Blame politicians for disillusionment of Utahns

July is the month we celebrate citizenship and patriotism and pioneers and other soul-stirring recollections of our great heritage.

But Utah held an election not long ago, and fewer citizens showed up to vote than show up at college football games on a typical Saturday afternoon in September. It's another indication of how badly broken the political system is in Utah...and in other states, as well.

First, the dominant political party moved primary elections to late June, a time when voters have their minds on everything but elections. To add insult to that injury, the dominant political party made primary elections closed elections. Voters must declare party affiliation before they are allowed to vote. Utah voters don't like being forced into party affiliation; they don't trust political parties to protect confidentiality; and they don't understand why party loyalty is a prerequisite for voting. Utahns may favor one political party, but many think of themselves as independent, and they resent being forced into a political pledge of allegiance.

Second, both political parties indulge in name-calling, especially those party leaders most likely to be quoted. Their rhetoric categorizes political opponents as not simply mistaken but evil. If politicians call opponents evil, then debate and compromise become weaknesses, not strengths. Gone are the days of rational discourse and personal respect.

Third, the dominant political party put in place a system of school board elections that allowed as many as 15 candidates to be on the ballot for a single office. Party leaders had neither the courage nor the good sense to give voters a reasonably limited list of candidates. The purpose was clearly to spread votes so that candidates selected by party leadership had a better chance of winning.

Fourth, leaders of the dominant political party are so vindictive toward a popular governor (of their own party) that they advanced a candidate for treasurer who was clearly not qualified but would favor legislative leadership over public interest. The pre-election squabbling confused some voters and angered others. (Fortunately, the political maneuvering did not work in this case.)

Fifth, the so-called "grass-roots nominating process" of neighborhood caucus meetings has been compromised by power brokers of the dominant political party. Caring citizens who attend neighborhood caucuses but question the predetermined outcome are ignored, ridiculed and marginalized.

Sixth, many voters believe leaders of the dominant political party will use any tactics to advance their narrow agendas. Voters point to the bizarre experience with the twin voucher bills in last year's Legislature and to the leadership's Christmas tree education bill pushed through at the last moment in this year's session.

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