratic - republicanism is in series jeopardy. By enacting another 436 law-binding measures, Utah state lawmakers like other local, state, or federally elected officials, find themselves on the wrong side of constitutionally established precedents. And in doing so, wound up being victimized by the very master in whom President Washington foresaw when he stated that a “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.”

A Little Political Humor for the Weekend!!

In yet another moment of shocking revelation, the young Senator from Illinois must now discover a way of downplaying Reverend Wright's devotion to of all things "water-boarding"!!


Will you be paying today with cash, credit, or first born?

Are We Sure She's Qualified?

Now I know much has already been said and written regarding the sad state of affairs surrounding America’s current list of potential Presidential contenders. While each candidate has in more than one way demonstrated the credentials deemed necessary for such an electoral calling i.e. lying, distancing, undercutting, overlooking, and my personal favorite pretending just to name a few, the 2008 Presidential race in many respects has boiled down to nothing more than coffee and cream.

Coffee and cream you ask? What does that have to do with the current state of Americas highly charged –over amplified – pretentious run to the White House? In truth, coffee and cream have very little too do with would be Presidential Politics. But it does have a little something to do with hopeful Presidential Politicians. After all wouldn’t you want someone responsible for answering those 3:00 A.M. phone calls at the White House at least capable of functionally using an automated coffee maker?

Multilateral Brainstorming – UN Style!!

Well at least we can visually begin to acknowledge where more than 300 billion dollars a year of our hard earned - well allocated funds are being sent to disappear. Doesn’t anybody else find it odd or perhaps even a bit disturbing to know that every year the United States of America willingly funds and assists this hideous conglomerate to the tune of $8,219,178.08 a day? Yes that’s right, and if that number didn’t do the trick take a quick gander at the most recent US State Department figures through the 2003-2004 fiscal calendar year.

$362 million for the UN regular budget
$400 million to assist with UN “specialized agencies”
$1.1 billion (yes b as in boy) for “peacekeeping”
$72 million in support of international war tribunals
And nearly $6 million for “preparatory work relating to the UN Capital Master Plan”

All of which amounts to the United States serving as the single largest donor of ill-adviced, largely unsuccessful, attempts of an intercontinental ferver. After all the US is solely responsible for:

48% of the UN's World Food Program Budget
17% of the UN's Children's Fund Budget
31% of the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees Budget

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I sure feel much better having now seen, with my own two-eyes, this well articulated and highly informative list of universally funded mandates. All of which mind you, have been discussed and agreed upon by an un-elected deeply un-democratic delegation, whose sole purpose has now dwindled from that of universal gatekeeper and protectorate to nothing more than global procrastinator and/or corruption filled enabler.

Allegiance vs Sanity

I have been a committed fan of the Utah Jazz my entire life. At times this loyalty has brought about moments of glory and bliss the likes of which could never be matched. However, as any fan can attest, what comes up in the crazy upside down world of sports must come crashing down. As was the case this Tuesday night, when my beloved Jazz officially, for the first, granted me the opportunity to question my strict devotion and blind allegiance to their cause. No, this wasn’t simply a counter reaction to one of the most horrific performances ever achieved on a basketball court, rather this form of serious contemplation occurred purely over reasons of personal sanity and overall psychological well being.

Perhaps it can best be argued that I, for what ever reason, have simply fallen victim to the child-like tendencies exhibited by all fanatics…..um fans over the course of a given game or season. Or better yet, possibly this most resent reaction can best be described as an angered blip on my sports enthralled radar, the likes of which is sure to re-occur time and time again. And if those first two excuses don't wet your whistle, how about the ultimate notion that this most catastrophic response to the worst three game stretch in Utah Jazz history - ultimately boils down to me caring to much about a sport, a team, a player, and/or a given outcome. Yes my friends, the harsh reality of suddenly discovering that sports, both college and professional, amounts to nothing more than wasted time and unnecessary antics has finally set in.

No longer can I passively tolerate nor carelessly stand by and allow myself to be routinely psychologically abused and/or physically tormented by the uncontrolled events of third-fourth-or fifth consecutive Carlos Boozer missed free-throw or another Deron Williams misguided pass. Sports is after all meant to be some what unpredictable, highly contested, and at times down right maddening. And so far, the latter seems to be continuously dominating the former.

While my aspirations for the Jazz are surely to live on. It is my hope that as the years pass and consequently my age increases, I can more fully develop and then employ a more simplified stance towards what has clearly served as both an outlet and focal point for most of my life. Sure, I’ll continue to cheer, root for, and probably even yell for my teams and their definitive success. However, form know on, I’ll look do so with the refreshing idea that outcomes are merely finalized results, professional athletes are still after all human-beings, and my beloved Jazz are and always will be…..well….chokers!!

Great teams win when they must, good teams win when they should, average teams win when their at home, bad teams win when their befriended by luck, horrible teams win rarely, and the Utah Jazz....well lets just hope they win!!