Pyramid Schemes in Gubenatorial Politics

I'll be attending the Republican State Convention in May, and my choice for Governor is already clear. Needless to say, if Huntsman doesn't make it out of convention, I'll be voting for Super Dell.

If you favor "high speed movies" and "virtual robots", however, then don't vote for Huntsman.

Message from Charles "Chuck" Smith, Candidate for Governor

Stay tuned for a flow chart. It is on its way. Now for economic development.

The basic materials needed to create wealth are finely scattered over the whole earth giving us many places from which we can build. The only thing that keeps us back from multiplying our wealth many times is a step by step example of how to do it. With the powerful tools of technology we can create this example, first in a virtual world. The virtual tools gives us the ability to cheaply trial and error through to perfection a risk free path. Then we can follow that path to great real success and wealth.

Everyone wants to know how we can increase peoples incomes in the State of Utah. So, here is the step by step overview of what I am already building.

First we start a club and invite all who want to 4 times their income in the next 4 years to join it. The club is free of charge.

In the club each person takes pictures every week of the things they would buy or do if they had 4 times their income. Those pictures are accumulated and made into a high speed movie, one for each week for all to view via the Internet.

From this data of what we want and need, we create robotic systems to produce these goods and services in a virtual world setting.

As the design for robotic manufacturing starts to develop we use engineering software tools to create the details necessary to build these robots in the real world.

As the specifications come from engineering we look for materials to build the robotics. The goal is to acquire all materials through efficient energy and material recycling.

Once we have acquired materials we will build robots using the virtual designs and engineering to control the building process.

With robots in place we will then start producing the goods and services that we want as per the initial picture collection. Club members will get these products and services as payment for their participation in the club. The value of the goods and services for each club member should exceed 4 times their income in the fourth year of club participation.

This is a simple explanation of the steps; the actual doing of this plan will bring out many unforeseen opportunities to expand and multiply our talents. Every step will be looked at with the idea that what we do should be able to be done by others in other parts of the the world so that eventually all peoples in all nations can follow our step by step process to advance there wealth production abilities.

Acid Voucher Reflux

It is so easy to criticize the thousand votes of an incumbent, and to forget that their opponent has not been so scrutinized, nor can be.

In a race between Representative Paul Neuenschwander, and Becky Edwards, Edwards might as well be wonder woman. She has, however, no record of which to speak, which speaks to why some have questioned just where she is rooted. I disavow those who question her Republican bonifides. I renounce those who will not accept her as a fellow Republican. But I will not ignore her experience gap, or the fact that I do not know, save on one dead issue, her viewpoints.

She's running against the incumbent because he along with the majority of legislators in this state voted for vouchers twice!

Of course, even voucher opponents in the house voted for vouchers once when the voted for the amendments to the original bill.

The voucher debate victors are exorcised in the manner of Captain Ahab only because they won. Now they want to further divide the state by raising a battle cry against an opponent that is not there. Legislative leadership has said that they have no plans to resurrect the voucher debate, and former voucher supporters have vowed to not vote for the legislation if it were to manifest.

So, what is the problem?

Controversial Legislative Votes

In my last post Natalie questioned whether Rep. Neuenschwander had voted for amendments that became the dreaded Omnibus bill, and whether he had voted for the REAL soccer funding bill that was so controversial.

Appropriate to this occasion is this article where Speaker Curtis is taken to task for pushing the omnibus bill.

The Tribune specifies that there were no attempts by legislative leadership to twist arms to pass the bill. Neuenschwander went along with the majority and voted for this bill. It should be no surprise that a certain Bountiful legislator, I won't mention Rep. Sheryl Allen's name except in passing, is leading the charge against the Speaker with a certain School Board member, again no mention of Kim Burningham, towing the same line.

As to the REAL stadium, I will remind our reader that this issue came to a head in 2006 and that funding was in place for the stadium before Neuenschwander was elected and could vote.

