OCR Text |
Show don't have to? The seeds of power were sown in the Nixon Administration where Mormon hacks and/or politicians thrived. The weird and paranoid Las Vegas empire of billionaire Howard down huge federal subsidies, and for what?—a zillion tons of asphalt and concrete that can only assure the continuation of mindless sprawl that will further degrade Utah's quality of life. That sprawl by the way, is part and parcel of the master plan. The ruin of our pretty, Hughs was run almost exclusively by Mormons. LDS Inc. woke up to the fact that it could great state is an unfortunate, but inevitable result. be a major player in corporate America. Curiously though, as the fortunes and power of LDS Inc. grew ever greater, the quality of life in the company town of Salt Lake declined. There came a time during my tenure in Salt Lake when travel South of 3300 South was undertaken only for matters of utmost partake of prodigious amounts of Olympic spirit, have faith that all is well, and deal with necessity. It was getting ugly and crowded in the former farmlands and pastures. As LDS Lake? Inc. grew more dominant over the LDS Church, as the corporate mind overwhelmed the human, the tone from Temple Square became one of direction rather than guidance, control rather than cooperation. For me, it was time to get out of Salt Lake. With the benefit of detached observance, those impressions have solidified. LDS Inc. has continued to amass tremendous wealth and power, and now it seems its most ambitious move is underway. Unfortunately, that LDS Inc. has abandoned its allegiance to the better welfare of the State of Utah is clear. Now that LDS Inc. has made its big move, there's no holding back. Everywhere you look LDS Inc. is making major power plays. How about the sacking of downtown Salt Here we see the extent that LDS Inc. has become emboldened. Not only do we have the back-room brokering, that's standard fare, but with the purchase and occupation of Main Street, LDS Inc. has stated quite clearly that, “This is our Kingdom--all who come here will ~ hereafter obey our rules.” Unbelievable. We have Orrin Hatch, who has parlayed his lifetime Senate appointment in Utah into disproportionate power, holding up the entire Judicial nomination process of the United States Federal Court system in order to force the nomination of Ted Stewart, chief of staff to Mike (“the Chosen One”) Leavitt to the Utah Federal District Court. This is the same Court that is presently headed by former Hatch The Man at the top In the old days, a severe decline in brain wave activity was a prerequisite for becoming the leader of the LDS Church, its seer and revelator, with direct access to the word of God. This was sensible for a conservative faith. Moreover, LDS Inc. could not afford to have some religious fanatic spouting inefficient or potentially embarrassing commands from the Lord. Wouldn't be good for the image. gofer Dee Benson. Now Leavitt is poised to make two lifetime appointments to the Utah Supreme Court. These cronies are selected based upon the expectation that their political, social and moral outlook will mirror that of their benefactor, and the appointees will, in turn, wield the pervasive power of the law over all Utahns for decades to come. And what do you think will be the #1 selection criteria for brothers Hatch & Leavitt? talking fun and games here, folks--this is very serious business. We're not Instead, revelations friendly to the bottom line of LDS Inc. were cautiously determined in the Board room and spoon-fed to E.T. or whoever was being propped-up biannually at the time. During the last quarter century, most of the big decisions emanating from Temple Square have been made or heavily influenced by one man. With the emergence of LDS Inc. as a major financial and political powerhouse, it was seen that the time had come for Gordon B. Hinckly to assume the role of Chairman, CEO, CFO and revelator. what? The faithful will be depended on to it. He could sell a snow cone to an Eskimo. Is this guy good, or He's been on Larry King (converted) Live LDS Inc. has finally shed its cloak of paranoia and provincialism. It now has savvy and sophisticated public relations and media departments, And, with the rapid crosion of culture and family values across the Nation, the LDS Church has emerged as something to emulate. to assure the world that Mormons are really just like everyone else. LDS Inc. is actually now comfortable enough with its image as to allow that one may be both a Mormon and a Democrat--a Dee Dee of Democrat to be sure, but still, that's progress ain't it? If you believe that the corporatization of America--the centralization and concentration of financial power along with major media control and the intentional dumbing down of the masses are good things, then you will approve of the direction being taken by LDS Inc. You see, LDS Inc. has finally shed its cloak of paranoia and provincialism. It now has savvy and sophisticated public relations and media departments. And, with the rapid erosion