Utahs Republic

At the Utah County GOP Central Committee meeting this morning, the members overwhelmingly voted to amend the county party platform with this amendment which I had proposed to the body.

THE PROPER FORM OF GOVERNMENT

The United States of America is a compound Constitutional Republic based on the rule of law, representatives elected by sovereign citizens to exercise authority on their behalf, and a system of internal and external checks and balances.

The word “compound” was added as an amendment to match the language of HB 220 which the Utah legislature passed this session to require that our children are taught this principle of a compound Constitutional Republic. This is a concept which Representative Ken Ivory has been explaining around the state as he talks about his “Where’s the Line America?” program. This “program” drove HB 76 which Ken ran entitled, “Federal Law Evaluation and Response” and successfully passed the House and Senate and is only awaiting the Governor’s signature to go into law.

To understand what a compound Constitutional Republic is, please visit the newly revised home page of this site.

I will now be submitting this as an amendment to the State GOP platform. If you are a state delegate and want to co-sponsor this measure, please email me.

It’s not about what’s best for the children. Note the UEA members in attendance as well.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPy9G6PJIPk[/youtube]

After Hans Andersen (son of the late H. Verlan Andersen) spoke in Highland a couple weeks ago, I got to speaking with him and he later gave me a digital copy of his father’s book collection and permission to distribute them to anyone that wants a copy. You may download a copy, but only if you click the Facebook “Like” button to the right so I know how many people have downloaded these books. :)

H. Verlan Andersen Book Collection (Zip file contains 6 books: The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil; Many are Called but Few are Chosen; Moral Basis of a Free Society; The Proper and Improper Role of Government; The Book of Mormon and the Constitution; Life and Teachings of H Verlan Andersen)

From one Appendix in the book the Moral Basis for a Free Society, I found this great list of quotes from every prophet in the LDS church except President Monson who was not the prophet when the book was published in 1995.

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Appendix IV
Who Opposes Socialism

At one point in my life I attempted to find justification for the position taken by members who opposed President Benson, and whose opposition to him did not slacken, one whit, even after he became the prophet.

–Hans V. Andersen, Jr.

Joseph Smith

Wednesday, 13. I attended a lecture at the Grove, by Mr. John Finch, a Socialist, from England, and said a few words in reply…

Thursday, 14. I attended a second lecture on Socialism, by Mr. Finch; and after he got through, I made a few remarks, alluding to Sidney Rigdon and Alexander Campbell getting up a community at Kirtland, and of the big fish there eating up all the little fish. I said I did not believe the doctrine. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 33)

Brigham Young

We heard Brother Taylor’s exposition of what is called Socialism this morning. What can they do?Live on each other and beg. It is a poor, unwise and very imbecile people who cannot take care of themselves. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 14, p. 21)

John Taylor

…the world have generally made great mistakes upon these points. They have started various projects to try to unite and cement the people together without God; but they could not do it. Fourierism (authors note: Francois Fourier was a French socialist and writer), Communism — another branch of the same thing and many other principles of the same kind have been introduced to try and cement the human family together. And then we have had peace societies, based upon the same principles; but all these things have failed, and they will fail, because, however philanthropic, humanitarian, benevolent, or cosmopolitan our ideas, it is impossible to produce a true and correct union without the Spirit of the living God, … (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 18, p. 137)

I was speaking, a while ago, about the people there being divided into three classes. One of them you may call infidel, under the head of socialism, fourierism, and several other isms. Communism is a specimen of the same thing, … (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 23, August 22, 1852)

Wilford Woodruff

You may wish to know why I make these remarks. I will tell you. Because God himself grants this right to every human being upon the earth irrespective of race or color; it is part of the divine economy not to force any man to heaven, not to coerce the mind but to leave it free to act for itself.He lays before His creature man the everlasting Gospel, the principles of life and salvation, and then leaves him to choose for himself or to reject for himself, with the definite understanding that he becomes responsible to Him for the results of his acts. (Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 23, p. 77)

