Deseret News | 'Uncle Sam's Almanac' says Utah has high prices, short commutes

Reader comments
'Uncle Sam's Almanac' says Utah has high prices, short commutes

Anonymous | 1:21 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

fun facts

DESERET NEWS | 6:01 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

The article states: Utah has the second-highest percentage of households that use the Internet but one of the lowest rates of newspaper subscribers.

The two are linked, and do you know why?? Because the Deseret News is only on-line newspaper (that I have found) that you can read for free. So many others give you a few headline stories but you have to PAY to get the rest.

SO THANKS, DESERET NEWS--for putting information for the public ahead of profits. We are grateful. Low rates of actual subscribers--but WAY HIGH number of news readers!

Anonymous | 6:50 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

that was a cool article- thanks

Comments continue below

Just Perhaps . . . | 7:31 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Could the low wages be a direct results of Utah being a "right to work "state? That's a euphemism for no unions by the way.

Uh | 7:51 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Are you stupid? You don't have to pay for any news sites in Utah. Navigate off the D News once in a while and live life. Well, let me correct myself...maybe the Standard Examiner uses a pay system, if they're still doing that crap (I stopped reading when they started the pay system).

I Think | 8:11 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

The low subscribership to the newspapers could be because of our internet use. But I also feel the quality of the local newspapers has degenerated in the last few years.

Both newspapers are good at reporting local news, but they show great bias in their reporting of national events, and making assumptions that are generalizations. The Tribune filters national news through an anti-Mormon view, and the Deseret News tries to box national news to us through a rigid and not always accurate so called Mormon perspective, which I resent although I'm LDS.

LDS people are not morons because of their religion, nor are they sheep whose political views are always alike. Most of the columnists in these papers are OK but a couple I won't name shouldn't be writing at all! In one of the papers the editor has no journalistic experience, which, in my opinion, has led to a poorer paper.

No tax increase | 8:12 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

So stuff costs, on average, more in Utah? And wages are, on average, less in Utah? What this means is a precarious economic situation for too many people.

Are you listening, governor? Knowing this, why are you even considering raising the gas tax?

And why does our not-so-smart citizenry keep voting for tax hikes? I will never vote for a tax increase, regardless of what it's used for. I don't care how cute & fluffy the animals are at the zoo - this state can't afford to increase the burden on the average person.

CiCi | 9:02 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

So wages on average are 21.05% lower here then the national average? Gee, I've known that for more then 10 years now. I still am not making what I was made in 1997 in another state.

Marilee in Illinois | 9:24 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Kudos to Utah for lowest birth rate among un-married parents!! (Such a VERY important factor in keeping the family strong and vibrant!) Also, lowest abortion rates, low teen-pregnancy rates, lowest infant mortality rate, lowest cancer rates, also low storke and heart disease. What things to cheer about. What things to help us to be grateful for a living prophet that blesses us more than we know!

Hi internet, low newspapers | 9:31 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

THAT explains why I get so many chain-letter emails from people who don't really follow the news!

We pay $6.50/month to read one newspaper (Ogden Standard, which does have a free site).

Frankly, I think the newspapers would make money if everyone chipped in $3/$4 a month to read them online. It's only fair. If they can't make money, what's to read?

Watch what you wish for | 9:44 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

The Des News may be doing a favor by allowing all it's content on line, but you have to remember that advertising rates are tied to subscription rates. If the Des News becomes unable to make a profit, it will have to charge for its content, or go out of business.
It takes a lot of work to get all this "information for the public" out there. The people doing this work can't do it for free, and you really shouldn't expect to get it for free. I can't think of another profession where people just expect you to give them things for free.

SJ | 9:58 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

So overall, Utah is a better state to live in then most others...

SJ | 10:00 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Mormons make up only 1.7 % of the population. That's a lot of opportunities to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ........ We should get busy.

18.8% out of wedlock? | 10:01 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

That's an empty statistic. I wish I could put a URL in here. Go to the City Weekly website and search for Holly Mullen's article "Fear of Floating".

In the entire state of Utah, Orem leads with the highest number of girls coming in for Plan B (morning-after) pills - and many don't just come in once. They can't pre-plan to have sex because that's "naughty", but they're savvy in knowing how to pre-abort a pregnancy.

Don't be smug. The kids know how to keep the statistics low, and how to keep "pure". They know about "floating". If you don't, you aren't talking to your teenagers effectively.

