Blame politicians for disillusionment of Utahns
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.
Recent comments
Thank you, Don Gale, for revealing Utah republicans for the autocrats...
Will Pearson | July 7, 2008 at 6:13 p.m.
@lorie, Did you just refer to the Deseret News as "the liberal...
Adan | July 7, 2008 at 11:32 a.m.
This commentary generated a brief little spark of optimism when I...
Justin | July 7, 2008 at 11:27 a.m.
- Man gets stuck in tub 10:47 p.m.
- Jazz blowout Paul, Hornets 9:33 p.m.
- Two survive avalanche 6:47 p.m.
- Derby beats Man U 6:10 p.m.
- Accident hospitalizes two 5:07 p.m.
- Police await autopsy 4:52 p.m.
- Bearded man robs cleaners 4:50 p.m.
- Bleak news weighs on stocks 2:26 p.m.
- Transportation plan nixes light rail 2:26 p.m.
- Israel orders halt, fight resumes 2:07 p.m.
- BYU's '09 football opener is OK
- Williams vs. Paul nothing personal
- Polygamous leaders arrested
- BYU-Idaho expands enrollment
- Utes No. 1, with everybody else
- Tigers tamed by Utah
- Yet another year with a bogus BCS
- Reserves play big role in BYU win
- Chaffetz on late-night TV
- U. band invited to inauguration
- Utes win, cap perfect season
588 - Utes No. 1 for Utahns
159 - BYU's '09 football opener is OK
151 - U. season greatest in our history
143 - Shurtleff considers BCS probe
134 - Flawed BCS is exposed again
124 - BYU falters late against Wake
112 - Now Saban believes
108 - Official 2009 BYU football schedule
108 - Bush is distinctly Bush
105
Do these Animal Control people not care at all? This is nuts.
Ask any Alabama fan or player if they think Utah could handle Florida....
Utah has the 34th lowest cigarette tax in the country. The national average...
who say that Utah is much less mature because they comment on BYU stories. ...
at how many Y fans there are on this thread trying to claim that they have a...
"Oh, this "Utes are #1" rambling is really getting old. They are going to end...
last i checked southwest baptist just barely lost there first game. and i was...
Missing from the discussion, not surprisingly, is how Utah does not provide...
FYI, For those of you who choose to spend a couple years outside of Utah,...
Paul ate Williams' lunch? What game did you watch? The Jazz blew out the...

