Dynamic Range

Take The Issues Seriously. Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously.

As the Education Interim committee began a very detailed discussion of education issues today, I took a moment to bring a little levity after the past several months of passionate debate.  Here's a resolution to make the Oreo the official state sandwich cookie:

Whereas, State symbols are established by statute, specifically in Utah Code Section 63-13-5.5;
Whereas, the Oreo Sandwich Cookie, manufactured by the Nabiso Corporation, was the best selling cookie of the 20th Century and continues to dominate cookie sales;
Whereas, nearly 500 billion Oreo Sandwich Cookies have been sold since first introduced in February, 1912;
Whereas, the origin of the name, Oreo, as dramatized in a television commercial, comes from a meeting held at the Nabisco Corporation in which employees were asked to suggest names for the sandwich cookie, and when one employee, whose mouth contained several of the sandwich cookies being discussed, replied, "I don't know," his distorted reply caught on and was eventually accepted as the name of the sandwich cookie;
Whereas, the removal of trans fats from all Oreos in January 2006 proved conclusively that Oreos could reflect the times in which we live without compromising their classic taste;
Whereas, Psychologists have discovered that the manner in which people eat Oreo
cookies provides great insight into their personalities, and have managed to identify ten different eating methods and the personality traits they signify;
Whereas, the rich and varied educational applications of Oreos include their use as unit of measurement (San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is 28,800 Oreos long); and, by scraping off the needed amount of cream from several sandwich cookies, as a compelling representation of the phases of the moon;
Whereas, if every Oreo ever made were stacked on top of each other, the pile would reach from the earth to the moon and back more than six times;
Whereas, in recent months, significant focus and public discussion has highlighted that Oreos can be a valuable tool in explaining economic and monetary issues;
Whereas, the Legislature recognizes that Oreos can be effectively utilized as mathematical manipulatives in public education; 
Whereas, it is entirely fitting that Utah take this step in recognition of Oreos' impact on the citizens of the state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah pass legislation designating the Oreo as the state sandwich cookie.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Nabisco Corporation.

Sue Carey, a local constituent who also serves in the PTA, helped me with a little lesson.  I placed 10 cookies on the table and then divided them into 2 groups.  When asked what the stack of 4 cookies represented, she reponded the voters who supported Referendum 1.  When asked about the remaining 6 cookies, she identified them as the voters that opposed Referendum 1.

The message:  Take the issues seriously.  Don't take yourself seriously.  You need to be able to laugh at yourself.

(Note:  This is not a serious resolution.  Also, Oreo is a registered trademark and is the property of its trademark owner.)

Update:  Check out this Daily Herald editorial cartoon: Hey...What happened to my Oreos? which set this resolution in motion.

Should Utah Invest in Terrorist Nations?

As a taxpayer, how would you feel if you knew that your tax dollars were helping fund terrorist activities in Iran?  What if you knew that Iranian terrorists were then helping the insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan wage war against American troops?

That was essentially the questions posed by Rep. Julie Fisher today.  The Retirement and Independent Entities Interim committee met and discussed whether the Utah Retirement System should invest taxpayer money in foreign companies that has certain business operations with Iran.  The ultimate effect, if her legislation is adopted, would be to require URS to divest these investments and would prohibit future investments.  We had very compelling testimony from one of our dedicated state troopers, Trooper Neff, who recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.  He spoke of the threat that Iran poses to our troops currently serving in neighboring countries.

Every member of the committee thought it was a compelling objective.  The majority approved the draft legislation, in preparation for the legislative session, while a couple of members wanted some additional time to better understand the divestiture issues.

Should Utah invest in Iran?  Who should decide?  The legislature on behalf of the taxpayers who fund the retirement system or the employees who will be the recipients of the taxpayer-funded retirement.  Let me know your thoughts.

House D's New Leadership Team

With the recent election of a kindler, gentler SLC mayor (Rep. Becker) a large void was left in the leadership structure of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives.  Tonight they held their elections.  The envelope please....and the winners are...:

• Minority Leader:  Brad "just sing me a song" King
• Whip: David "nice guy" Litvack
• Asst Whip: Carol "you ain't got no proper english" Moss
• Caucus Manager: Phil "just the facts, ma'am" Riesen

Here's what you can expect:  (1) Brad will now have to lead more than just our birthday singing; (2) Dave will show that even really, really, really, ...really nice guys know how to use a whip to corral a caucus;  (3) Carol's grammar lessons will no longer be limited to the education committee --  every minority caucus meeting will now begin with one (and an assignment to each caucus member to teach the heathens in the majority caucus); (4) Phil will use his extensive experience to issue daily reports to the public warning of the Republican-like activities taking place at the Capitol.

All kidding aside.  Congratulations to the new leadership team!  Continued best wishes in your legislative service.  You will serve your caucus well.  I look forward to our continued great working relationship.

p.s.  Don't get the humor?  Spend a day or two up at the Capitol to get to know every legislator's unique personality, skills, and passions.

Open Government? Not in SL Co.

I proud to live in Utah Co.  We have some amazing folks that work in the elections office.  Promptly last Friday morning, as promised, the elections office sent me the precinct by precinct breakdown for Referendum 1.  Along with the data came an apology for the inconvenience.  (Traditionally precinct-level election information is posted on the county website, but the referendum/city election process was unique and they missed it.)  There was also a caveat:  the data isn't complete (absentee and provisional ballots still need to be counted).  As soon those ballots were counted, the elections office indicate they would send out an update.

