Political Debate with U.S. Senate Candidates
U.S. Senate Candidates in Utah will debate the merits of leaving or staying in Iraq.
7pm Gore Auditorium, Westminster College
# Participating Candidates: Pete Ashdown, Democrat Party
# Scott Bradley, Constitution Party
# Julian Hatch, Desert Greens Party
# Roger I. Price, Personal Choice Party
# Dave Starr Seely, Libertarian Party
# Republican Candidate TBA
The program will be recorded by KCPW
50 religious officials from around the country, including the LDS church, have signed onto a letter advocating support for the “Federal Marriage Amendment” to the U.S. Consitution, which would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
The really sad part about this is the overall picture: Individuals and entities attempting to get the government to add an amendment to the consitution that defines what people do in their private lives. Marriage is private and between two people. Period.
The Elections Office in Utah never ceases to amaze me. Not the staff that works in the office but, rather, the policies that come forth from that office.
Yesterday I was informed by utahpolicy.com, a really great daily newsletter of the day’s utah politics news, that from now on I could not use “Nationally Affiliated Green Party of Utah” when submitting calendar items. I then noticed that they changed reference to NAGPUT in the calendar listings they had already on their calendar to “Desert Greens”.
Now, I’m not saying that the DG name shouldn’t be used and, in fact, it should – along with the NAGPUT name. For one thing, the NAGPUT Desert Greens has legal rights to the name under Utah Commerce Law. For another, we are affilaited with the Green Party of the United States. And for another, Desert Greens is the registered political party – for election purposes only. All other activities are organized under NAGPUT. Period.
It was made obvious to me that someone complained to utahpolicy.com about them printing our name. I then was told by the person who does their calendar that the elections office recommended that they only print us under “Desert Greens”.
Wait a minute. The Utah Elections Office specifcally told us, in writing, that they would “remain silent” on the name issue. And now they are advising entities and individuals what they should print? That’s hypocrisy!
But it doesn’t surprise me.
In our outreach, we make sure to tell folks that there are two parties using the name Green Party of Utah and that our registered political party is “Desert Greens”. That’s all we say about the two groups. We decided a long time ago that we would advocate who to vote for – not who to vote against.
We will continue to use Desert Greens Nationally Affiliated Green Party of Utah. It’s legal. And it’s the fact. Almost all other organizations publish what we ask them to and choose not to be lured into the middle of this situation, even despite complaints they receive.
I got notice last week that Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson would be featured on the Pacifica Radio Program, Democracy Now! in a segment on the immigration march/rally in Salt Lake. I wasn’t able to listen to it live, but thankfully Rocky’s website has it archived. The clip has great photos of the march.
You can listen and/or watch the interview at the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Website.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged free speech, government, immigration laws, politics, Utah
Wow, I haven’t written here in a really long time. I’ve been so busy with school and other activities that I haven’t taken the time to blog about important personal things.
So here’s an update:
So that’s about it in a nutshell. I’m going to try to blog more here on a regular basis.
Last night I helped show a film on war rax resistance. The film, “An Act of Conscience” is about a couple who in the 1990’s fought a battle against the IRS in proceedings that led to the confiscation and sale of their home. The story revolved around what happened next with the family that bought the home, the squatting and then eviction of the home by various community members, and the new homeowners settling with the community who owned a collective that actually owned the land on which the home sat. It is a very compelling story and really makes one think about where their taxes are spent.
Here is a pie chart, published by the War Resisters League that depicts the portion of your federal taxes that go towards the military and war efforts:
I am the state contact for the National War Tax REsistsnace Coordinating Committee. I help show this film each year and provide literature for people who may be interested in learning more about what they can do to divert their tax dollars away from war. You can view the NWTRCC’s Statement of Purpose. It is a coalition of groups dedicated to providing information and resources and support for those considering war tax resistance.
There are multiple ways to engage in war tax resistance.
Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged anti-war, grassroots democracy, peace, politics, taxes
Part of the Plan has posted a tongue-in-cheek
This is “something”. The Boy Scouts of America (aka “Brown Shirts of America”) in today’s news:
Boy Scouts chastised for immigrant rallies–Politics: Official says Latino troop violated policy of involvement.
A Utah Boy Scout official has warned a Latino troop earning merit badges for “Citizenship in the Community” that it violated policy against involvement in political events with its participation in immigration demonstrations this week in Salt Lake City.
Now there’s promoting of, advocating for and teaching our children about democracy and citizenship.
Michael Clara, scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 987, said he received a phone call on Wednesday from Vic Rowberry, a Great Salt Lake Council of Boy Scouts of America field director, who said the troop shouldn’t have participated in the events.
Clara disagreed, saying he didn’t understand the difference between providing the flag ceremony and staying to observe the Republican State Convention in August 2005 and carrying and passing out flags at the nonpartisan immigration demonstrations on Sunday and Monday.
Clara, a Utah Republican, was told that he would have been in compliance if the troop would have performed the flag ceremony at the demonstration and then left. Yet, troops performed the ceremony at the Republican convention and stayed.
I don’t get it.
Clara said he believes the troop is being “singled out” because it participated in a “nontraditional event.” As the organization tries to diversify its troops, Clara said it needs to understand that ethnic minorities are going to participate in events that some Utah Boy Scouts have not joined in the past.
Clara said the organization teaches civic responsibility and being tolerant and respectful of people’s differences.
“The very thing we’re teaching our young men, the council is not doing to us,” Clara said.
Kay]]Godfrey [spokesman for the Great Salt Lake Council,]called those comments by Clara “ridiculous.”
Sounds like a double standard to me.
Tomorrow, tomorrow,
I’m wond’ring today
Will they sing our songs tomorrow
In this land, the U.S.A.
Oh, I know they’ll sing them someday,
Those who fight for liberty.
Will our songs be sung tomorrow
In this land that they call free?
(chorus)
Now is the time
Now is the day
Now is the hour
No more delay
Let’s build a peaceful world
And get it right away, not tomorrow,
But today.
Continue reading
John Saltas wrote in this week’s Salt Lake City Weeklyabout the demonstraton against immigration legislation that was held last weekend. He referenced the mass multitude of protestors and the handful of anti-protestors, a group of “minutemen” that advocates for illegal immigrants to be sent back to their countries. Saltas says:
Those protesting the marchers proclaimed that “illegals” want to steal our freedoms. Really? More than 10 percent of the United States war dead in Iraq have Hispanic surnames, including a Utah war casualty who had yet to gain U.S. citizenship. They claim “illegals” take money from the economy by working for cash pay at low wages. Is that so? Then throw the employers in jail for exploiting them. They shouted that the marchers should not wave the Mexican flag. Where were those patriots on St. Patrick’s Day?
Well said.
Stay tuned. May Day (May 1) may see more action.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 