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Do juries still work in today's world?

5/22/2025

As I looked at the faces populating my computer screen and listened to a judge and two attorneys ask them the sorts of questions you might encounter at one of those awkward mixers — what sort of books do you read? What are your hobbies? — one question kept popping into my head.
If I were on trial, would I want these people to decide my guilt or innocence?
To my surprise, I now have an answer to that question because, against all odds, I was chosen for a jury that heard a criminal case.

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A budget that just adds to the nation's debt

5/22/2025

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A thin majority (52%) of Americans believe it is possible to both balance the federal budget and cut taxes at the same time, while slightly less (48%) believe the budget could be fixed simply by reducing the growth of spending in Washington.
An optimist would take courage that at least a good portion of the public believes fiscal sanity is within reach. Without at least a belief, the nation doesn’t stand a chance.
But others may say those figures, part of a poll conducted by RMG Research for Napolitan News, demonstrate how few people grasp the challenge of closing an annual deficit that hovers around $2 trillion, let alone what it would take to chip away at a national debt that is nearing $37 trillion.

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America's sport gambling experiment has failed

5/12/2025

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Seven years ago this May 14, when the Supreme Court issued a ruling that allowed states to legalize sports betting, a New York Times news story speculated that, “The decision seems certain to result in profound changes to the nation’s relationship with sports wagering.”
And how.
Today, in 38 states, every fractional piece of a sporting event is subject to wagering, from whether a football team’s current drive will result in a touchdown or a punt, to whether a basketball player will score less than or above his or her seasonal average per game. And it all can be done with the convenience of a smartphone, utilizing legalized betting companies whose commercials seem to saturate many nationwide telecasts.

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How the tariffs stole Christmas

5/12/2025

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The plot is like any of a dozen or more Christmas movies you may have seen. A villain either steals all the presents or gets in the way of Santa’s routine, and suddenly it appears there will be no gifts under the tree.
Only, this time it’s not clear whether any hero can swoop in and save the day. No hastily organized singing of Christmas songs in Central Park can make the reindeer fly higher than the 145% tariffs the White House has imposed on the largest supplier of Christmas in the United States — China.

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Why monument designation process must change

5/12/2025

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Back near the turn of the 20th century, the United States faced a crisis of disappearing Native American artifacts. So-called “pot hunters” were ravaging ancient sites across the West.
On July 29, 1903, the New York Times recounted a disturbing observation from the Chicago World’s Fair that had taken place 10 years earlier.

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Utahns are among the most taxed people in the U.S.

5/5/2025

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In five years, Utah lawmakers have cut income taxes to the tune of about $1.4 billion.
Many conservatives believe the income tax inhibits growth and productivity. There is some truth to the old saw that says if you want less of something, tax it more.
But now a new report by the research group WalletHub shows Utah, despite its tax cuts in recent years, still ranks among the nation’s highest-taxed states.
WalletHub examined each state’s tax burden, or the proportion of total personal income rerquired for state and local taxes. Utah came in 14 highest. It did best in property taxes, finishing 36th highest, but not so good in sales and excise takes, at 14th, and worst in income taxes, at 11th. However, eight states have no income tax at all, and Utah’s burden was measured at only 3.3% of personal income, which hardly seems onerous.

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Do juries still work in today's world?

A budget that just adds to the nation's debt

America's sport gambling experiment has failed

How the tariffs stole Christmas

Why monument designation process must change

Utahns are among the most taxed people in the U.S.

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