Op-Eds
Airlines should do more for its passengers, or else
Summer is the season for many Americans to take to the skies. Millions of vacationers will travel by air.
The policies, practices of our harsh immigration system violate human rights: basic respect, dignity, safety.
It is often argued, including by me, that the GOP needs its own Bill Clinton or Tony Blair.
The winners and the losers: Support for new air quality standards
Winner: A majority of the Utah Division of Air Quality's board has voted in support of proposed new federal standards that would require refineries to cut the sulfur content of gasoline, require... Read more »
Michael Gerson: Pope Francis seems focused on trying to lead as Jesus would
We tend to remember leaders in characteristic poses. For Pope Benedict XVI, the college professor, it was delivering a much-misunderstood lecture at the University of Regensburg, which made... Read more »
Don't rely on Utah's 'best run state' accolades
We are fortunate in Utah to have had great governors through the years. I've had the pleasure of working directly with three of them — Norm Bangerter, Mike Leavitt and Olene Walker —... Read more »
What others say: The Fort Hood trial
The court-martial of Army Maj. Nidal Hasan on charges of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others at Fort Hood in 2009 has been an exercise in frustration for the victims and their families, as... Read more »
My view: We should value health over profits
Salt Lake City, Utah and Houston, Texas have, to some extent, similar air quality problems. Both cities suffer from an excessive amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their environment and... Read more »
Airport security could use some common sense
The TSA has backed off its announced relaxation of rules, but can we all agree on some common sense changes? Read more »
Dan Liljenquist: Never forget the sacrifices of 69 years ago today
Sixty-nine years ago today, 160,000 American, British and Canadian soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy. The Allied troops came as liberators. They came as free men. They came to save the world... Read more »
George F. Will: Plea bargaining on federal crimal charges should be abolished
Libertarians believe government should have a compelling reason before it restricts an individual's liberty. Today's liberals believe almost any reason will do, because liberty is less important... Read more »
James K. Glassman: All eyes are on Gov. Chris Christie
At the retreat Mitt Romney is hosting this week in Park City, a major theme will be pragmatic, bipartisan problem solving Read more »
My view: Utah's caucus system best way for grassroots process to win over big money
For a period spanning two years, I had the best floor attendance record for floor votes in the entire Utah Legislature. I wanted to hear what Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake, Rep. Kraig Powell,... Read more »
Richard Davis: Our Fourth Amendment rights are under attack
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court chipped away at your personal liberties. Most people won't pay attention to it, and law enforcement will applaud it. But make no mistake, the court once again... Read more »
Michael Gerson: U.S. involvement in Syria becoming a tragically misplayed game
A few months ago, the worst-case scenario in Syria was a protracted stalemate along the lines of the Lebanese civil war. Now, the worst case is that Bashar al-Assad wins with the full backing of... Read more »
What others say: College affordability
Congress is again debating what to do about interest rates for federal student loans, which are set to double July 1, to 6.8 percent. Several proposed solutions are being debated, but none tackles... Read more »
Kathleen Parker: Don't celebrate the new diminished role of fathers in families
News that women increasingly are the leading or sole breadwinner in the American family has resurrected the perennial question: Why do we need men? Read more »
Drug packaging may reduce number of suicides
Could changing the way drugs are packaged reduce the number of over doses? Read more »
Robert J. Samuelson: Effort to boost trust in government short-sighted
Let me admit upfront: I am a Paul Volcker fan. As everyone should know, Volcker became chairman of the Federal Reserve in 1979 when double-digit inflation was entrenched and there was widespread... Read more »
What others say: Investigating the IRS
The scandal surrounding the Internal Revenue Service's scrutiny of tax-exempt groups based on their political leanings has prompted investigations by at least four congressional committees and the... Read more »
My view: It's worth looking into solar power
Just by chance, my wife and I found out about a solar installation company at the South Towne Exposition Homeshow last October. Later, we invited them to our home to present their program. I was... Read more »
The myth of Gatsby's suffering middle class
This op-ed appeared in the New York Times, and looks back at Gatsby's 1920's middle class. Read more »
Robert Bennett: Utah could learn from California
As far as I know, we are the only nation that does not have a uniform system of political procedures. Read more »
Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: More drama in the Swallow saga: How will it all end?