Lorenzo Snow

In things that pertain to celestial glory there can be no forced operations. We must do according as the Spirit of the Lord operates upon our understandings and feelings. We cannot be crowded into matters, however great might be the blessing attending such procedure. We cannot be forced into living a celestial law; we must do this ourselves, of our own free will. And whatever we do in regard to the principle of the United Order, we must do it because we desire to do it …The United Order is not French Communism. (Lorenzo Snow, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 19, p. 346, 349-350)

Joseph F Smith

…We must choose righteous men, good men to fill these positions. Hence if you will only get good men to fill these offices no one should care who they are, so that you have agreed upon them, and were one. We want you to be one both in temporal, political and religious things, in fact, in everything you put your hands to in righteousness. We want you to be one, one as God and Christ are one, seeing eye to eye. Do not try to crush anybody, or build yourselves up at the expense of your neighbor. Do not do it; it is a custom of the world, and it is a wrong principle. (Joseph F. Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 25, p. 251)

Heber J. Grant

…Among the Latter-day Saints they speak of their philosophy and their plans under it, as an ushering in of the United Order. Communism and all other similar “isms” bear no relationship whatever to the United Order. They are merely the clumsy counterfeits which Satan always devises of the gospel plan. Communism debases the individual and makes him the enslaved tool of the state to whom he must look for sustenance and religion; the United Order exalts the individual, leaves him his property, “according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs,” (D&C 51:3) and provides a system by which he helps care for his less fortunate brethren; the United Order leaves every man free to choose his own religion as his conscience directs. Communism destroys man’s God-given free agency; the United Order glorifies it. Latter-day Saints cannot be true to their faith and lend aid, encouragement, or sympathy to any of these false philosophies. They will prove snares to their feet. (Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark Jr., David O. McKay, The First Presidency, CR, April, 1942, p. 90)

George Albert Smith

Consider the condition in the world, the number who are determined to take from the rich man not what belongs to themselves, but that which belongs to the others. God has permitted men to get wealth, and if they obtained it properly, it is theirs, and he will bless them in its use if they will use it properly …

We must not fall into the bad habits of other people. We must not get into the frame of mind that we will take what the other man has. Refer back to the ten commandments, and you will find one short paragraph, “Thou shaft not covet.” That is what is the matter with a good many people today.

They are coveting what somebody else has, when as a matter of fact, many of them have been cared for and provided with means to live by those very ones from whom they would take property. (President George Albert Smith, Prophets, Principles and National Survival, p. 343 [compiled by Jay Newquist], CR-10/49:171-2)

God gave this nation the Constitution. No nation in the world has a constitution that was given to it by our Heavenly Father except the United States of America. I wonder if we appreciate that. The Lord gave us a rule of life for this great nation, and as far as we have lived up to it and taken advantage of it, the nation has grown, and the people have been blessed. But there are many people who prefer, or at least they seem to prefer something else.

As one man said to me, “Why not try what Russia has tried and what Germany has tried?” And my answer to him was, “Why try something that has already failed? Why not hold on to what the Lord has given?” (The Teachings of George Albert Smith, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, [1996], p. 171)

David O. Mckay

We are placed on this earth to work, to live; and the earth will give us a living. It is our duty to strive to make a success of what we possess — to till the earth, subdue matter, conquer the globe, take care of the cattle, the ‘locks and the herds. It is the Government’s duty to see that you are protected in these efforts, and no other man has the right to deprive you of any of your privileges. But it is not the Government’s duty to support you. That is one reason why I shall raise my voice as long as God gives me sound or ability, against this Communistic idea that the Government will take care of us all, and everything belongs to the Government. It is wrong! No wonder, in trying to perpetuate that idea, they become anti-Christ, because that doctrine strikes directly against the doctrine of the Savior…

No government owes you a living. You get it yourself by your own acts! — never by trespassing upon the rights of a neighbor; never by cheating him. You put a blemish upon your character the moment you do. (David O. McKay, Statements on Communism and the Constitution of the United States, p. 23)

During the first half of the twentieth century we have traveled far into the soul-destroying land of socialism … (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, p. 273)

