Show MM Tuesday August 192003 A4 The Herald Journal Regional View Commission bows Out On redrawing boundaries From The Salt Lake Tribune 'LL T he Utah Constitutional Revision Commission knows better than to rock the boat Why it reasons should it bother to suggest that a the committee of citizens-redraboundaries of Utah House and Senate districts after each census when it knows that the Legislature wants-- to do the job itself? Actually there are good reasons to turn rcapportionment over to an independent board But the Constitu- -' tional Revision Commission knows that such a recommendation would never get past the Legislature Incumbent legislators want to gerrymander the map to protect their chances just as they own did two years ago Thie majority party that is the Republicans also wants to protect its stranglehold on power in Utah So the chance that a constitutional amendment would win approval in the Legislature and make its way onto a general election ballot where it could he approved by the people is : ' nil For that reason the commission has given up on the idea of recom- -' mending a constitutional amendment to create an independent body to redraw legislative boundaries That's too bad because political expediency Lawmakers will carve up neighborhoods cities and counties in illogical ways to assure themselves an edge in the next election and good (wlicy often are not the same thing Especially in this case As the reapportionment follies of 2001 proved legislators are not about to put their personal political interests aside when they redraw election maps Lawmakers will carve up neighborhoods cities and counties in illogical ways to assure them- -' selves an edge in the next election But 12 states have said “enough” to this decennial disaster and have turned the job over to a commission of citizens By coincidence three of the states that have taken this progressive approach are Utah’s neighbors — Idaho Colorado and Arizona Rather than follow this lead however the Constitutional Revision Commission bowed to practicality That is a nod to political reality but it also is a missed chance to improve the electoral process Your view Choose the right: Honor differences To the editor: The true measure of any society is how well it treats citizens in the minority The society of the American frontier was not very advanced in 1838 when Gov Lilhum Boggs of Missouri issued his unbelievable "Extermination Order" calling for all Mormons to “be treated as enemies" and increasing the size of the militia so that LDS faithful could be "exterminated or driven from the state" While aspects of the current situation are not exactly analogous — certainly no giiy people have been massacred in Logan — the intent of those who would not tolerate any view point other than their own is This country was founded on ideals of freedom This means that even those some would brand as “threatening" have the right to live and speak The publication of their views should not be seen as “hashing" the LDS church but as a demonstration that we as Americans have corne a long way since 1838 There is a difference between commentary that seeks to injure and commentary that seeks to begin a genuine conversation Conversation can move us beyond name-callin- g anil It's therefore disto believe that seem some turbing that criticism even intelligent respectful criticism — of the LDS church or culture is " “anli-LDS- " or trying to tell LDS ' people "how to live their lives’’ This sort of divisive language is not helpful People who live in the and Mormon valley alike are trying to live their lives as best they know how How many people do you know who arc willfully trying to hurt others and live a bad life? Each one of us has our own way line-drawi- well-reason- non-Morm- of engaging in “the pursuit of happiness” Let us choose the right by honoring our differences Let us rejoice that wq live in a country where open discussion is possible Let us remember what can happen when societies forget “freedom at)d justice for all” Kathe Lison Nibley Society welcomes John Gilbert fens ' 0 To the editor: I would like to thank you for your article on the late great silent film ' star John Gilbert who was originally from Logan and the events that recently took place in Logan in his honor It was a thrill to have a day named for him and to see his films on the screen at the Eccles Memorial Theater! I can also tell you that this all meant a great deal to his family! Four generations of his descendants were here for the events enjoyed it very much! I would like to invite anyone interested to join us in the John Gilbert Appreciation Society Our membership includes people of every age and from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests Many countries are represented among our membership and we even have our own resident celebrity noted film historian an critic Leonard Maltin! For more information go online to wwwjohngilbertorg or write: The John Gilbert Appreciation Society 1 1688 River Crest Drive Gloucester VA 23061 1 would also like to invite anyone interested in establishing a local group of silent film' fans to con- tact me online at noelaniS4hot-mailcoor write: Dariilyn Starr SIS W 700 South Brigham City UT 1 m 84302 Dean moves into By Jack Anderson and Douglas Cohn United Features Syndicate A headline in the Boston Globe announced that Massachusetts Sen John Kerry edged out former Vermont Gov Howard Dean in the litest New Hampshire poll Kerry trumps Dean when voters are asked which of the two is better equipped to lead the country indie area of national secu-rit- y Kerry is a in the AFL-CI- war hero a former member of the Senate Intelligence committee and the author of a book about how to combat terrorism before terrorism was a household word drafted? comparisons with Republican presidential candidate Bany Gddwaler whose 1964 slogan “A choice not an echo” heralded the defiance of the right wing within the GOP just as Dean represents the frustration of the Democratic left against its leaders The uncertainty about Dean means the race is still wide open for former NATO