So, just as I support the Bountiful Rec Center now that it is built, it seems that Neuenschwander now supports the REAL stadium.

Rep. Neuenschwander's Nay Votes

I've been looking at the voting record for Paul Neuenschwander for this last session, particularly his 'Nay' votes on bills that passed into law. I wanted to get an idea of times that he took an unpopular position to see if I agreed or disagreed with his stances. I've included his absent 'vote', because he may have wished not to vote in favor of the bill, but didn't want to come out in opposition. (That's highly unlikely considering the strong stances he's taken elsewhere, but nonetheless I've put it up for your consideration)

• HB0015 Control and Prevention of Sexually Transmitted--Nay
• This bill mandates that Health Departments statewide provide literature to Physicians and the general public to educate on the risks of STD's--Cost: $175,000
• My assessment: Plenty of educational materials already exist that accomplishes this same goal. I hardly a reason to appropriate money for this purpose. Here are the latest statistics on STD's in Utah.
  
• HB0104 Urban Trails Appropriation--Absent
• This bill appropriated up to $500,000 dollars from the General Fund to build the Bonneville Trail.
  
• HB0122 Driver License - Application of Minor Amendments--Nay
• This bill says that Foster parents can co-sign on an application for a learners permit or driver license. It appears to make Foster parents less liable for damages, in some cases, than a parent, or other legal guardian would face were the minor to be in an accident.
  
• HB0294S01 Appropriation Limit Amendments - Fire Suppression--Nay
• HB0332S01 Use of Public Schools by Community Organizations--Nay
• This bill modifies provisions of the State System of Public Education code relating to the use of public school buildings and grounds as a civic center. It appears to limit the school boards ability to restrict access to school property. Formerly, they did not need to have a reason other than the use is "inadvisable". Under this bill it has to interfere with a school function or purpose to not be allowed.
  
• HB0410 Restricted Accounts Amendments--Nay
• This bill moves interest from certain accounts into the General Fund to the tune of about $1.66 million dollars in 2009 and again in 2010.
  
• HB0466 Title Insurance Recovery, Education, Amended In Committee--Nay
• HJR004 Joint Resolution Urging School Closings to Recognize Veterans Day--Nay

Overall, I'd say I agree with his positions, where I understand the particulars. Keep in mind, these bills all passed and will be law, like it or not. He took fiscally conservative positions where applicable. In one case he took a position that would have given local school boards greater latitude to do their jobs.

2008 County Convention Results

The County Convention today has left us with a primary race between Ronald Mortensen and Dan Liljenquist(no website). That's two down from eight candidates that entered the convention at Woods Cross High this morning.

The chance to narrow the choices of the electorate is why we go.

John Petroff won the nomination of the party and will represent Republicans in a race for the County Commission.

I'll stand behind Petroff in his race, and will campaign for Ronald Mortensen (no surprise to my regulars) in his Senate Race.

More later.

Senate District 23: Rat Race

I attended with my wife a meet the candidates night for Senate District 23. We have eight republican candidates running. Here they are in order as they appear on the State website.

1. Lisa Watts Baskin
2. Beth Beck
3. Ernie Cox
4. Dan Liljenquist
5. Ronald Mortensen
6. Jim Nielson
7. Kent M Parry
8. Lamont R. Peterson

My top three picks in descending order are Ronald Mortensen, Ernie Cox, and there is a tie between Lisa Watts Baskin and Jim Nielson. I don't think that Liljenquist Parry or Peterson have the political chops to make it based on their comments last night. The rest are experienced and skilled campaigners.

It should be an interesting show.

Update: Parry was a no-show--well, he showed up as it was concluding so he never had a chance to speak. Both Peterson, and Liljenquist expressed an interest in issues that I don't think will sway delegates. Utopia and Health care reform. They spoke almost the entire time about their pet issues and had nothing new to offer on education, taxes, or immigration of which last nights group seemed most interested. In the realm of 'knowing your audience', I'd give them a C-.