Joseph Fielding Smith

We have all been taught the doctrine of personal free agency and that no individual is ever compelled by force or other means to comply with divine edicts and philosophy. We have been informed that a long time ago in the pre-existence there was a rebellion in heaven, and because one notable character, who had been entrusted with great authority, rebelled and led many away with him, he had to be cast out of the kingdom. However we should remember that every principle and law existing in the celestial kingdom has been proved to be perfect through the eternities through which they have come. If any individual proves himself worthy for the exaltation in that kingdom, it will be by strict obedience to every principle and covenant here existing. Therefore we may be assured that every law and principle thereunto pertaining is perfect and cannot be amended or discarded because of it perfection. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol. 4, p. 69)

The modern trend of the nations is towards dictatorship. It is taking form in two great camps, but, nevertheless, the direction is the same, although it is being reached by different routes. On the one side the direction to make an end of all nations, is through communism; … (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Progress of Man, p. 397)

Harold B. Lee

There are some things of which I am sure, and that is that contrary to the belief and mistaken ideas of some people, the United Order will not be a socialistic or communistic setup; … (Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places, p. 280)

Now, keep in mind with all the crowding in of the socialistic reform programs that are threatening the very foundation of the Church, we must never forget what the Lord said, “that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world” (D&C 78:14). Whenever we allow ourselves to become entangled and have to be subsidized from government sources — and we think that it’s the expedient way to do business in this day — or when we yield to such pressures, I warn you that government subsidies are not the Lord’s way; and if we begin to accept, we are on our way to becoming subsidized politically as well as financially. (Harold B. Lee, The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, [1996], p. 314-15)

Spencer W. Kimball

…Assume that you become the world leader of Socialism and in it have marked success, but through your devotion to it you fail to live the gospel. Where are you then? Is anything worthwhile which will estrange you from your friends, your Church membership, your family, your eternal promises, your faith? You might say that such estrangement is not necessarily a result of your political views, but truthfully hasn’t your overpowering interest in your present views already started driving a wedge? (0/0/45) (Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings, pp. 408-409)

Ezra Taft Benson

The fifth and final principle that is basic to our understanding of the Constitution is that governments should have only limited powers. The important thing to keep in mind is that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves, have in the first place. Obviously, they cannot give that which they do not possess.

By deriving its just powers from the governed, government becomes primarily a mechanism for defense against bodily harm, theft, and involuntary servitude. It cannot claim the power to redistribute money or property nor to force reluctant citizens to perform acts of charity against their will. Government is created by the people. The creature cannot exceed the creator. (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Sept. 1987, p. 8)

No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist or support programs leading in that direction. (Ezra Taft Benson, Title of Liberty, p. 190)

Our nation will continue to degenerate unless we read and heed the words of the God of this land, Jesus Christ, and quit building up and upholding secret combinations, … (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, July, 1988, p. 80)

We must keep the people informed that collectivism, another word for socialism, is a part of the communist strategy. Communism is essentially socialism. (Ezra Taft Benson, This Nation Shall Endure, p. 90)

Howard W. Hunter

… we know from both ancient and modern revelation that Satan wished to deny us our independence and agency in that now forgotten moment long ago, even as he wishes to deny them this very hour. Indeed, Satan violently opposed the freedom of choice offered by the other, so violently that John in the Revelation described “war in heaven” over the matter. (Rev. 12:7) Satan would have coerced us, and he would have robbed us of that most precious of gifts if he could: our freedom to choose a divine future and the exaltation we all hope to obtain …

To fully understand this gift of agency and its inestimable worth, it is imperative that we understand that God’s chief way of acting is by persuasion and patience and long-suffering, not by coercion and stark confrontation… (Howard W. Hunter, That We Might Have Joy, pp. 77-78)

Gordon B. Hinckley

I am confident that it was out of what he saw, the bitter fruit of dictatorship that he developed his strong feelings, almost hatred for communism and socialism. That distaste grew through the years as he witnessed the heavy handed oppression and suffering of the peoples of eastern europe under what he repeatedly described as godless communism. These experiences further strengthened his love for the land of his birth …

