Dear America. Since the conversation around gun control has been dumbed-down to no restrictions verses banning all guns, we should study how other countries handle this issue with similar mental and social issues as the United States. Call this “Gun Control A La Carte” and look for 2-3 examples you can support that supports your… Continue reading Gun Control A La Carte
Category: Issues
A Plague Infecting White America
Much of white America, especially white male America, is suffering from delusion (Disclosure: I’m a white American man). Too many in my demographic have debased themselves through thoughtless xenophobia, callous sexism, knee-jerk bigotry, and angry cynicism. During the 2016 election, 62% of white males and 52% of white females knowingly cast their vote for a… Continue reading A Plague Infecting White America
A Party Full of Sheeple
Recently I had a conversation with a conservative friend and Donald Trump supporter. I asked a simple question that generated strong emotion and defense. “How would you feel if President Trump agreed to provide financial support for any country that implemented socialized medicine and government-funded abortions?” Assuming this was just hypothetical banter, this individual vehemently… Continue reading A Party Full of Sheeple
Conservatism is Dying, Thankfully
Conservatism in America is dying, thankfully. I am not referring to the iconic conservative beliefs of Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole, who found success in compromise and concession. Compassionate conservatism will always be ingrained in our political system. I am talking about the mangled attempt to push the electorate to the extreme right under the… Continue reading Conservatism is Dying, Thankfully
2016 Election Optimism
As a Democrat, it’s hard not to watch the current GOP primary debacle and smile with a certain sense of optimism. Democrats are poised for a strong election cycle, gaining back territory that was lost as a result of low voter turnout in 2014. With the unemployment hovering around 5%, gas prices at $2.00, uninsured… Continue reading 2016 Election Optimism
Three Great Reasons to Eat Less Meat
The foods we choose to eat are a product of our culture. The best parts of holidays and family gatherings are often meal times. And when we think of a holiday, we often think of the foods that accompany them: Thanksgiving and turkeys, Christmas and roasts, Memorial Day and barbecues. With the 4th of July… Continue reading Three Great Reasons to Eat Less Meat
Don't Call Me a Republican
I am not a Republican. I believe in marriage between a man and a woman. I am a gun owner. I am a senior manager in the middle of corporate America. I did not support Occupy Wall Street. I believe unions can stifle business growth and drive productivity out of the marketplace. My car is… Continue reading Don't Call Me a Republican
Conservatives Don’t Own the Pro-Life Agenda
How many times have I heard the ridiculous rhetoric about Democrats being pro-abortion or having my morality being compared to Vlad the Impaller’s? As a proud progressive, I feel the discussion should center on facts, data, and historical significance, and not arrogantly challenging people’s morality as a campaign tool. Conservative’s play the pro-life card to… Continue reading Conservatives Don’t Own the Pro-Life Agenda
100 Tweets in One Hour
#100Tweets in one hour. Here we go…. — MATTY ICE (@MattyIceAZ) April 12, 2015 Dear GOP, Don’t get too comfortable leading the Senate. In 2016 Republicans will be defending 24 seats in 34 contests. #100Tweets — MATTY ICE (@MattyIceAZ) April 12, 2015 Why do liberals like Obama? It’s not like his stimulus reversed job declines… Continue reading 100 Tweets in One Hour
If You Love Reagan, You Should Adore This Guy
This past week was Ronald Reagan’s 104th birthday. I wish he were alive to celebrate, probably more than most conservatives I know. It would be interesting to see Reagan’s take on today’s political environment. Most likely his opinion would be tossed by the wayside by the same individuals that currently profess his adoration. When Bob… Continue reading If You Love Reagan, You Should Adore This Guy
The Food Stamp Surfer
As any viewer of Fox News will tell you, America has become an entitlement nation. This claim is reinforced by example after example of individuals gaming the system or dissected across Fox’s political theater. The right’s fixation on the poor has become so blatant Fox has even come up with a pseudo-correspondent that fuels the… Continue reading The Food Stamp Surfer
Vigilantism’s Return to America
Several weeks ago, George Zimmerman, the man acquitted of murder in the shooting death of an unarmed teenager, Trayvon Martin, made an appearance at a Florida gun show as the guest of honor. Zimmerman was invited by the gun show’s organizer, who had supported Zimmerman at his trial, to help promote the event by signing… Continue reading Vigilantism’s Return to America
Is There a Middle Ground on Gun Laws?
Although I did not grow up in a home with guns, I was exposed to them at an early age. From the annual Boy Scout summer camp to visits with extended family, I had frequent opportunities to use guns, and as an adult, have thoroughly enjoyed periodic recreational shooting as well as have taken weeks… Continue reading Is There a Middle Ground on Gun Laws?
Putting the ‘Conserve’ Back Into ‘Conservative’
During my freshman year at BYU, a conservative friend of mine tried to explain to me why recycling, and caring for the environment in general, were scripturally unsound practices. He cited the LDS Doctrine and Covenants Section 59 verses 16 to 19, which, in a nutshell, indicate that the Lord provided all of the natural… Continue reading Putting the ‘Conserve’ Back Into ‘Conservative’
The Supreme Court’s Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage
The recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and allowing lower court decisions to stand overturning Proposition 8 in California makes for a dramatic shift in American society. This brief analysis is to consider some of the possible ramifications of the decision. While not a full legal… Continue reading The Supreme Court’s Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage
A Supreme Precedent for Gun Laws
In the aftermath of any mass shooting in the U.S., an all-or-nothing rhetoric about guns typically infects the public discourse regarding what ought to be done to prevent such tragedies in the future. In many communities, inhabitants are warned that the government has a hidden agenda seeking to ban all future gun sales and intends… Continue reading A Supreme Precedent for Gun Laws
Background Checks Work
Recently the US Senate fell short of passing the most reasonable gun control measure ever brought to the Congressional floor by six votes (54 votes — just a few shy of blocking a filibuster). The legislation was centered on closing background check loopholes involving private sellers at gun shows and through online sales. The legislation… Continue reading Background Checks Work
Violence and Mental Health
The recent mass shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut reinvigorated the national debate about gun control. While I believe that additional measures must be adopted to make it more difficult for criminals and the mentally ill to obtain firearms, it is equally important that Americans evaluate other areas in our society… Continue reading Violence and Mental Health
One More Reason to Support Obamacare
I am constantly criticized by my Republicans friends about the apparent contradictory position of being a pro-life Democrat. To them this position is contradictory and dishonest. To me voting with this political platform is irrelevant and insignificant. Why? Because whether or not someone is pro-life is a moral argument, and these kind of arguments are… Continue reading One More Reason to Support Obamacare
Thoughts on Gay Marriage
President Obama’s recent announcement of his support for gay marriage sparked a firestorm of debate across the country. For Mormon Democrats such as myself, it has put us at odds with Obama on an important social issue. In Support of Traditional Marriage As a Latter-Day Saint, I believe in traditional marriage. I believe, as the… Continue reading Thoughts on Gay Marriage