funny, I haven't heard any of the "spread the wealth" naysayers comment on this piece. I honestly don't understand why the church membership isn't more liberal, they believe in many of the same principals. Is not tithing, DI, Fast offering, Bishop's store house all means on helping those that aren't as "blessed?" Sounds like "spreading the wealth" to me...Wonder when the law of consecration rolls out if you'll take a stand on spreading the wealth then.

I for one think we are only as strong as the weakest of us and there is no excuse for this trend, especially during the good times. Since many are fond of the argument from majority when it comes to moral issues...well the majority in this state that profess to "love thy neighbor" doesn't seem to translate when money is on the line. I think JC preached heavily about the poor or did I miss that? So instead of sending millions to Cali too make sure a minority doesn't enjoy something you have, how about reading a statement in church stating we need to help our poor here where that money can really do some good.

Thanks for that, RJ. You just changed my life.

This is how labor and workers are treated in a state that has 'Right to Work' laws giving business and business leaders, including or legislators, the ability to treat employees of a business as they wish. Business decides what a workers pay should be regardless of inflation, cost of living, benefits, etc.. Many businesses in Utah treat their employee like they are doing the employee a favor giving him a job and barely enough wages to support one individnual let alone a family. Workers should be controlling their wages and benefits according to their contributions to the business and its success. But not in Utah, employees are the slaves of business. Business in Utah even trains the helps its underpaid workers to take advantage of state welfare programs because they keep wages below poverty levels. If a worker ask for better pay and benefits they get fired for asking. The workers are being subverted and mistreated under the Right to Work laws and Utah has no other labor laws. However, the Department of Workforce services has created its own laws and interpretations of the Federal Labor laws to benefit business. Utah workers have no 'worker rights' or government support.

Taking a percent change of a percent (poverty rate) is an agendized and inflammatory way of looking at the data. It also ignores the true issue. The vast majority of children in poverty are in homes headed by women. Until fathers start taking financial responsibility for their children and women realize they need to be prepared to help support their families, no changes in the economy will help relieve their poverty rates.

And what was the Utah Republican response to the fact that the rich get richer, the middle class make no headway and the poor get poorer?

Lower taxes on the very richest among us, and then have them defend this when someone points this out.

While the Voices for Utah Children study references Utah population growth from 2000 to 2007, it fails to acknowledge the impact that the large inflow of illegal aliens into Utah during that same period had on median wages and household income.

Individuals who unlawfully enter the United States generally lack the education and skills necessary for higher paying jobs and frequently work for employers who pay low wages; consequently, they lower the overall median wage and household income.

It would be interesting to see what the median wage and family income would have been had the federal government stopped illegal immigration and given employers the means to hire legal immigrant workers on the condition that they paid them a fair wage and provided health care and other benefits

I wonder how illegal laborers being paid below even minimum wages factors into this study?

Illegal workers have, for some years, been the real "unknown" when it comes to trying to gather data on "real" economic conditions. We all know that SOME people are getting wealthy from employing them, but the question is: HOW WEALTHY?

Pay attention, job seekers, because this could be right up your alley.

The Broadcasting Board of Governors needs a Senior Advisor for the Voice of America in its International Bureau. You would report to Barack Obama.

Other current vacancies in the new administration include: Deputy Associate Administrator for Homeland Security, Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and even a White House architect.

You can see these listings and thousands more in the new "Plum Book," just out Wednesday.

An updated version comes out every four years, shortly after each presidential election. It lists available jobs, and in the 2008 edition, you'll find more than 7,000 of them. Four thousand of the positions require presidential appointments.

According to a joint statement from Governmental Affairs Committee chairman Joe Lieberman and ranking member Susan Collins, the book is "essential reading for anyone interested in pursuing public service in the Executive Branch of government."

The Lord is upset with us as a people. We have been selfish with our money. Let us exceed our donations to the Kingdom by sending our brethren the tithes they need to Glory God. Let us send the Church $50.00 extra, in addition to our tithing. Glory to God.