Opinion - Public Forum - The Salt Lake Tribune

Chaffetz and the I-word

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:27:02 MDT

Chaffetz and the I-word

Published May 19, 2013 05:27PM MDT

Re “Chaffetz: Obama impeachment ‘possible’ over Benghazi attack” (Tribune, May 14): I accept Rep. Jason Chattetz’s blowhard grandstanding on almost every issue. His smug pronouncements don’t help solve problems, but they appeal to his political base. They add a lot more heat than light. That’s politics. But mentioning the political nuclear weapon of impeachment for what may be incompetence but probably is just impotence is totally irresponsible. It shows how unfit Chattetz is for the big tent. W...

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Needing Medicaid

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:27:02 MDT

Needing Medicaid

Published May 19, 2013 05:27PM MDT

Medicaid provides health care for families and individuals with low income and resources. Many across the country wouldn’t otherwise have health care. Yet some say they don’t want to pay for others’ health care because people are too lazy to pay for it themselves. But Medicaid actually goes to those who really need it. When he was a year old, my little brother was adopted by my parents through Utah Foster Care. He came with many drug-related problems due to his birth mother’s addiction. In his ...

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Pesticides unregulated

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:27:02 MDT

Pesticides unregulated

Published May 19, 2013 05:27PM MDT

In “Utah pesticide use not dangerous” (Opinion, May 11), Leonard Blackham, Utah’s state commissioner of agriculture and food, wrote about “safe, regulated pesticides.” Our family’s home was a neighbor to one of these “safe, regulated” businesses. “Safe” chemicals were stored in a “safe,” unmarked, unlocked, propped-open shed. What didn’t fit inside was “safely” left sitting outside. It was common practice for employees to empty and rinse tanks into the ground. We kept our windows shut because of...

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Abuse of power

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:27:02 MDT

Abuse of power

Published May 19, 2013 05:27PM MDT

I totally agree with Rep. Jason Chaffetz that whoever is found guilty of abusing their power at the Internal Revenue Service should be prosecuted and sentenced to prison (“IRS officials should be jailed for tea party scandal, Chaffetz said,” Tribune, May 14). I suggest that Chaffetz begin legal proceedings against former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for war crimes, lying to the American people and starting a needless war that has cost our country and the world untold...

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The right media

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:26:03 MDT

The right media

Published May 19, 2013 05:26PM MDT

In “Telling it like it isn’t” (Forum, May 16), Sandy Thackeray laments that “the news media take the responsibility of making our decisions for us” and only “tell us one side of the story.” She asks, “Does the truth even matter any more?” In order to get legitimate sources of unbiased and truthful media reporting, Thackeray needs to quit reading, viewing and listening to the ultra-liberal, lamestream media and start tuning in the legitimate sources of unbiased and truthful media reporting, for e...

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Technology overdose

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:26:03 MDT

Technology overdose

Published May 19, 2013 05:26PM MDT

As a high school student, I understand how hard it is to put down the cellphone, with Internet, email, social media, music and games available on smartphones. The average teen spends seven-and-a-half hours a day using electronic devices — smartphone, computer, television. At a restaurant, I saw a 14-year-old girl on her phone the whole time: before the food came, after it came — even while she ate! Parents need to convince their teens that there is more to life than technology. They need to set...

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Ho-hum hero

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:08 MDT

Ho-hum hero

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

Richard Nixon had his silent majority; Tim DeChristopher has his vocal minority. It seems that everywhere I go I hear people say that DeChristopher is a hero for gumming up President George W. Bush’s ecologically questionable oil and gas leases with phony bids and then going to prison for it. Having done his time for his heroic lawbreaking, DeChristopher is now doing victory laps on all the media, including being canonized by Doug Fabrizio on KUER’s “RadioWest.” So with all the seemingly widesp...

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No tax exemptions

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:08 MDT

No tax exemptions

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

I have a solution for the possibly illegal and politically targeted scrutiny applied by the IRS to tax-exempt organizations. Remove tax exemption status from all organizations. If an organization operates in the United States, enjoying all the benefits of being in this country, then it should participate in funding the country. This approach would solve the current issue with the IRS, and it would allow churches like the Catholics and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to spout of...

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Medicaid nonsense

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:08 MDT

Medicaid nonsense

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

M. Royce Van Tassell’s op-ed, “Medicaid access doesn’t improve health” (Opinion, May 12), makes no sense at all. If that title were the case, why does anyone need insurance, including Van Tassell? He cites studies that say people without health insurance don’t have worse health than those who do. Does a person who has diabetes and doesn’t know it have the same health as a person with insurance who goes to the doctor, discovers the diabetes and sets up a treatment plan? I am 80 years old and hav...

