David Rodeback's Blog

Property Tax Increase Follow-up
Quick notes on how things are going, and a little bonus commentary on the Alpine School District budget.

The Utah Election and an American Fork Vote
It's Ellis, Chaffetz, and a big NO to rezoning the Carson property in American Fork.

I Can Vote on Only One Race Tomorrow
I actually considered not voting tomorrow, because my mind was so open, where the State Treasurer race between Richard Ellis and Mark Walker is concerned. Now that I have read the candidates' web sites, I find I have a preference, after all.

Jason Chaffetz and I Share a Common Geography
He's running in Utah's Third Congressional District, but he lives in the Second, as do I.

My Tax Questions
The IRS is notorious for answering tax questions incorrectly more often than correctly -- but, either way, if you get it wrong, it's your fault. So I'm not asking them. I'm asking you.

Alpine School District's "What Counts?" Forum
A local gathering of fellow-travelers and critics to discuss what constitutes great schools. I'll tell you what that has to do with last night's meeting of an unrelated American Fork City committee.

Ah, the Humanity!
I could use a vacation. Show them you're the most important person in the room. And mind those foreseeable opposite consequences. (A veritable verbal mosaic of awareness ribbons, congressional deserters, cell phones, state and local legislators, defenseless wild bunnies and birdies, zealous residents, and boring neckwear.)

Bad Statistics: Denial and de Fanning of de Flames
Here I pick on the local and national media -- again -- for not getting their statistics right in the matters of violence in Iraq and local Boy Scouts of America executive salaries.

More Voucher Aftermath
A note on voucher-related political payback, the discussion of what to do with the state funds which cannot be spent on vouchers. I suggest we apply to funds to solving a specific, significant educational problem in Utah.

Voucher Aftermath
Some interesting and illuminating newspaper articles, some blog posts by Utah legislators, and a few thoughts of my own, including on how things will go in the next legislative session, where educational debate is concerned.

American Fork Wins. Utah Schoolchildren Lose.
Thoughts on today's election results.

David's Little November 2007 Election Guide
How I voted (early), and the outcomes I predict in American Fork, Salt Lake City, and statewide in the voucher matter.

Almost a Dozen Reasons Honest and Intelligent People May Have for Voting Against Vouchers
On the day before Election Day I, who already voted for vouchers, do my best to find some reasons why good, honorable, intelligent people might want to vote against them -- as opposed to the false or deceptive reasons filling the mailboxes and airwaves of Utah.

Illegal Anti-Voucher Flyer Drop at American Fork Wal-Mart
I was an eyewitness. I guess the law doesn't matter, if it's "for the children."

Provo's Municipal Broadband, and a Happy (Unrelated) Lawsuit Verdict
Two news stories of note.

Vouchers: A Report, an Ad, and an Op/Ed
That University of Utah report, a good recent ad about vouchers and future growth, and a good column in the Daily Herald.

George Will on the Utah School Voucher Referendum
Yes, Utah has the nation's attention for a few days.

Accountability? You Decide.
A careful look at the voucher bills themselves, focusing on fiscal and academic accountability.

The Rich, the Poor, and Utah School Vouchers
Someone asked me the other day, Won't vouchers benefit only the rich? Another related question is, Aren't the vouchers too small to help ordinary families? I'm not sure which family among the many I know is ordinary, but I do take up the arguments here, looking carefully at the bill itself and the opponents' reasoning.

Electronic Voting, and a Candidate's Homework that Didn't Get Done
First, I voted early, just to see if I hated it, and because I had already chosen all my votes. Second, here is a detailed look at actual data, which contradict one city council candidate's wild claim about violent crime American Fork.

Three Big Buckets of Money, and Other Voucher Details
. . . And how Radio Grandpa is lying, and Radio Mom is helping him do it.

KSL's Voucher "Truth Test"
KSL puts claims in pro- and anti-voucher ads to the test.

Accumulated Thoughts about the Voucher Debate
A surprise endorsement of vouchers, some notes on the anti-voucher playbook, and some logical thought.

