Constitution

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KSL’s Coverage of Bob Bennett and the Tea Party Movement

May 16, 2010 in Constitution by Greg | 17 comments

KSL’s recent coverage of the ouster of Senator Bob Bennett from the United States senate apparently as a result of the Tea Party’s activism appears superficial and is noteworthy for a number of reasons. For example, on Friday night editorial director Duane Cardall read the following statement:

Bob Bennett in Tea Party exchange Senator Bob Bennett has served the people of Utah well for nearly 18-years.

It’s unfortunate the general populace didn’t have opportunity to decide whether or not he should be retired at the end of his third term. Instead, his fate rested in the hands of a few thousand delegates at last weekend’s state GOP convention who seemed determined to defeat him, whatever the cost.

Senator Bennett certainly has solid conservative credentials, but also an understanding of the art of political compromise and the ability to work closely with those of all persuasions. It is a gift sorely lacking in today’s divisively toxic political climate. And, sadly it is an attribute that likely contributed to his defeat as anti-Washington fervor spreads across the nation.

KSL doesn’t endorse candidates, and our criticism of what happened last Saturday should not be construed necessarily as support for Senator Bennett’s re-election. Our concern is the way he was so unceremoniously, even boisterously defeated by a system that rewards extremist rhetoric more than rational dialogue. That this dedicated and capable public servant would be roundly booed, even vilified by resolution, speaks volumes about the tenuous nature of politics today.

For all he’s done for Utah, Bob Bennett deserved better.1

While the editorial rightly pointed out the polarizing nature of political debate in a two-party system, it entirely missed the point that Utah citizens deserve more from its elected officials. Senator Bennett serves in the senate at the behest of the citizens of the state – not the other way around. Also, while political compromise may seem laudatory, at what point do the statist policies of an ever encroaching government end and personal responsibility and accountability stand firm?

State delegate Connor Boyack recently commented on the senator’s seeming lack of principle:

Bob Bennett and the Tea Party »»

  1. “Senator Bennett”. 14 May 2010. KSL.com. 16 May 2010.↩

Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan

May 11, 2010 in Constitution by Greg | 3 comments

The process for approving President Obama’s supreme court nominee Elena Kagan has become a significant news item of late. Supreme Court Nominee Elena KaganFor example, today’s civics “Lesson Plan” at the New York Times suggested a methodology for reviewing Ms. Kagan’s nomination in order to help students “determine whether they believe she should be appointed to the bench after learning about her experience, background and stances. They then develop a ‘game plan’ for supporting or opposing the nomination.”

Below is an excerpt of how they suggest teachers approach discussing the nomination with their students:

Ask students to share what they already know about the U.S. Supreme Court using such questions as: What do Supreme Court justices do? What is judicial review? What does it mean to interpret the United States Constitution? How does a person become a Supreme Court Justice? Why are a nominee’s political leanings and judicial ideology a matter of interest and concern, particularly to members of the Senate?

Next ask students to brainstorm the qualities and experience they think a Supreme Court justice should have, given their understanding of the position. List these on the board and discuss them briefly.

Then ask students to share what they have heard or read about Elena Kagan, such as her experience as U.S. Solicitor General or dean of the Harvard Law School. If students do not mention it themselves, tell them that Ms. Kagan has not served as a judge, which is not a requirement. Indeed, though most Justices have had judicial experience prior to their Supreme Court appointments, 40 (out of 111 total) have not, including chief justices William Rehnquist (who immediately preceded Chief Justice Roberts), Earl Warren and John Marshall.1

The article goes on to suggest other ways in which to view Ms. Kagan’s nomination.

In some respects, this lesson contains information that bears some similarities to a talk given by Rex E. Lee, former Solicitor General in the Reagan administration, almost 20 years ago in a devotional address at Brigham Young University. In that talk, he suggested the consequences attendant to interpreting the Constitution and the importance of pending judicial nominees:

One of the most important features of the American Constitution, both in theory and in practice, is the magnificent breadth of its most important provisions–notably the commerce clause, most of the Bill of Rights guarantees, and the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process and equal protection clauses. The lack of specificity of these and other provisions has almost certainly been essential to the ability of this document drafted in 1787 to survive over 200 years of the largest and most unanticipated change that any country at any time has ever experienced.

Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan »»

  1. Doyne, Shannon and Holly Epstein Ojalvo. “On the Bench? Vetting Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan”. 11 May 2010.↩

Article on Solemn Proclamation

April 9, 2010 in Second Coming by Greg | No comments

Last night an article containing the Solemn Proclamation to All Nations was posted. This proclamation was written in 1845 by the Quorum of Twelve Apostles to the kings of the world, the president-elect, governors of the land, and all nations of the earth in fulfillment of D&C 124:1-11.

It was first printed in a sixteen-page pamphlet in New York City on April 6, 1845, and again in Liverpool, England, October 22, 1845. It was addressed to the rulers and people of all nations. This document was an announcement that God had spoken from the heavens and had restored the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. It spoke of blessings and of punishments to come, issued a warning voice, and invited all who were interested to assist in the building of the kingdom of God on the earth in preparation for the Savior’s second coming.1

The proclamation stands as a bold testimony and witness of the restoration of the gospel. Please leave your comments to this article below.