He never got over his boyhood love for freedom. Rather, it grew within him. Nurtured by what he saw of oppression in other lands, and by what he observed first hand of a growing dominance of government in this land over the lives of the people. (Gordon B. Hinckley, Talk given at the funeral of Ezra Taft Benson, June 4, 1994)

There has been a mixed bag of opinions ever since the common core standards have come out. Speculation continues but things do gel in small pieces. Someone sent me this article yesterday which points out that the National Education Data Model contains many of the database information attributes the feds want on our children. The NEDM “is the single, comprehensive model of education data and is prerequisite to establishing automated and comparable systems.” Now this isn’t directly tied into the Common Core State Standards by name, but what else would a national database be for but to get everyone on the same page, taking the same tests from the same curriculum and knowing everything about the students and teachers as possible.

We’re not just talking a few things that deal with student grade performance, we’re talking things like your child’s blood type, what time he/she gets on the bus, compulsory attendance status, orthodontic appliances, religious consideration, the number of decayed teeth you’ve got, etc… Hmmm, now why would the feds would want to track these things? I wonder if members of the state school board ever foresaw problems with federal standards and money? I guess not since they didn’t feel the need to have public meetings prior to their decision to adopt.

Article:

https://pajamasmedia.com/blog/arne-duncans-brave-new-world-dept-of-education-wants-your-kids-blood-type/?singlepage=true

Link to the database attributes (ie. the new master race database):

https://nces.sifinfo.org/datamodel/eiebrowser/techview.aspx?instance=studentElementarySecondary

Now before people start in on “do you believe everything Alex Jones does?” let me say I have a lot of respect for anyone willing to publicly say what they believe and endure ridicule for it. :) Alex is definitely in that category. Do I believe everything he does? No. I’m posting this interview because it’s got Charlotte Iserbyt in it and she’s the author of the Deliberate Dumbing Down of America (download it for free on the link).

Charlotte’s article mentioned in the interview is “The Death of Free Will.” This is a critical 5 part article series that should be read by everyone and deals with some of the most important issues in education including reasons to avoid the Common Core State Standards.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq8FwRLHNZs[/youtube]

Check out this funny video explaining teacher’s unions. Don’t miss the closing line.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kxc6kzH-uI[/youtube]

Last month I got this disturbing letter from a parent in Park City regarding the Inclusion Center in Salt Lake City and the programs they bring into schools. You need to be aware of this program because it’s being brought into schools around the state and several of them are identified below that have the program next month.

Hi Oak,

I am curious to know if you are familiar with the Inclusion Center in SLC and what they represent?

They went into my daughters 10^th grade English class at Park City High on Wednesday and did a demonstration about Racism. Although a subject worth exploring, their presenters  put the kids in a very awkward position forcing them to answer very specific questions which really had no good answers. They were asked “if a Black, Mexican & Muslim wanted to sit with you at lunch, which one would you choose to let sit with you?”  They were forced to make a choice and when doing so, the presenters got in their face and told them they were racists. They told them they were over privileged white kids (hello, this is Park City and it’s not the kids’ fault it is predominately Caucasian, and some areas are very affluent. Why? Because their parents worked hard. The presenters told them that because of them the blacks & Hispanics were being mistreated. They told them it was their responsibility to make things right with the minority groups of kids.  They also asked them  “why is it the Blacks all sit together, the Mexicans all sit together, etc?”  And told them it is their responsibility as over privileged white kids to go and sit with the minorities and make them feel part of their group.  We have very few blacks, but quite a large Hispanic population. They choose to all hang together and speak Spanish. So how is it the evil white kids are supposed to communicate with them?  Why is it the band kids all sit together, the football players all sit together, the cheer leaders all sit together, the track team kids all sit together,  regardless of race or religion, etc.?  Because they hang out with kids that have the same interests as them, period.   The Mormons and non-Mormons seem to be able to hang out together or not hang out together, as they choose. And no one makes a fuss about that.  The kids came out of there feeling guilty for being white, something they have no control over. I am so angry about this I can’t even tell you.  I called to counselor’s office to tell them if this happens again, my daughter has my permission to excuse herself. However, they were all out of the office at a meeting in Alpine School District.  I am very frustrated that our schools are forcing the Inclusion Center agenda on our kids.

