INSIGHTS
Originally published in Utah Business. My husband and I ride our bikes together along the Jordan River Parkway several times a week. We love cycling because you see and feel things in a different way. The Wasatch Range, sunsets, wildlife, and other details feel closer and more real. There is a depth of feeling that…
Originally published in in the Deseret News. “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” — Buddha Shortly after giving birth to my son, an elderly neighbor came to my home to wish me well. She brought a loaf of homemade bread. While looking down at my…
Originally published in the Deseret News. Columnist note: I count myself in the Never Trump category of Republican voters. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus has said Mr. Trump needs to pivot at the convention this week. This speech would be a good start. Mr. Chairman, delegates, and my fellow citizens I accept your nomination. Thank…
Originally published in Utah Business. Hosting the Olympic Games is not for the faint of heart. The spotlight is bright, the logistics are complicated, and the cost is substantial. Nobody knows this better than Rio de Janeiro, the host for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The Rio Olympics have been beset by extraordinary challenges, including…
Originally published in Utah Business. The American intellectual Walter Lippmann warned in 1914 that the United States had entered a period of drift. He recognized rapidly changing forces in society and suggested the country should address tensions by creating more balance. Extremism brings drift, moderation brings mastery. There’s something about his thesis that deserves attention…
Originally published in the Deseret News. Utah’s primary election is a week away, but it’s already time to celebrate. Thanks to the Count My Vote compromise (also referred to as SB54), more candidates appear on the primary election ballot this year. When asked about it, former Gov. Mike Leavitt said, “Better choices mean better government.”…
Originally published in the Deseret News. Summer is off to an unsettling start. A series of events have caused us to feel ill-at-ease. The presidential election hasn’t helped. Many find the choices unfathomable. But it’s more. The long security lines at airports remind us people still want to harm us. Our smartphones ping almost weekly…
Originally published in Utah Business. Many times in public policy we share a common goal, but choose a different path. This is the case with the minimum wage debate. Utahns share a sincere interest in helping low-income families secure a more stable future. Some policy makers choose the minimum wage policy path to lift these…
Originally published in the Deseret News. I pay a lot of attention to the Utah governor’s race because of the importance of the chief executive to the success of our state. I want to make a plea for a more policy-oriented governor’s race. My plea is born of experience. Governors matter. They set the direction…
Originally published in Utah Business. I’m a native Salt Laker, so I should know how to describe Utah’s capital city to someone new to our state. Still, when I’m asked by a non-Utahn to describe Salt Lake City, I struggle with the right response. Salt Lake City, for all its stereotypes, is difficult to fit…