Smeagol | 10:11 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

The low newspapers are a direct correlation between the high amount of conservatives in utah. A large percentage of Utahans get their news from talk radio and cable news networks, conservative news outlets. These outlets tell their listeners that newspapers are very liberal and bias so as a result conservatives believe this. Although there are as many conservative newspapers in this country as liberal ones. It is sad too because newspapers are still the best sources of credible news, and virtual every paper has an internet site that is free or mostly free.

vaase | 10:17 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

If it[news] available i will read it, if not i do not lose my sleep over it, i will just read my ensign, and sciptures that is it for me.

Dnews subscriber | 10:53 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

We take the Dnews. I only read it on line. My wife reads it the next day.

Smeago: I hope you get a chance to have first hand knowledge on an event and then read about it in the newspaper. You will change your opinion about how accurate the news is.

EVERY time I've had first hand knowledge on something the articles - and to be fair, RADIO and TV also - have been no where close to what actually happened.

When you read something or hear it on the news, you know "Something" happened, and that's about it.

SJ | 11:19 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

I read the comics section in the paper and the rest online. The paper does come in handy for lighting my fireplace though.

BH | 12:16 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Very informative article. If we could just improve the wage/cost of living ratio in Utah, there wouldn't be a bad statistic there.

Smeagol, I have to agree with the comments of the 10:53 AM post. Having been directly involved in several newsworthy events, I find newspaper reporting to be at the very least, inaccurate due to sloppy reporting. I would have to disagree with the analysis that news reporting is more biased in other medias than newspapers. Instead, the bias of the news media tends to be related to the ownership of the media. The DMN and the SLT are perfect examples. Two papers in the same market, but polar opposite reporting. Fox and NBC. And many other examples.

I would suspect that the low newspaper subscription rate in Utah is due to the higher internet and computer usage. Most Utahn's are very aware of other sources of news, particularly free sources.

And, yes, Utahn's need to appreciate the still free online local news sources. Having lived outside of Utah until recently, I know that most online papers charge. So, thanks DMN.

Left Out... | 12:25 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Utah also leads the country by having an average of 3.6 MLMs and ponzy schemes per person over the age of 18.

Hero of Canton | 1:22 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Yes, Utah being a right to work state certainly has an effect on the low wages, IMO. While I think Unions eventually turn bad, I understand why they were created and a higher prevalence of unions in Utah would raise the average wage.

ramper | 1:34 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Do reading these blogs count?

please | 2:14 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

If you don't like it please move to another state.... but come back and visit and spend your touristing dollars here
Thank you and have a nice day

Strange | 2:21 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

I live in Georgia and save up for my annual trip to Utah to shop. I see Utah as FAR cheaper.

thing | 3:25 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

One thing that distinguishes the Mormon culture is the counting of anything and declaring victory, a trend, a blessing from God, etc. This trait is so obvious, but only to outsiders.

God deals in individuals. One at a time. Ding, ding... one at a time... no where in the Bible does it refer to masses equal right or true. Rather, it is the individual that Jesus calls. And Christ does not say, "NOw add them up, whooopppeee!"

i love georgia | 4:06 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

and live in utah

Stan | 6:31 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Blessings all around. The caravan moves on. Loved the article and it shows how the LDS culture improves society and is a great asset to culture the leader in morality.

to 18.2 out of wedlock | 6:36 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

I am a working Pharmacist, and I for one would like more "proof" about the local high sales for PLan B.
What you are claiming, goes against my expierence in Orem. Plan B is very expensive, prescription only for girls 17 and younger. We sale maybe 1 every 4 to 6 weeks if that.
Show me your proof, please.

Plan B | 7:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

I agree with the pharmacist at 6:36. I work at a pharmacy in utah county and the commenter at 10:01 am is flat wrong. Provide statistics to back up your claim. I work at a very busy pharmacy and we sell one Plan B every other week at most. City Weekly does not count as proof. That's a tabloid at best. Try to get news from real sources.

The article you talked about said the Orem Planned Parenthood dispenses more Plan B than any other in the state. So? It is the only planned parenthood location in ALL OF UTAH COUNTY. That's 1 per 500,000 people. Plus it is the nearest one for most of the rural areas of the state. Salt Lake has 3. That's 1 per 333,000. Statistically speaking it would make sense that Orem would dispense more than the other locations in the state.

Yours is a pretty empty statistic that proves nothing.

Greed capital | 4:08 p.m. Oct. 3, 2009

Highest oosts and lowest wages - this and the fact that Utah leads the country in financial backstabbing again indicates to me that Utah is also the Greed capital of the country and that there are far too many Mormons who violate one of the basic tenets of their religion and are grinding upon the faces of the poor.

ken | 4:35 p.m. Oct. 3, 2009

every one I know in utah plays internet games and the owners of these jobs will not pay there employees fear of loosing money for there luxery life styles, I ended up moving in order to feed my family and able own my own house. I love utah but hate the people

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