Mrs. X

Mrs. X followed up that email with this one with more details.

I looked at their website, www.inclusioncenter.org They “appear” to be about diversity, service, and leadership and are clearly targeting the youth.  My daughter came home today with new stories.  Today, the teacher had a discussion with the class about their experience with the demonstration.  The kids spoke up and let him know that they were made to feel extremely uncomfortable. That the speaker boxed them into a corner and forced an answer/opinion out of them so she could show them how raciest they are without realizing it.  She also put words into their mouths. When pressing for an answer to an awkward question,(ex: if you had to be black, Hispanic, or Muslim living in Utah, which would be easier, which would be your choice?)  if the kids answered they didn’t know how to answer or didn’t have an opinion, she would say something like, “So what you are saying is you wouldn’t want to be any of the choices because they are treated badly and you like being white”  things like that. Apparently she flat out called them racist repeatedly.  The program was called “White Privilege”. I have since talked with the counselor who said the program is really about awareness but agreed with me that if my child feels uncomfortable they should be able to excuse themselves. But she could not give her that privilege.  She also agreed with me that kids will group together with kids that have the same interests as them, regardless of race or religion, but in the same breath said this program is important for the kids to sit through.   Then I spoke with the teacher who said that the purpose of the program IS to make the kids feel uncomfortable. To make them realize that they are over privileged and get through to them they have so much more than minorities.  Gee, did anyone express how they got more?? Like their parents WORKING for it. Hello!!! He apologized that my daughter didn’t like it, and said the kids had elaborated the same in their discussion today.  He kept saying it is designed to open up awareness and that’s why they do it the way they do.  After 10 min of my objections, he backed down a bit and said perhaps this particular speaker didn’t go about it quite the right way.  My daughter also said in the end of their class discussion today perhaps the speaker didn’t come off quite right.  The teacher actually arranged for it to be presented, but then left the room.  He told me he likes for his classes to “go through” this exercise. Sounds like Indoctrination to me.

Oh one more fun little tidbit,  the middle school put my younger daughter through a “Cognitive Abilities Test” this week.  They sent home an open disclosure notice about it on the day she had already  taken it.  The high school gave that survey about drug & alcohol use week before last too. My daughter chose to take it, afterward, I wish I had not let her as it introduced her to many drugs she has never heard of in great description of what it looks like, where to get it and how to use it.  She had to basically defend herself 150 times answering she does not do those things.

What is happening to our schools?  Things are really getting scary.

It appears that self-loathing can be funded with taxpayer dollars. Then Mrs. X took a trip and saw the effects of the Inclusion Center on her daughter.

Hi Oak,

Interesting thing happened while on vacation as a result of that experience the school subjected my daughter to.   While in the airport a black woman came around clearing the tables. I noticed my daughter taking a really good look at her and got a strange expression on her face.  After the woman walked away she told me it made her feel strange that the black woman was doing a lower class type job.  I quickly pointed out the other workers in there of various ethnic groups including white people also clearing tables and also told her in today’s economy, they/we are all fortunate to have jobs.  Interesting seed the Inclusion Center has now planted.  Prior to this, she never would have noticed the color of anyone doing any type job. Then while viewing animals on our trip. There was a pen with alligators and turtles in it.  She quickly noticed that all the alligators were on one side and the turtles were on the opposite side. She jokingly stated “hey look, they are being racist”.  I laughed and asked, well which group is being raciest, the alligators or the turtles? I suppose if we counted how many there were of each we could have decided which was the majority and called them the racists. Then I pointed out that even in nature, it is natural for species to group together and to try and force otherwise is un-natural as with the Inclusion Center suggesting the white kids need to force themselves into the black and Hispanic kids groups, ie: sit with them at lunch etc.  Clearly that presentation has made an impression on my daughter.