In the Salt Lake County election office it's an entirely different matter.  That office has been unwilling or unable to provide any precinct-level data, telling requesters that they will have to wait almost 2 weeks (post election) for the information.  So much for open, responsive government.  A government agency should readily make any and all public information, not hide it from view.

Way to go Utah Co.!

Referendum 1 Results in House District 27

Here's the results from Referendum 1 in legislative district 27:

Alpine: passed with 52.1% (2,340 total votes cast)
Highland: passed with 52.7% (3,265 total votes cast)
American Fork (3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12): failed with 59.2% (3,184 total votes cast)
Draper (Utah County): failed with 51.6% (186 total votes cast)
Lehi (18): passed with 64.6% (243 total votes cast)

Referendum 1 passed overwhelmingly in some precincts, failed overwhelmingly in others, and was a coin toss in still other precincts within district 27 (AF12 passed with 53.5% despite failing in the other AF precincts).  Definitely interesting results.  What does it all mean?  Perhaps it means that Republicans were more likely to support Referendum 1 than Democrats.  It might mean that parents with students in public schools supported Referendum 1 more than voters without daily interaction with the schools (and rosy recollections of a bygone era).  At first glance, family income didn't appear to be much of a factor.  Were those that have experienced some form of school choice more likely to support another form of school choice?  Sometimes it's too bad that we can't allow comments with the ballots.   Surveys just don't generate as much response.  (About 4 years ago I sent out a survey and only received 4 or 5 back.)

What should we do as a result? Should we allow each city to option of implementing their own program?  Should those in SLC tell those in Alpine that they cannot have a voucher program.  Of course, I consider vouchers a single piece of a much larger educational puzzle.

Here's the Utah County precinct data: Referendum1_by_Precinct.pdf
(Note: absentee and provisional ballots have not been counted yet ).

Happy number crunching!

Winds of Change

The winds of change are blowing.  Kim Burningham announced that he will give up the chairmanship of the State Board of Education.  Perhaps we will now have someone heading the state board that is willing to talk with the "gathering" called the legislature.  It's always hard to collaborate when one party won't come to the table, especially when that party has the constitutional duty over the general control and supervision of the public education system .  Hopefully this will bring a less partisan, more civil lawmaking process to Utah.  I can only hope the new chair will have a focus on achieving educational excellence, rather than preserving the status quo that rewards educational mediocrity, leaving too many students behind within an increasing competitive, globally integrated world.

See also:

DNews: Burningham will give up school board chairmanship
SL Trib:  Utah State Board of Education boss stepping down

Getting KOSY

For those looking to detox from the whole election season, let me recommend KOSY 106.5 -- Utah's Home For Christmas.  I love Christmas with all of its sight, sounds, smells, and shared experiences. So, kick back and let the soothing sounds of Christmas wash over you.  Can't you feel all that stress just melt away?

Enjoy!

Were You Informed? Did You Read The Bill?

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.
    -- Thomas Jefferson

There were many valid reason to support and oppose Referendum 1.  My question is:  Did you read the bill (HB148/HB174)?  If the answer is no, then note the quote above.  When the decision is placed on your hands, your duty is to be informed.  Listening to outrageous commercials (from either side) is insufficient and likely counterproductive. Attending debates and reading the voter pamphlet can be helpful.  But if you didn't read the bill (and voted), you shirked your duty.

I am grateful for the constituents (voucher supporters and opponents alike) who I saw with copies of the legislation, whether printed off of the Internet or published in the newspaper.  They were truly trying to make a difficult, but informed decision.  I was also shocked at how few citizens actually read the legislation (I would guess fewer than 10% actually read the bill).  Legislators are castigate (justifiably so) for voting for a bill that they hadn't read.

What was the cause of the impairment?  Any insights would be appreciated.  Some have told me it was lack of time, lack of interest, being unfamiliar with where to find the information, distracted by the media wars, etc.

Vote For #1

A vote for #1 is a vote for:

• expanding school choice
• increasing shopping outlets
• providing transportation funding
• building public safety facilities
• shrinking school districts
• curing male pattern baldness
• stemming the tide of communism
• destroying the American way of life
• expanding international trade
• higher taxes
• lower taxes
• increasing political advertising, mailing, and autodialer during dinner
• 1 stop shopping
• redeeming past sins of our "fathers" (we all know mothers can do no wrong)
• showing that, other than supporting Keith Christensen for Mayor, Rocky and Jake Garn can't agree on anything

Who knew that supporting one number could do so much.  #1 -- no longer the loneliest number.

Top 10 Reason to Oppose Referendum #1

10. Test scores for unaccountable private schools with uncertified teachers might stop outscoring government-run schools.

9. Parents might be able to pay for a worse education than they can get for free.

8. Less regulation would unfortunately improve teacher moral and job satisfaction.

7. More schools competing for teachers would increase the pay of the best, most coveted teachers.

6. Empowering parents would strengthen families and reduce the role of paternalistic government.

5. More money per student doesn't actually improve educational achievement.

4. Preserving the status quo reduces the need to expend energy making improvements, protecting the environment and avoiding global warming.

3. Raising academic standards might leave Utah with just a third world birth rate and not  the corresponding third world education.

2. 6 months didn't give enough time for HB148 to make Oprah's Book Club

1. It's just better to have legislators run the public education system, instead of parents.

Alternative #1: Referendums are fun!  Let's do it again next year!