commander Gen Wesley Clark or even New York Sol Hillary Clinton the two names most bandied about as the Democrats’ potential saviors Clark says he’ll decide by Labor Day whether to enter the race If he concludes it’s too late to assemble the necessary resources for a serious campaign he’ll still be on the short list for vice of those attributes but a closer reading of the Globe story reveals that Dean leads Kerry in New Hampshire when voters are asked which man brings the freshest ideas to the race Not long ago Dean was an asterisk in the polls Now he’s a first-ticandidate while Kerry’s status as the frontrunner has been shaken Kerry hasn’t found his voice as a presidential candidate and could fade quickly if he doesn’t prevail in New Hampshire As for other presidential hopefuls er Here is a list of addresses and phone numbers for some of Cache Valley's representatives in government: 6817 334-195- ington DC 20510 (202) 224-61Idaho office: 801 E Sherman Pocatello ID 83201 (208) 236-677-5 UTAH SENATE To call your Utah 42 US SENATE-UTA- H ’ Sen Robert Bennett Republican — US Senate Washington DC 224-544- Rob Bishop Republican — Repre-- ' sents 1st Congressional District which includes Cache County Washington 3 Sen Orrin Hatch Republican — US Senate Washington DC 20510 office: 124 Cannon House Office Budd- 1 Utah office: 8402 Fed(202) eral Building 125 S State St Salt Lake City UT 84138 (801) 524-43- ings US House of Representatives Washington DC 20515 (202) 225-045-3 Utah office: 32425th St Ogden UT 84401 (801) 625-567-7 US US 224-525- 80 SENATE4DAHO Larry Craig Republican— 520 Hart Senate Office Building Washing2 ton DC 20510 (202) Idaho office: 801 E Sherman Room 193 Pocatello ID 83201 (208) 236-- Senate District 25 (Cache Rich Summit counties) — Lyle W HNyard 175 E 100 North Logan UT busi84321 Home phone 753-004- 3 0 Email: At legislature: ness ffiiOyardOutahsenateorg Logan office: Mike Simpson Republican — Rep- which Includes Franklin County 1449 Longworth House Office Buidtog Washington DC 29515 (202) 225- - ON M© WPNtY L 752-261- lyte Ohao-iaw- com Lettersjpolicy IT TWE CNUfCRMlk CNL ' PkCKNtk Ilia Herald 3 The Oointon mm it intondsd to aoowH readers aih a variety of vtowpoMs on mows ol pubttc importance and premia mambare of the community whh a faun far their vtaws Paraonal columns cartoons and Mm Iran aaIaa ureci sit opreons 01 wmfv mo iwiisis crealore Edtortoto unitor nv IrehaadhgTXr vmrremwniintvwwioimnsria journa dtoM bond Msmbtre of ttw wttoiW bont DARRELL EHRUCKfcby odHor CINDY VllV YURTHhatoresodtor BRUCE SMmvpuMshar CHARLES MoCOUlMfknanafpng Hfyit amdusions an mat £efy to kgttfatdM oft multitude of toym Am tfimyfi oaf (friofattfaitottot sdectkm’ — edtor Journal watoomas tottore to tw adior FotonMy feetous or oRsnsiuB Mate wi not be pubishsd however sndtfwsdkor reserves toe right to adlal letters to conform to too length and styto requirements of the Laltore should ba: w Typawitton and double spaced No more than 450 words in bngto Addressed and (nduds dsytbnp phone number for purposes of vsriBcaSon Signed by too autoor todMduals are Imbed to one puMahod any Sddsy period Address Istton to Ntotlerf Ifiewecom Quasi mm mantariss are also vretooms and are run at W vwm RtNCiVQOn UnriWAmaiMjuix(lS72-llto Sen- 723-203- 5 HOUSE-IDAH- O OR 'foU senator at the 5 Senate District 24 (Box Elder Cache counties)— Peter C Knudson City 1209 MkffieSe Drive City UT 84302 Home phone Brigham ' resents 2nd Congressional District - 538-103- To write your senator at the Senate: The Honorable John Doe Utah State Senator Room 319 State Capitol Salt Lake City UT 84114 U&H0USE4JTAH 4 20510 (202) Utah office: 4225 Federal Building 125 S State St Salt Lake City UT 84138 (601) 524-593- ate: (801) Herald Journal W G£TTlN£ N-TWfct FoRlflkt'toN Political correspondent Eleanor Clift ILIa (XjuuKHiioa io trus report 5531 Idaho office: 304 N 8th Room 3 325 Boise IQ 83702 (208) Michael Crapo Republican —111 Russel Senate Office Bulking Wash- Non Sequilur TlNNc : However Dean is nobody’s seat warmer He’s far too confident in himself and passionate about his views to yield to anybody Considering how far he’s gotten as a governor from an obscure state he has every reason to believe he could go the distance Anybody who tries to take him out be it the party establishment or another candidate will be getting into a bruising fight Handicappers of the race should keep their eye on the Clintons President Clinton is the smartest strategist the Democrats have If he begins to believe that Dean is inevitable he’ll move toward him with advice and counsel While Dean is no Clinton he has proved himself a better candidate than anybody expected He’s won the left Now he’s got to assure the center that he has what it takes to lead the country Lawmakers 224-275- Dariilyn Starr Brigham City to endorse him If O Gephardt’s friends won’t back him how can he expand the Democratic base and beat President Bush? ' For nervous Democrats it looks like Dean by default The excitement Democratic activists around the country exhibit for Dean is hot shared in Washington where he is derided as another George McGovern or Walter Mondale who can cany his home state in a general election and nothing more Dean also evokes Vietnam-er- a Dean has none president because of his national security credentials Clinton says she’s not running in 2004 but Democrats dream about history repeating itself The first President Bush was thought unbeatable when Bill Clinton announced his candidacy This Bush is far more vulnerable than his father at a similar point in the election cycle Party leaders are waiting for the Clintons to make their move Do they endorse one of the nine Democratic contenders? Or do they secretly root for chaos to reign so Hillary might be Connecticut Sen Joe Lieberman another presumptive leader in die crowded Democratic field is trailing in the early primary states and losing ground in the national polls despite his high name recognition Rep Richard Gephardt of Missouri a lawmaker with strong ties to labor has received the backing of several unions but can’t convince his friends ) |