Mrs. X pointed out that on their website they have announced Oppression Awareness week coming up in April, specifically mentioning West, Highland, and Judge Memorial High Schools. I would spread the word and help parents know what’s in store for their children should this program come to their school. Ask your school district board and school principals to not allow this program into your schools as well. With all the concern over our children’s self-esteem by the education establishment, this should be a no-brainer.

As I was preparing to publish this, Mrs. X added one more follow up regarding this teacher:

My daughter’s English teacher continues to persist in this topic. He claims he put the kids through this presentation in preparation to read “Night,” a book about the holocaust. His package of questions about the book that they work through as they read through the book had a “before you read” questionnaire that had nothing to do with the holocaust.  “What does it feel like to be an outsider? What does it feel like to be an insider? What does it feel like to be thought of as “less worthy” because of ones skin and/or hair color? How important is it for you to look right? How important is it for you to  be part of the crowd or certain group? How do you feel when you don’t belong? Do people (parents, teachers, employers, friends etc…) pick favorites? Have you ever been the favorite or least favorite? How did it make you feel?  Think about a book or movie you have seen that shows examples of prejudice or favoritism. Why do so many books and movies cover this topic?

Then yesterday, instead of continuing with the work package on the book “Night,” he spent the class time discussing racism again.  He asked the class to imagine in their head a scientist.  Then told them that he was sure they all imagined a white person and explained why that is racist. Then he asked them to imagine a criminal in their mind. Followed with, he was certain that every student imagined a male, and most likely a black male.

This is an English class. Not a history, or Social Studies class. What is this teachers motive?????  Of course his Obama 08 stickers around the classroom may be a hint.  I’d like to present to him the idea to have the kids read some CS Lewis.

Why do we send our children to school again? To learn to read and write, or get loaded on with this nonsense? Our children should not have to be subjected to this.

Click here to see a copy of the syllabus they used for the activity (I think the acronym mentioned at the beginning runs down the left letters which spell “U-Avoid-It”):

White Privilege

I received this letter this morning from Nicole Toomey Davis who ran against Kim Burningham in a State School Board race last year, on the need for passing SB 224, Partisan School Board Elections. Please pass this on to everyone you know today and have them ask their House member to vote YES for SB 224

 

Dear friends:
It has been several months since the frenzy of the campaign.  I want you to know (again), how much your support meant to me.  It was a fantastic experience, even though I didn’t win the election for SBOE #5.  Thank you for your support, encouragement and friendship!

As you may have seen, the Senate just passed SB 224, Partisan School Board Elections.  I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the State Board of Education elections overall – I learned a great deal about the process and this may be helpful to you.  If you agree with my assessment, I encourage you to reach out to your Representatives in the House (info below), and let them know that you want talented people to run for the State Board on a level playing field.   I will note that the “other side” is working the email, fax and phones!

Here are my thoughts on current SBOE elections:

1) Our current system is not “non-partisan” (as is frequently stated), it is a “one party election” – and the ONLY party that is active in education politics is the “education employees party”.  The “other” candidate in any education race is an independent – and independents don’t win very often.  (As I frequently said when I started my campaign, I was a “lonely candidate” because none of the political parties will support non-partisan candidates!)

Here is what a party does for a candidate:
a) establish a platform
b) vet candidates to see which are most consistent with that platform
c) endorse candidates so that members and “likeminded” people don’t have to do the research themselves
d) post information about the candidate or links to candidate information on an establish “party” website that members and likeminded poeple ALREADY know about
e) provide a base of voters and donors to the candidate (due to endorsement)
f) encourage donations to the candidate
g) send out information to “members” by email and snail mail.

