Larry H. Miller -- Apparently Uof U Students Don't Want to Take Your Money.

University of Utah students, professors, and community activists signed a petition last week demanding that the University cancel a keynote address to be given by Larry H Miller. "As of Thursday, almost 1,400 people had signed the online petition asking the university to "rescind this thoughtless invitation and issue a formal statement of apology" to the community" the article stated. Kt Farley, a U student who started the petition had this to say, "By yanking the movie from his screens, Miller showed he is not open-minded and doesn't value academic freedom..... I wouldn't object to Miller speaking at the university, as long as the subject was not higher education. They should get him to talk about his political stands or why he canceled the movie" U of U student once again are showing us the light as to the true meaning of diversity. "Anything you do that offends us, makes you a racist and a closed-minded ideological Nazi"

First, this is America and I thought if a movie house owner finds something offensive with a movie depicting homosexuality, he has the right to do so. I must concede he may not have proved himself wholly pure on the morality issue with some of the other films he showed at the time, but that aside it is his right to show what he will at his theatre.

Second, it is rather hypocritical of the students and professors of the U to throw out the battle cry "Diversity!" because the man had the courage to stand by his convictions regarding a moral issue (homosexuality is a MORAL issue !!! Even if there is a gay gene it doesn't make homosexuals into a race, there are genes that have been proven to cause criminal behavior -- I don't see anyone fighting for the rights of criminals to commit crimes). Larry H. Miller has stood up for diversity, he stood up for his beliefs. Apparently diversity training hasn't prepared U students for someone not agreeing with popular college campus opinion.

Dear Larry. . . apparently U students don't want your donations. I know of institutions in Southern Utah that are in dire need of additional funding -- it sounds like you can channel money wasted at the U down here.

Polygamist Riding Gay Coattails -- Maybe or Maybe Not

The DesNews had an article regarding gay marriage and a possible external result of the gay marriage battle. If gay marriage is ultimately upheld, as I suspect it will, other seemingly reprehensible exceptions such as polygamy or polyandry will have to be allowed also despite arguements made by gay & lesbian rights coalitions that there aren't similarities between the two issues. However for tax reasons polygamist stand to lose substantial amounts of tax refund money if polygamy becomes a recognized and defined form of marriage.

For example, you have one polyg man and his original wife filing joint with income of 30k with 3 kids, he has a tiny amount of tax, all which would be swallowed by child tax credits, any remaining child tax credit and earned earned income credit (welfare for the working poor) is refunded to him. 2 to 3 thousand dollars in money the family never paid in -- free money. Then you have wives 1,2,3 .... etc each with 2 to 3 children from polyg man. The extra wives likely make around 15k to 20k per woman thereby maximizing the earned income credit for total family refunds of 11k to 20k in free government money. If the polygamist family group had to file taxes on only one return, all those refundable credits we be limited and diminished as the extra wives income is mingled with married couple number 1's income in one return.

Polygamist make alot of money (your tax dollars) off of their oppressed circumstances. I see a fair number of polygamist and they usually walk out of my office with refunds of 3-6 thousand dollars in refunds per return most of which is refundable tax credits.

LDS letter gives hope to Democrats that the LDS Church may be Willing to Endorse Both Parties .... Don't be so Sure!

DesNews and other local and state news agencies have noted a letter that the LDS church does not endorse any candidate or party, as proof that Mormon church feels that Mormonism can be compatible with liberalism. However the optimism may be a little overstated. First, this letter is read every year over pulpits to LDS members who have often been accused of ostracizing those with liberal views. Second, there is a major tax law issue involved in this that better explains the Church's reason for issuing the letter.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Under Internal Revenue Code such an organization would and could lose tax exempt status if they are caught openly endorsing parties or campaigns. So the letter is more of a disclaimer rather than an endorsement of both parties platforms. By disclaiming any endorsements of a party or candidates the church is kept safe from possible accusations that the church is engaging in politics. This matter is one that the IRS watches very diligently and accusations are investigated regularly. If there was so much as a campaign poster seen on church property there would be consequences.

I have never heard leaders push candidates from the pulpit, however many Dem or liberal views (gay marriage, abortion, etc..) are expressly opposed by church doctrine. As a whole, (this may be my own ideological views) the church is far more supportive of the Republican-conservative agenda. For Dems or Republicans to be cheered by this as some kind of endorsement is a little naive. Look at official church statements regarding social issues overall to judge the church's politics which must be kept openly neutral.