Idle Thoughts from PTSA Meeting (not About Vouchers)
A logo, an applause sign, randomness, parliamentary procedure.

Another Voucher Meeting
Voucher opponents didn't bring their "A game."

Vouchers and the Public Schools
Here is the best explanation I can give of what may seem a contradictory fact: It is my commitment to and my belief in public schools which moves me to advocate school vouchers.

Buying a Used Car: A School Voucher Parable
It's a bird. It's a plane. Good grief, it's positively Orwellian.

Politics and Punch III: Vouchers and Other School Issues
Most of this post is devoted to gaping holes in school district officials' anti-voucher arguments, but there are a few other topics, too.

Politics and Punch I: Setting and Cast
Here I tell you who was there, where "there" was, what questions I submitted that didn't get asked, and so forth.

Yes, It Was a Push Poll on Vouchers
Ballot language on the voucher referendum, a push poll, things I didn't tell the pollster, some relevant cartoons, and another thought or two.

Political Facts of Life in American Fork
A quick look at some other folks' primaries, followed by a discussion of major ongoing issues in American Fork, as they relate to the election.

Guarantees?
Did Governor Huntsman mean it? Has he thought this through? Or did exhaustion and emotion just get ahead of his reason for a minute? Admittedly, the duress was considerable.

ConventionNext: Salt Lake City Mayoral Candidates
As an outsider, I found the candidate forum interesting. But don't expect a broad spectrum of views from these candidates.

Orson Scott Card on How We Live and How We Ought to Live
Foreign oil, domestic poverty, and no highway is ever wide enough . . .

Random Smokin' Thoughts
First, I have to say positive things about the Utah Jazz, because 'tis the season. Then I present my two-part plan for a kinder, gentler, less littered society. Preview: It's a pair of truces.

Hannity vs. Anderson: The Virtual Experience
I didn't attend the big debate, but I watched it later on the Internet. Here are my thoughts.

The Arts, the Jazz, the Debates, the Veto
Had I done any blogging at all last week, here are some things I might have blogged about.

Utah County Republican Convention: During
Miscellaneous notes and the fate of the opposition to "Satan's Plan" -- which is their term for illegal immigration, not mine.

Utah County Republican Convention: Before
You might not think a county party organizing convention would be interesting. But I've never gone to a political meeting planning to vote against a resolution opposing "Satan's Plan." What should I wear? Does it mean something that I bought a black car yesterday, or that my official Chris for Congress water doesn't stand straight, but leans to the left?

Briefish Thoughts on Several Subjects
Relatively brief musings on a time machine, Vice President Cheney's speech, his detractors, Superintendent Henshaw and the "extremists," and what could cause me to leave the Republican Party after tomorrow.

A Mulligan
I respectfully ask the chair's permission to revise and extend my remarks . . .

I Actually Like Public Transit
Most of the time. It served me well today.

Grab-Bag: Music, Vouchers, Freedom, and a Conservative Daydream
You might say it's leftover night. I happen to enjoy leftovers.

From the (Electronic) Mailbag
Three blog-related items arrived by e-mail last week.

Dorothy, This Ain't Panguitch Any More (Revised)
J C Penney wants to come to the Meadows in American Fork, along with some mixed-used development. This happy news prompts some more general thoughts about attitudes on the Wasatch Front.

The Arrogance of Dominance, and Vice Versa
In this lengthy post, I rip on Capitol Hill Republicans briefly, then Republicans in the Utah Legislature very slightly and ever so briefly, then Capitol Hill Democrats a little less briefly. Then I unload on the public education lobby at length, on the subject of vouchers and institutional arrogance. Finally, after you have paid the price in cognitive dissonance for a moment, I give you permission to call me names and think me evil if you really want to, because of my politics . . . but I still end up claiming a small victory. (This is truth-in-advertising: a long teaser for a long post.)

Miscellaneous Political Thoughts
Recycling in American Fork. The UEA checks its manners at the Capitol door. Who really represents me? An Oscar and a Nobel. And, finally, I manage to work the phrase barking moonbat into a sentence.