Now, let me tell you what the Davis Education Association did for Kim Burningham in this past election
a) established  a platform – pro-teachers and pro-“association”
b) interviewed candidates (they “invite” all  candidates to be interviewed by 1/2 dozen key DEA people  – I didn’t know it was to be “vetted”)
c) Endorsed Kim Burningham publicly
d) Posted that endorsement on their existing and well known DEA website, which is visited by DEA members AND by other like-minded people, including OTHER (non-teacher) school district employees
(note that there are 8000 Davis School District employees, about half of them are teachers – Kim Burningham consistently gets about 24,000 votes….. DSD employees + a couple of friends = consistent victory for the union representative)
e) Provide a built in base of voters and donors for Kim (Kim sent emails to DSD employees AT SCHOOL, and the DEA sent email to DSD employees AT SCHOOL, showing the link for Kim’s fundraising to date so that DSD employees could support him!)
f) Encourage donations to the candidate (see above)
g) Send out information to “members” by email and snail mail. (DEA sent out a mailed letter to teachers AT SCHOOL endorsing Kim, stating outright lies about me – things that were known factually to be untrue by the DEA president and facts were available online -, and stridently encouraging teachers to vote for Kim B.)

My husband coined this phrase “you aren’t running in a non-partisan election, you’re running in a one-party election and YOU’RE the independent candidate”.

Let’s return school politics to a fair and balanced system.  Every candidate should have the ability to have the support of a party, rather than just one candidate having that support and any other candidate being “lonely”.

In addition, as much as 20% of the electorate, IN THE ELECTION BOOTH, voting for other candidates, do NOT vote for the State Board of Education.  Many people say “they don’t know who to vote for”.  It is very difficult for voters to find out information about SBOE candidates, as there is no centralized place to go during election season.  In the case of the District #5 election, that 20% would have reversed the final outcome.

Finally, the current system places anyone other than a candidate endorsed by the “education employees party” at a severe disadvantage.  I was put on the ballot on August 1st!  94 days from campaign start to election day. Mr. Burningham had been campaigning since at least March, during all of the various conventions.  Hardly a “level” playing field.

Had I known about this severe structural imbalance in the race for State Board of Education, I would NEVER have run.  Only a fool would run under a system where this is NO CHANCE of success.  I tell this to other talented business people who would add a lot of value to our education system.  I tell them not to waste their time and money (and that of their supporters).   It is a sad conclusion, and my heart aches to say it, but I had as much support as it is possible to imagine, and you and your neighbors in our district turned out, but we simply could not overcome the tremendous advantages that accrue to the “party candidate” in a one-party system (just look at Egypt and its neighbors!!!).

Let’s make a system where great, talented and dedicated people of all interests and backgrounds can declare that background (through party affiliation) and can have the support of the party of their choice in running for the State Board of Education.  Politics is already completely embedded in the State Board of Education races, let’s just make sure all of the voters know it!

Please support SB 224  Partisan School Board Elections.

To reach your representatives, please visit
https://www.utah.gov/house/representatives.html (you can also fax a note to your Rep at  801-326-1544 and it will be delivered to them)

Thank you again for your support.  I hope this is helpful to you (and if not, just hit the delete key ;-).  If it is helpful, you are welcome to forward it on to others who may find it helpful.
Best Regards,
Nicole
https://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=14649548
https://www.le.state.ut.us/%7E2011/htmdoc/sbillhtm/SB0224.htm

Still think John Goodlad isn’t having a negative influence in Alpine School District? Schools are sending his socialist propaganda home in newsletters. John Goodlad is a John Dewey disciple and award winner. Dewey was one of the original signatories of the Humanist Manifesto and both these men have an agenda to embed the principles of socialism in our schools. When challenged, the principal and PTA president just brush it off and dismiss it as no big deal. Isn’t it?

Read what one parent wrote after receiving this school newsletter:

 

In February, my kindergartner came home with the monthly PTA newsletter, and every month, as usual, the Principal writes a few encouraging words to all students and parents of the school.  As I read the second paragraph-I was alarmed by this statement “John Dewey, a respected educator said:  ‘What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all of its children.  Any other ideal for our schools is narrow and unlovely; acted upon, it destroys our democracy.‘”