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Get it over with

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:08 MDT

Get it over with

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

With the recent cascade of states legalizing same-sex marriage, Edward Cannon thinks we’re approaching a “tipping point when the … country must allow all adult Americans to marry whom they love” (“Gay marriage approval,” Forum, May 15). Wishful thinking. That speeding train of states will soon hit a procedural wall — the constitutions of 31 states ban same-sex marriages. Of the other 19 states, 12 now allow gay marriage, and not all of the other seven are likely candidates (think West Virginia)....

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Lobbyists have a place

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:08 MDT

Lobbyists have a place

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

When in session, our state legislators are very busy. They cannot know all facts and solutions. They can and should rely on ethical lobbyists for research and proposals on complex issues. It is helpful to be knowledgeable. Good lobbyists provide that function, along with staff. Face time is important. Given our representatives’ limited time, let’s let them have a free lunch or dinner or ball game with lobbyists and others to present their points of view. When we elect our legislators, we assum...

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Ruining 1100 East

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:07 MDT

Ruining 1100 East

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

Many times I have thought about writing to the Public Forum. “City Council: Sugar House Streetcar will run on 1100 East” (Tribune, May 8) finally pushed me to write. I live in Midvale and commute to the Avenues. After a particularly difficult day at work, I find myself heading toward 1100 East on my drive home. It is out of my way, and not the quickest route, but it is a peaceful drive. I love the atmosphere of 1100 East in Sugar House. There are so many cute, interesting little shops whose ow...

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Room for more

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:07 MDT

Room for more

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

“Looking for the light in an imperfect world” (Opinion, May 7) by Tamara Bailie was a wonderful, uplifting guest column. It was like a ray of sunshine. I hope The Tribune makes room for more articles like this. Maurine Forman West Jordan

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Sidewalk poseurs

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:07 MDT

Sidewalk poseurs

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

The author of “Signs of the times” (Forum, May 12) wrote with all good intentions and compassion for people who hold cardboard signs on the corners of streets around town. The problems is, many of these people make more money in one day that you or I who work for a living make in a week. I have talked to some people who have bragged to me that they make between $300 and $400 a day! If you do the math, that’s around $2,000 a week — tax free! The messages on the pieces of cardboard are designed t...

Business avarice

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:06 MDT

Business avarice

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

If, as some say, a war is being waged against the American working class (evidenced by political union-busting and businesses outsourcing American jobs to countries such as China, India and, ironically, Mexico), then the Senate’s “Gang of Eight” immigration reform proposal seems a serious escalation (”Hatch warns of tech industry clout in immigration debate,” Tribune, May 13). Apparently, giving legal status/residency to illegal immigrants is imperative because they fill jobs Americans won’t do....

Born and unborn

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:06 MDT

Born and unborn

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

It is good to see that The Trib is informing us (at last) about Dr. Hermit Gosnell, who was just convicted (and sentenced) for murdering three newborn babies along with a host of other crimes against women and newborn and unborn babies (“Convicted Philadelphia abortion doctor gets life in prison,” Tribune, May 15). One of the issues that seems to evade those who favor abortion is the dilemma about the difference between killing a baby who is not yet born and one who is just born. On the legal si...

Capitol entrance exam

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:06 MDT

Capitol entrance exam

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

We need to make wholesale changes in the way we select members of Congress. Our representative republic deserves the best people. First, assure they are well-qualified and not just filing a statement of intent to run. A minimum score on an entrance exam is in order. Candidates should be well-versed in wide variety of subjects — law, economics, statistics, political science, public management, philosophy, history, etc. Second, pay them more. To recruit the best and brightest, the current $174,0...

Swallow exit

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:06 MDT

Swallow exit

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

Re “Special counsel will investigate John Swallow’s financial arrangements” (Tribune, May 11): How many probes and investigations does it take for Utah Attorney General John Swallow to finally step down from office? Maybe the question is, how many days does he have left before his lifetime insurance and pension kicks in? Whatever it is, the people of this state deserves better people in office to represent them. Lloyd J. Cummings Draper

Corrupt ostriches

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:06 MDT

Corrupt ostriches

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

I’m so glad that Ken Sanders, a prominent member of the Salt Lake City community, shared his feelings about Tim DeChristopher (“Corrupted justice,” Forum, May 11). I wholeheartedly concur with him about defense attorney Ron Yengich and U.S. District Judge Dee Benson. I especially liked his idea for a debate between DeChristopher, Benson and Sen. Orrin Hatch. Unfortunately, debating with corrupt ostriches who have unrelenting political support from their status-quo constituents can prove fruitles...

God’s chosen

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:01:04 MDT

God’s chosen

Published May 18, 2013 01:01AM MDT

Consider these excerpts from “Woman rescued after 17 days in Bangladesh rubble” (Tribune, May 10): “The miraculous moment came when salvage workers finally heard Begum’s [the rescued woman’s] banging. … “Hundreds of people engaged in removing bodies from the site in recent days raised their hands together in prayer for her survival. ‘God, you are the greatest, you can do anything. Please allow us all to rescue the survivor just found,’ said a man on a loudspeaker leading the supplicants. “After...