Holly Mullen: Excellent Blogger, Almost in Town
My long-time favorite American Fork blogger, DaltonGirl, does not share many of my political views. Neither does a new favorite, Salt Lake City's Holly Mullen. What does this mean? (I don't actually answer this question in this post.)

Infinite Shades of Grey
Some of our horror at the bad things which happen in "good" places, such as Salt Lake City, is rooted in our preference for black-and-white categories, instead of infinite shades of gray. That preference is actually dangerous.

A Utah Institute of Technology? Why Not?
The best idea I've heard lately is a little-discussed proposed direction for UVSC's future growth: a polytechnic university. (Think MIT, Cal Tech, Georgia Tech, etc.)

David's Plan for Utah's $1.6 Billion Surplus
There's something for everyone. One-fourth goes back to the taxpayer, and half goes to education, but not precisely how you might think.

Traffic School
Will Traffic School Guy be coming soon to a comedy club near you? He almost could. Here is the latest chapter in the continuing saga of my life as an alleged scofflaw.

Some Sample Limericks
I couldn't resist -- I didn't really try -- and I am quite unapologetic.

Two or Three Recent Encounters with Local Government
Water, water . . . well, not exactly everywhere. Hot chocolate is also mentioned. And then there's my recent life on the other side of the law in the People's Republic of Rockyland.

Notes from American Fork
False alarms, a zoning overlay, dark fiber for ASD, a much-improved inner-block development, and, most interesting of all, American Fork leans on UDOT.

I Don't See . . .
I've tried. I just don't.

The Alpine School Board Just Doesn't Get It (or Look What the Mailman Brought)
What I wanted to say really isn't printable in a well-mannered blog, but it did have something to do with wasting my money.

Re(nick)naming the Delta Center
I decided to be a slave to fashion and tell you what I think about what we used to know as the Delta Center. In the process, I identify the best nickname I've heard from someone else and offer my own suggestion for a nickname, too.

Here's How My Predictions Fared
I got all the easy ones and broke about even on the hard ones -- which is better than the Republican Party did nationally, by the way.

David's Little Election Guide
Here's a quick look at all the races and propositions on my ballot, plus a few more which might be on yours.

E-Interviews with School Board Candidates
The only contested race for a seat on the Board of the Alpine School District is between incumbent Keith Swain and challenger Tim Osborn, in the district which includes American Fork. LocalCommentary.com sent the two candidates the same questions, with an offer to publish their answers. Here they are.

The Republican Rally and My Dark Inner Thoughts
How my political career ended yesterday before it even wanted to be begin, and my dark thoughts on the occasion of a Republican political rally.

Signs of the Times
Here are photos of some signs I saw in southern Utah this weekend. I'm still laughing. You should, too.

Twinkies, Anyone?
I never buy Twinkies. I don't like them. But I did today -- as a political statement.

Locally: Five Short Notes
Broadband, 900 West, HDTV, Paris, and a meaningless statistic. Did you know lumpenproletariat is one word?

I Blinked for Two Days, and Look What I Missed
I missed Talk Like a Pirate Day, a coup in Thailand, tax tweaks, and angry Muslims. I didn't miss a good cartoon or an undeservedly obscure anniversary.

I Joined the Math Wars
Here's the text of a letter I sent last week to the principal and teachers at my children's elementary school.

Been Readin' My Dougall . . .
Catching up from vacation includes reading some blogs. Here's some good stuff from a familiar source.

How Does a Certified (Property) Tax Rate Work?
This gradually evolving article attempts to explain the Certified Tax Rate (CTR), which is used to calculate property taxes in Utah.

Beauty and Brains
Maybe it's by design. Maybe it just happened. In any case, there was an impressive improvement in an important detail. Apparently it is not fanciful to hope for beauty and brains.

Urban Musings
I spent the afternoon and evening in Salt Lake City and had a few thoughts along the way.

Quickly, Those Election Results
In case you haven't heard or seen them elsewhere, here are a few election results from yesterday's primary.

About that Closed Republican Primary
Is it good or bad that you have to be a Republican to vote in a Republican primary in Utah?