My heart sank, and quickly I went to the school.  Newsletter in hand, I asked the Principal why she decided to put a quote from John Dewey in the newsletter.  I told her it was wrong to put any of John’s philosophies in a school newsletter.  Dewey is not a respected educator; he is a socialist progressive.  She informed me that it was only an innocent quote she happened to stumble upon and she thought it sounded nice.  She ‘respects’ John Dewey; it’s just my ‘opinion’ that he’s not respected.  She told me that next time, she’ll take out the ‘respected educator’ part.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, so that evening I called the PTA President.  I told her that the PTA newsletter was very controversial.  She knew exactly which part it was and immediately sided with the Principal.  She told me (laughing) that there are much bigger problems in this world to be worried about, and that this is not a Big Deal. I told her that my children’s educations are a huge deal.  “Yes, but Liz, I know all about John Dewey, and actually I admire him, and the things he says,” she said.  “We shouldn’t be worrying about these little things, and I hope this won’t keep you away from helping the PTA,” she said.  It certainly does, and I will never ignore the goings on in our community, especially the educational system.  I will always stand up for what is right, even if it means noticing something so ‘small’.

After playing phone tag with the District Leader of our school, I ran into her in the Lehi Elementary School Library as I was checking out the patriotic section.  She immediately asked me if I was part of the ‘Radical’ group in Alpine (I wasn’t at the time, but after our little conversation I asked around and found them and  signed their petition).  After some back and forth conversation, she asked me several times what can she possibly do to help the situation.  I told her about the newsletter, concerned parents, and teaching the 3 R’s, so on… She said she would ‘talk’ to the Principal and that “Wow! I didn’t even think that anyone ever read the front page of the newsletter! (Laughing) Oh, but I’m not saying that you’re dumb or anything like that.”

She asked me what part of the quote was so controversial.  I told her it was the Democracy part.  So she so kindly explained to me what Democracy was.  I asked her straight out if she incorporates Goodlad’s theories into our school.  It was all just a confusing blur after that as she proceeded to tiptoe around that question and squirmed in her chair.  I was treated like a dumb, ‘how dare you’ person.  Since then, I have informed friends, neighbors and family what is going on.

Liz Kuhni
Lehi, Utah

(Here’s the full page if you want to view it)

In last Sunday’s op-ed by Troy Williams entitled, “The case for Book of Mormon socialism,” (link) the author’s personal interpretation of scripture violates the principles of agency and the United Order, and in my opinion does not reflect the LDS church teachings.

The scriptures Troy refers to carry prophetic commands to take care of the poor, but those instructions are given to members of the church, not to the government. If it were forced on people through the government, then those people that did not want to take care of the poor would be forced against their will to provide for others in violation of the eternal principle of agency. In essence, this socialist line of thinking attempts to save everyone through a program of force, similar to what the LDS view as Satan’s plan in the pre-mortal life. Alma provides an example of what the Book of Mormon teaches in Alma 4 when he saw the gross inequality among the people and the oppression of the poor. He gave up the judgment-seat and began to preach the word of God to the people to pull down their pride and materialism. He did not set up a government program but he taught the people to use their agency to help the poor.

The core of the United Order is that all property belongs to God who gives man stewardship over a portion of it. He asks man to willingly give up what he does not need, and through agency, man learns how to act in doing good with that stewardship.

Socialism rewards idleness which is clearly not scripturally supported. The parable of the talents illustrates the need to work and the reward given to the laborer. In D&C 42:42 the Lord said “Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shalt not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.” Socialism violates this law and puts man in a category of being acted upon which violates the nature of man’s existence (D&C 93:30).

Do we have mega-rich people in this country that are not generous? Certainly. Is it our place to forcibly take from them and ensure they pay their share to the poor? Absolutely not. Speaking to the rich members of the church, King Benjamin said:

“And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.” (Mosiah 4:22-23)

How can there be a just judgment unless the rich have a chance to use their wealth for good and then neglect it? We supplant God’s judgment when we enact socialist policies.

Socialism is inconsistent with the scriptural command to “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” (Matt 5:48) If God does not compel individuals, no Christian can argue that forced righteousness is a principle of the gospel.

For anyone confused about the difference between socialism and the United Order, here are two excellent talks that address the subject.

J. Reuben Clark, “The United Order Vs. Communism,” General Conference, October 1942
Marion G. Romney, “Socialism is not the United Order,” General Conference, April 1966