of culture and family values across the Nation, the LDS Church has emerged as something to emulate. The LDS Church thus serves as front and goodwill ambassador for LDS Inc. throughout the world. Under these conditions, LDS Inc. can now openly concentrate on amassing power and wealth. very good one. Finally, and you can be sure it is little more than just another move to exploit the spotlight, we offer Orrin (“gimme 36 bucks?”) Hatch for President. The mind boggles. Aw, but who cares, really? The economy is good. Maybe you made some money in the market. If you sit back, relax and ignore the future, the whole scene can be kind of amusing in a way. But we no longer relax, do we? Not with all there is to do, all the lifestyle statements that must be made. Besides, one can ill-afford to rock the boat with a mortgage payment on that new faux mansion in the burbs and the gas-sucking SUV. And, of course,there are the children—we'll keep ‘em coming as long as the Lord and momma's caesarian zipper are willing. All that plus 10% off the top isn't too much for the even better That is the sole reason corporations exist, and LDS Inc. is a Golden-Shining-Days-Ahead. If we keep going on like this, why, I can imagine a future.., What kind of a future do you imagine? 2002! Whatever it took... Nowhere is the current and future course of LDS Inc. more perfectly displayed that the tragi-comedy known as the 2002 Olympics. The Olympics! Bi-annual dash for dollars by the créme-de-la-créme of the corporate elite. Locally, it’s an elaborate real estate development and commercial extravaganza with a sideshow of athletic competitions to distract the masses. “You can’t buy publicity like that!” Clearly, LDS Inc. has determined that the 2002 Olympics— The Mormon Volunteer Olympics—are to be its coming-out party, its ascension into the bigleagues. All Utah systems are tuned up and firing. The SLOC (check out its roster) was called upon to serve its mission to deliver the head of Juan Antonio Samaranch and the rest of the IOC royalty. It delivered. You know the seamy details. Utah politicians and the lapdog media were called upon to shamelessly and unquestioningly serve as Olympic boosters. They delivered. The 2002 Olympics, like much else in our back-room State, has long been a done deal. That Salt Lake City with its incomparable (in an urban setting) mountains is an appropriate place to hold the Olympics is beyond question. That it was therefore necessary to obtain the games, never mind to lie, cheat and bribe to do so, is far less certain. Was it necessary for the SLOC to play the tawdry and (having been caught) humiliating games So, enough. Those of you on the asphalt front who have not yet worked yourself into distraction, bankruptcy or insanity for that good life swirling all around you—have some faith in your own intuition. Here in the red rock hinterlands, we have watched as the ripples that started in this decade of success have become relentless waves eroding the genuine qualities of life that can still be found here. We can only hope that you can jam something in the dike before we are washed over by a tsunami of greed and sameness. Despite all the recent and ongoing efforts to ruin it, Utah is still one of the best places one could possibly live. Your religion is your own business. But be responsible. I'm sure Tom Wharton would love to be proven wrong in his assessment that Utah's best days are passed. LDS Inc. has no business in your Church. Steve Russell lives and works in Moab. necessary to appease the IOC royalty? Definitely not. LDS Inc. did so purposefully, in order to show the elite that it was not just a bunch of back-water hicks masquerading as a Church, but that it could be just as greedy and dirty and duplicitous as everyone else with real power. Who will benefit from the 2002 Olympics? Follow the money. Who will suffer the impacts and the inevitable exorbitant costs? All of the rest of us, faithful or not. If you tune out the noise and background static and focus on reality, you will see that the entire Olympic effort is a disgrace. The Olympic spirit has fouled the air over Salt Lake to the extent that it is now precipitating out and falling around the valley, revealed for exactly what it is--unadulterated shit. What a difference those golden rings make! Our Federal Government bashing Congressional delegation has hungrily begged for and gulped IOMTUELL a \ bey FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY And now a Millennium Moment with... Congressman Chris Cannon You know, folks, I love all this Utah scenery as much as the next guy. but My Heck. how many gosh darn pictures of red rocks can a fella look at? Show us some REAL beauty Tom! How about a motorhome! Or a new Mall? Or a condo complex? Or a... 61 N. Main St. Moab, UT 84532 (435) 259-9808 (888) 479-9808 E-MAIL: tillphot@lasal.net INTERNET: www.tomtill.com Why not start the new Millennium by figuring out how the LDS faith is consistent with preserving what really is the good life in Utah, and making that a reality. |