Most of Utah’s political delegation was on hand at the White House as Trump signed the declarations reducing Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Bears Ears National Monument. Surely, Mike Lee, John Curtis, Celeste Maloy, Mike Kennedy, Blake Moore and Gov. Cox were aware of recent polling showing that over 70% of Utahns support acreages determined by years of planning by multi-stakeholder groups. This did not deter them from their giddiness and laughter during the “ceremony” as they celebrated the evisceration of protection for these landscapes many consider sacred, or the lies they told during interviews to justify their actions.
This is yet another example that “we the people” no longer matter. Corporations matter. In this case, kissing Trump’s ring is what matters to our delegation, regardless of his felonies, his constant inappropriate behavior, his sexual abuse of women, his racism, his use of the office for personal financial gain. Our delegation has traded whatever moral ground they may have once had for access to Trump, and his pat on their head.
But “we the people” are alive and well. And angry. This is apparent in recent local opposition to data and detention centers, as well as the continued pressure applied to our politicians for refusing to act to protect Great Salt Lake, upon which Salt Lake City’s future depends.
“We the people” can no longer depend on our current political leaders. We need new ones. Thankfully those of us in the 3rd Congressional District have Kent Udell to vote for this coming November.
Brooke Williams, Castle Valley