I Voted -- Electronically, this Time
Here's my report on the new electronic voting machines.

Apropos Tomorrow's Primary
The only incumbent I'd vote for in tomorrow's Republican primary is in a Congressional district I don't live in.

Miscellaneous Notes, Mostly Local
A local blogger, gravel roads, possibly offensive movies, and a letter that got a guy fired.

Miscellaneous Thoughts
Scattered thoughts which accumulated during a busy week -- on loan sharking, municipal broadband, science prowess, professionalism, and anti-Muslim graffiti.

Notes from the Utah County Republican Convention
Results of the convention and miscellaneous notes. Even bagpipes are mentioned favorably.

Exceeding the Bounds of Authority
The Sutherland Institute wants the Utah Legislature to assert authority that no government rightfully has. The Mayor of Kanab and a senior local church leader in American Fork seem oblivious to the bounds of their authority.

First Impressions of County Republican Candidates
Early notes on candidates for County Commission, County Attorney, County Treasurer, and County Clerk/Auditor. I'll even tell you which way I'm leaning on each -- but so far, I'm just leaning.

Notes from Utah's Dixie
Miscellaneous notes from Saint George, Utah, and the Utah League of Cities and Towns midyear event.

My Precinct's Caucus and My Party's Platform
I wasn't particularly pleased with either. The caucus was poorly attended and the platform is poorly written, whatever one may think of its political content. Do I expect too much?

Governor Huntsman, Sign HB77
Here's why I urge Governor Huntsman to sign HB77, which provides a mechanism for local governments and their voters to split school districts.

Recent Experiences with State and Local Governments
For once, American Fork City provided a happier experience than the State of Utah. I hope the good half of that is a trend.

We Three Kings (Kong): The Really Big Lobbies
Here's a look at three oversized, hugely influential lobbies in Washington and state capitals.

A Late, Exquisite Valentine
Notes on a late valentine, featuring a fine restaurant, a favorite bookstore chain, and two first-rate musical ensembles.

IHC's Leak and the Larger Security Question
IHC's recent leak of confidential (and presumably secure) medical records is only the tip of the informational security iceberg.

Notes on Utah Senate Bill 170
What's State Senator Al Mansell's agenda, anyway? And was he really kidding?

Miscellaneous Short Thoughts
Quick comments on American Fork City government, the law of gravity, Mr. Justice Alito, a couple of bills before the Utah Legislature, etc.

How Can Part of the Constitution Be Unconstitutional?
Some propose the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which provides for the direct election of US Senators by the people of their states. At least a few of them call the amendment "unconstitutional." This doesn't seem to make sense . . . but we'll follow it where it leads.

"Utah Rocks," or How to Spend a Billion Dollars
A quick look at major points in Governor Huntsman's refreshingly brief State of the State speech, delivered Tuesday evening.

Systems So Rigid We Don't Have to Use Our Brains
Long ago and in a hemisphere far, far away, I lived for a few months under a government that was even more rule-bound than our own. Almost every good thing I saw happen there happened in defiance of some rule, regulation, or law. A few years after that, the system collapsed under its own weight. The same thing may happen here, eventually.

The Daily Herald's Web Site: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Generally speaking, for the past few years the Provo Daily Herald's Web site has been excrucriatingly slow and difficult to use. Now there's a new look and better performance.

Local Gasoline Prices, a Pleasant Political Escape, and Good Readings on Many Topics

Rocky Anderson Has His Own Brand of Intolerance
Let's hear it for Mayor Rocky, whose campaign to become a major national political (cartoon) figure is going just fine, thank you, if his goal is to become the next Al Sharpton. . . .

Counting Voters Brought a Pleasant Surprise

Yes, I Would Vote for a Druid

4-H Talent Show at the Utah County Fair, A Year Later

Another Lawsuit (Now It's Solicitors)

Petty Tyranny Loses by a Narrow Margin

They're Not Helping the Children

How I Voted, and Some Predictions

Christmas Already?

It's Too Good to Be True If . . .

Contrast: A Public School Ponzi Scheme and the Emperor's New Math

The Arts in Utah Valley: A Microcosm