Author Archives: Derek Monson

How digital learning can save a student’s education

Tweet Do you want a plan to give second chances to children who struggle to learn? To empower children struck by tragedy (e.g., a major injury or illness) to continue their education? To provide advanced learners the chance to reach … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Massive regulatory costs hamper the current ‘recovery’

Tweet This chart is worth a thousand words: The regulatory costs of the first terms of President Clinton (1993-1996) and President George W. Bush (2001-2004) also occurred during economic recoveries, after recessions in 1991 and 2001, respectively. And, perhaps not … Continue reading

Posted in Regulation | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Take a look at the taxman’s tax map: How does Utah compare?

Tweet How do Utah’s income tax rates compare to those in neighboring states, or states in other regions? Is Utah’s sales tax burden higher than other states’? What kind of tax (sales, income, property, etc.) does Utah government rely on … Continue reading

Posted in Taxes | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The young and the liberal

Tweet The 2012 presidential election campaign was framed as a choice between a former governor who knows how to get the economy producing good jobs (the Romney line) but is unacceptable in character and experience (the Obama line), and a … Continue reading

Posted in Economic Development | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Utah showing how digital learning can make public schools more cost-effective

Tweet As noted in a recent news story in The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah has begun a move away from traditional textbooks to digital textbooks (aka e-books) that is “gaining speed.” These e-books are “cheaper, more up to date and … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Tagged , | 2 Comments

National liberal fiscal insanity, or why Utah needs a spending amendment

Tweet As noted on The Weekly Standard blog, the acting director of President Obama’s Office of Management and Budget wrote an op-ed published across the country, as well as put up on the White House blog, claiming that “the President’s … Continue reading

Posted in Government Spending | Tagged | 2 Comments

Selling our national soul for 30 pieces of silver

Tweet The United States Senate recently voted overwhelmingly to proceed with debate on the so-called Marketplace Fairness Act, and scheduled a final vote for May 6. This law, if passed, would authorize states to require Internet-based companies without a physical … Continue reading

Posted in Federalism | Tagged | 9 Comments

Grand jury report says Gosnell case is partially a result of pro-abortion politics

Tweet In a thoughtful and compelling article published by The Wall Street Journal, James Taranto argues that the gruesome case of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell illustrates the need to end the legal “Roe regime” of “abortion on demand.” He cites … Continue reading

Posted in Abortion | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Writer uses illegal-abortion case to call for more abortions

Tweet What is the solution for preventing people from killing women and children? Evidently, for the left, it is to make it easier to kill children. In response to an opinion piece in USA Today blasting traditional media for ignoring … Continue reading

Posted in Abortion | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Utah’s at the top in digital learning – let’s keep it there

Tweet As noted by the Utah Taxpayers Association and The Senate Site, Utah recently received an “A” on the 2012 Digital Learning Report Card from Digital Learning Now! As the only state in the country to do so, Utah is … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

One reason why liberal economic policies haven’t led to a strong recovery

Tweet For every economically beneficial project funded by “economic stimulus spending,” there is at least one economically wasteful project … such as the $423,500 of federal funding spent studying “barriers to condom use” as part of President Obama’s “economic stimulus” … Continue reading

Posted in Government Spending | Tagged | Leave a comment

Children and the culture of drinking

Tweet In the recently concluded legislative session, a bill was introduced and passed by the Utah House of Representatives on a 63-11 vote that would have done away with the so-called “Zion Curtain.” Wisely, the Senate stopped such poor public … Continue reading

Posted in Alcohol | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Growth: The new Conservative vision?

Tweet The Weekly Standard recently posted a pair of articles about the need of the GOP to craft a policy and political agenda centered on “growth.” The authors focus on economic growth, but they focus on how that growth improves … Continue reading

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What a liberal ‘economic recovery’ feels like

Tweet Technically, the so-called “Great Recession” ended in June 2009. So does it feel like an “economic recovery” to you? Fortunately for many Utahns – in part due to the generally conservative public policies put in place by Utah policymakers … Continue reading

Posted in Government Spending, Taxes | Tagged | 1 Comment

Obamacare expected to raise cost of health care claims 28% in Utah

Tweet A new report from the Society of Actuaries – financial risk professionals that estimate long-term costs for pensions, insurance, and the government – estimates that the cost of health care claims – the “most important driver” of insurance premiums … Continue reading

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