Thoughts from a Utahn on strengthening the economy, building community, and promoting civil society.

RECENT INSIGHTS

After graduation, find personal purpose and passion

By Natalie Gochnour | 05/02/2019

Originally published in the Deseret News. Graduation season is upon us. Adorned in regalia, graduates will walk the stage, collect their degrees and listen to commencement speeches. I hope graduates and their loved ones will magnify this moment by passionately finding and living their dream. A few years ago, I met U.S. Air Force Secretary…

It’s time we combat America’s debt problem

By Natalie Gochnour | 04/23/2019

Originally published in Utah Business The late economist and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, Charles Schultze once said: “The deficit isn’t the wolf at the door; it’s termites in the woodwork.” This clever imagery reminds us that debt won’t blow our house down, but it will eat away at its foundation. Mr.…

Utah’s quality of life depends on transportation

By Natalie Gochnour | 04/18/2019

Originally published in the Deseret News. I’ve been sharing a simple statistic to illustrate the magnitude of Utah’s recent population growth. If you combine natural increase (births minus deaths) and net in-migration over the last five years, Utah has added a population larger than the population of Weber County, Utah’s fourth largest county. It begs…

Brexit discussions shouldn’t last longer than World War II

By Natalie Gochnour | 04/04/2019

Originally published in the Deseret News. Analysts call Brexit the great divorce, a slow-motion car crash, a political crisis, a constitutional crisis, a wrecking ball, a mess and a delusion. Brexit is all of these and more. The uncertainty has already caused substantial economic displacement and the hurt continues. As Britain’s parliament meets this week…

Town hall in Price shows the value of political engagement

By Natalie Gochnour | 03/25/2019

Originally published in the Deseret News. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — commonly referred to by her initials AOC — attracts significant attention among political commentators because of her views on Medicare for all, a Green New Deal, a federal jobs guarantee, and a 70 percent tax rate on incomes over $10 million. I’m used to people…

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Singing my mother to heaven