Reader comments
Pass real ethics reforms

Peoples accesss to a government official shouldn't be tied to their ability or willingness to give a gift to that party or legislator. There should be no gifts period. If a cause it worthy, let access be granted on that basis. If gifts are to be given, let it be to the homeless, the hungry or an other worthy cause.

We need to support the Reagan Caucus on this and other issues. It's about time we had moderate Republicans in this state who support more funding for education and oppose vouchers and merit pay. President Reagan would be proud.

As long as an elected official receives any type of, "Gift," it is still a bribe and shouldn't be allowed.

Anyone a bettin' man or woman? Want to wager on the chances of any real Legislative ethics reform bills being passed?

On a separate issue, what's the deal with the nostalgia for Ronald Reagan? He wasn't the worst president we've ever had, but neither was one of the best. Let's review a few Reagan administration highlights, shall we? Trillions of dollars in national debt; a serious recession during his presidency that his "trickle down" economics totally failed to rectify; speaking of "trickle down", Reagan's policy of robbing the poor to give to the rich is now known to economists as "Voodoo Economics" since it's premises have been shown to be bunk; the adminstration's support of brutal anti-leftist regimes in Central America who terrorized and murdered their own people; speaking of which, it was Reagan and his VP G. Bush, Sr. who provided provided weapons, training, and millions of dollars to Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden; and of course, the Iran-Contra scandal. Oliver North's testimony, Pres. Reagan on TV telling us that he didn't know what what going on in his own administration . . . ah the memories.

Apparently, some Republicans suffer from selective amnesia.

Unfortunately, Utah legislators will continue to ignore any outcry for ethics legislation until there is a firm and organized public outcry. Our legislators keep themselves insulated from the rank and file citizenry (we are the wrong caste). The criteria for election should be more than being LDS and Republican - perhaps a dose of substance should be required?

Removing gifts won't do much, because an attitude is the real problem, gifts are only the visible part. Like the rest of us they are generally motivated by status, influence, ego, and political power, but this is normal. Very few do it out devotion to the people, even though they often use this to justify themselves. They like to rub shoulders with those of influence and power. That is why it is so hard to quit when it is time. Money and gifts are only a small part of the problem, but that said they don't want to give up the gifts.

Until it is 100% illegal to accept anything, the system you have will be a corrupt one.
These people aren't interested in doing their civic duty - they are in it for business reasons.