  1. Matthews, Robert J. “Proclamations of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.” 1992. Encyclopedia of Mormonism. 10 Apr 2010.↩

Solemn Proclamation to All Nations

April 9, 2010 by Greg

The following solemn proclamation to all nations was written by way of commandment in 1845 shortly after the death of Joseph Smith. The revelation containing the directive to make this proclamation was originally given at Nauvoo, Illinois on January 19, 1841.1 Circumstances seem to have prevented its publication until later, when it was issued by the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.2 This is one of five “proclamations” by the LDS Church since its founding in 1830.3

Wilford Woodruff publisher of solemn proclamation To all the King’s of the World;

To the President of the United States of America;

To the Governors of the several States;

And to the Rulers and People of all Nations:

GREETING:

KNOW YE—

THAT the kingdom of God has come: as has been predicted by ancient prophets, and prayed for in all ages; even that kingdom which shall fill the whole earth, and shall stand for ever.

The great Eloheim Jehovah has been pleased once more to speak from the heavens: and also to commune with man upon the earth, by means of open visions, and by the ministration of HOLY MESSENGERS.

By this means the great and eternal High Priesthood, after the Order of his Son, even the Apostleship, has been restored; or, returned to the earth.

This High Priesthood, or Apostleship, holds the keys of the kingdom of God, and power to bind on earth that which shall be bound in heaven; and to loose on earth that which shall be loosed in heaven. And, in fine, to do, and to administer in all things pertaining to the ordinances, organization, government and direction of the kingdom of God.

Being established in these last days for the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets since the world began4; and in order to prepare the way for the coming of the Son of Man.

And we now bear witness that his coming is near at hand; and not many years hence, the nations and their kings shall see him coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.5

In order to meet this great event there must needs be a preparation.

Therefore we send unto you with authority from on high, and command you all to repent and humble yourselves as little children, before the majesty of the Holy One; and come unto Jesus with a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and be baptized in his name, for the remission of sins (that is, be buried in the water in the likeness of his burial and rise again to newness of life, in the likeness of his resurrection), and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, through the laying on of the hands of the Apostles and elders, of this great and last dispensation of mercy to man.

This Spirit shall bear witness to you, of the truth of our testimony; and shall enlighten your minds, and be in you as the spirit of prophecy and revelation. It shall bring things past to your understanding and remembrance; and shall show you things to come.6

It shall also impart unto you many great and glorious gifts; such as the gift of healing the sick, and of being healed, by the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus; and of expelling Demons; and even of seeing visions, and conversing with Angels and spirits from the unseen world.7

By the light of this Spirit, received through the ministration of the ordinances8—by the power and authority of the Holy Apostleship and Priesthood, you will be enabled to understand, and to be the children of light; and thus be prepared to escape all the things that are coming on the earth, and so stand before the Son of Man.

We testify that the foregoing doctrine is the doctrine or gospel of Jesus Christ, in its fulness; and that it is the only true, everlasting, and unchangeable gospel; and the only plan revealed on earth whereby man can be saved.

Solemn Proclamation to All Nations »»

  1. D&C 124:1-11.↩
  2. Roberts, Brigham Henry, ed. History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1912. 6:80; 7:320, 558.↩
  3. Ed. – All references and links in this article are my own.↩
  4. Acts 3:21.↩
  5. This statement may have reference to the “third” division mentioned in the post on the Second Coming.↩
  6. The Holy Ghost is a Spirit of truth; see John 16:13; cf. D&C 50:13-22 and D&C 93:9, 11, 23, & 26.↩
  7. See the post on Spiritual Gifts.↩
  8. Cf. D&C 84:19-22.↩

Is Healthcare a Right?

March 13, 2010 in Health Care by Greg | 23 comments

As President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats pull together a final version of a health care overhaul bill and push for House votes as early as this coming week, it’s important to consider health care as a right. Last year, Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) wrote persuasively that health care is a right versus a privilege, ostensibly because this is the way other countries treat health care. Not to be left behind in the international community, he advocated the following:

Healthcare_stethoscope As the health care debate heats up in Washington, we as a nation have to answer two very fundamental questions. First, should all Americans be entitled to health care as a right and not a privilege – which is the way every other major country treats health care and the way we respond to such other basic needs as education, police and fire protection? Second, if we are to provide quality health care to all, how do we accomplish that in the most cost-effective way possible?

I think the answer to the first question is pretty clear, and one of the reasons that Barack Obama was elected president. Most Americans do believe that all of us should have health care coverage, and that nobody should be left out of the system. The real debate is how we accomplish that goal in an affordable and sustainable way. In that regard, I think the evidence is overwhelming that we must end the private insurance company domination of health care in our country and move toward a publicly-funded, single-payer Medicare for All approach.1

Politicians have a propensity to exhibit A False Solicitude for the Unfortunate in society. And previously, Michael Connelly pointed out the health care bill is “a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred.”2

Recently, Walter E. Williams, the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University, addressed the question of health care rights from a moral and economic point of view. He wrote that true rights exist at the same time among people. As such, one’s rights should not infringe upon the rights of others3:

Is Healthcare a Right? »»

  1. “Health Care is a Right, Not a Privilege”. 8 Jun 2009. The Huffington Post. 13 Mar 2010.↩
  2. Health Care Bill Constitutional?.↩
  3. This principle echoes D&C 134:4 which was written in regards to “religious opinions” but can be applied to other forms of rights.↩

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