After four months, the drip, drip, drip of news stories about Utah's attorney general turned into a gusher of bad publicity a week ago. Most political conversations now include references to former... Read more »
Famous leaks, security breaches in US history
Last Friday it was revealed in the Washington Post that the Chinese hacked into crucial U.S. military networks, gaining access to dozens of weapons systems. "This is billions of dollars of combat... Read more »
John Florez: Learn creativity by watching kids
When Mae Jemison, the first black woman astronaut, who also has a long list of degrees, spoke at a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People meeting in Salt Lake City, she made an... Read more »
My view: Vote by mail safe, secure and secret
In June, Weber County will hold an entirely vote-by-mail election. This is the first time in Utah that a large county will conduct an election entirely by mail. This doesn't need to be a scary thing, and it's not really new, either.... Read more »
Older stories can be found in the story archives
My view: People deserve rights at our borders
The policies and practices of our harsh immigration system violate human rights: basic respect, dignity, safety and needs of individuals. Read more »
Richard Davis: Airlines should do more for passengers, or else
Summer is the season for many Americans to take to the skies. Millions of vacationers will travel by air over the next couple of months. Many of them, particularly the vast majority who are flying... Read more »
Michael Gerson: Reinvigorating the GOP will take some imaginative leadership
It is often argued, including by me, that the GOP needs its own Bill Clinton or Tony Blair — a leader to reposition the party and reinvigorate its political appeal. But if these figures are... Read more »
Timothy R. Clark: Graduation advice for my daughter
Graduation advice for my daughter: Bless people. Don’t worry about impressing them. And when God blesses you, enjoy the blessing and be thankful. Read more »
My view: Nothing sinister about Common Core
The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) was launched by the National Governor's Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), both private organizations under... Read more »
My view: Common Core an assault on liberties
Utah state delegates officially disapproved Common Core when they passed the anti-common core resolution this year by a 65 percent vote. Read more »
Kathleen Parker: In this age, whatever you do will be known by the data stalkers
In these post-Snowden days, the notion of anonymity is ludicrous. But so it has been for some time, though recent disclosures bring pause even to the habitually inured. It is one thing for Mrs.... Read more »
Robert Bennett: Sticking to facts is effective criticism
In the depths of the Great Recession, when jobs were being lost and economic activity was badly down, Utah officials rejoiced when the National Security Agency (NSA) picked Utah as the site of a... Read more »
Dan Liljenquist: U.S. health care system still has much to admire
With all of the criticisms leveled at our health care system in the United States, I think it is important to remember that there is also much to admire. Read more »
George F. Will: Lois Lerner is one reason why Americans distrust government
After losing to Durbin, Salvi spent four years and $100,000 fighting the FEC, on whose behalf FBI agents visited his elderly mother demanding to know, concerning her $2,000 contribution to her... Read more »
Supreme Court, Congress, citizens: The debate over who should define marriage
The Supreme Court decided to hear and will in the next two weeks issue decisions on two cases that deal with the meaning of marriage in the U.S. Read more »
John Florez: Show leadership on immigration
"Leaders have a significant role in creating the state of mind that is the society. They can serve as symbols of the moral unity of the society. They can express the values that hold the society... Read more »
Snapshot of 2013 in political cartoons
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that is the case, these 100 witty political cartoons, which interpret the news of the first half of 2013, are packed with information. Many... Read more »
What others say: It shouldn't take a law
Silicon Valley has a problem. The furor over the Obama administration's use of technology to track possible terrorists has cast a spotlight on the private information Valley companies collect. Read more »
Michael Gerson: Issuing threats for political purposes only poisons patriotism
A number of libertarians and conservative populists have found data collection by the National Security Agency to be the final confirmation of their worst fears about Barack Obama and modern... Read more »
George F. Will: Congress' war on behavior hurts the Constitution
In May 1918, with America embroiled in the First World War, Iowa's Gov. William Lloyd Harding's Babel Proclamation — that was its title; you cannot make this stuff up — decreed:... Read more »
Transformative power of dad in the home
Fatherhood can be transformative for men’s bodies and minds, but it’s largely dependent on the physical proximity of the dad in the home, according to Bradford Wilcox Read more »
Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Should Utahns be worried about NSA monitoring?
Although summer doesn't arrive until June 21, we are certainly experiencing a heat wave — both in the temperature outside and also in the machinations and consternations of political... Read more »
Charles Krauthammer: NSA not helping Obama's war on terror narrative
Thirty-five years ago in United States v. Choate, the courts ruled that the Postal Service may record "mail cover," i.e., what's written on the outside of an envelope — the addresses of... Read more »
My view: Investing in early childhood education has long-term benefits
As a partner of a law firm with offices across the Mountain West and in Washington, D.C., board chairwoman of United Way of Salt Lake and a volunteer job coach for refugee youth, I strongly believe... Read more »
Jenet Jacob Erickson: Religion plays significant role in producing the ideal dad
Past generations would have found it hard to believe the challenges boys face today — socially, academically and vocationally Read more »
Matthew Sanders: Quantifiable coolness of being a dad
My wife giving birth? Majesty. Placing that tiny baby girl in my arms? Life changing. The coolest thing I've ever done? Fatherhood. Read more »
My view: Vote by mail safe, secure and secret
In June, Weber County will hold an entirely vote-by-mail election. This is the first time in Utah that a large county will conduct an election entirely by mail. This doesn't need to be a scary... Read more »
- LDS Church responds to 'misinformation' about...
- Washington Post writer: Mitt Romney lost...
- High school football: Reigning Mr. Football...
- Modest swimsuit designer speaks out on bikinis
- Amy Adams, Glenn Beck present different takes...
- My husband Alex Boye grilled in UK for 'I'm a...
- Quinton Pedroza dismissed from Utah Utes...
- Bear scare: 'Baden and Logan saved my life.'
- John Florez: Show leadership on...
31 - Robert Bennett: Sticking to facts is... 23
- My view: People deserve rights at our... 22
- My view: Nothing sinister about Common... 14
- Timothy R. Clark: Graduation advice for... 7
- Michael Gerson: Reinvigorating the GOP... 6
- John Kass: This is no time to close our... 5
- Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Should... 5