Motley Blog

"Salus Populi Suprema Lex"

Thu, 10 May 2012 14:01:47 -0800

"Salus Populi Suprema Lex" (The Health of the People is the Supreme Law) -Marcus 'Tully' Cicero

This quote, cited frequently during the overthrow of European Monarchies in the 17th and 18th Centuries, says it all, yes? -

Dan Savage - The American Marquis De Sade?

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:18:06 -0800

Rocky Mountain Roundtable, 2012

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:51:10 -0800

Utah Governor Gary Herbert hosted a 'Rocky Mountain Roundtable' with Governor Otter of Idaho and Mead of Wyoming, all Republicans, last Friday April 27. Designed to loosely build political support for Utah challenges of Federal regulations and land ownership the event was more of an extended free form press conference than anything, and in that, it succeeded. Personally, I think there is a non-partisan balance point on Western Federal land issues, but it will be difficult to reach.

The Ten Commandments of Little Death Hollow

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:37:46 -0800

(Little Death Hollow is a long side canyon of the Escalante River that builds slowly to superb narrows and a heavenly, nearly two mile long, slot section near its mouth. The Escalante region of southern Utah was the last to be mapped in the lower 48 States and this canyon is about as far as you can get from regular highways in a two wheel drive vehicle in the United States - in dry conditions!) 1.

I am a Jealous God and you shall put no other Canyon before Little Death Hollow, my home. You shall not say my name for any bad purpose or to any bad person. I am male, but my home is female. If you had needed climbing ropes to access me I would have given you the glands of a spider. I am here now, but I may leave at any time, especially after a flood.

A Song for the Time Railroad Earth - 'Potter's Field'

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:54:52 -0800

Ron Paul on Civil Rights

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:40:18 -0800

I've been having some very detailed discussions regarding Ron Paul over on Facebook, the most revealing and productive in response to a Ralph Nader endorsement of Mr. Paul on my own page. The details of Ron Paul's issues are important - even if you do disagree with 40% of what he stands for, and, perhaps tragically, above the head of most Americans these days. A sorry testament to the true effectiveness of our educational system. If you are in fact open minded, and care about the future of this country, read this.

Book Review 'Lunar Park' by Bret Easton Ellis (2005)

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:22:03 -0800

I've had an obsession with Bret Easton Ellis for sometime, once minor, but slowly growing, perhaps now to dangerous levels with the meta-fictional work 'Lunar Park'. The movie version of 'American Psycho' (2000, based on a 1991 book), a genius critique of Reagan era Wall Street all the more relevant today, was what first garnered my serious attention. But it was his relatively minor 1987 work 'Rules of Attraction' released to the big screen in 2002 that began the obsession - based loosely on his time at the small radical college Bennington the story reminded me closely of my own experience at the very similar Hampshire College. The fact that I had been involved in a personally impactful triangle that included a Bennington student as a third in a fashion not unlike those of the book sunk that particular 'hook'.

Occupy Eric Holder, #3

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:39:13 -0800

Occupy Portland is establishing itself as one of the smartest, and effective, mass 'occupy' movements - take note of their protest strategy, as many others have done, including with over 15,000 shares on FaceBook. The basic idea here is not one of resistance, but of a fluid response - appropriate for this rain soaked pinnacle of Pacific Northwest ecological urbanism. And this fluid 'Occupy' response is now going exactly where it should, to the Courts. After all, we are constitutionally guaranteed recourse against our government, no?

Is Ron Paul anti-gay?

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:53:35 -0800

Now leading the Republican pack in Iowa Ron Paul has become the focus of media scrutiny, most of which is focused on whether his anti-government approach equates to racism. Alex Jones summarizes these efforts nicely, and I, personally, am reminded of the Gingrich attacks against Bill Clinton in the 1990's. As always attempting to stay one step ahead of the media machine Motley Tools asks, is Ron Paul anti-gay? For the full story on this Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) moment in the movie Bruno, see the full story here. Seriously, I do believe this is an important subject for debate - and personally, I do believe that we need government involved in establishing basic protections such as in 'civil unions' - for everyone. Marriage should go further than these basic protections, but that is up to the couple themselves, and any church they choose, or choose not, to associate with...

A Small Political Observation

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:11:49 -0800

How is Ron Paul doing in Iowa, whose caucuses are scheduled for January 3rd, immediately after the upcoming holiday season? It looks like Paul may well be nudging out both Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney by a whisker. Russia Today, an increasingly relevant source of global news claims Paul is winning, citing a study from Public Policy Polling, an organization I know nothing about. I am aware that Glenn Beck has been pumping Newt Gingrich as of late, and this would explain Newt's recent surprise bump in the polls, a bump that now may be deflating.

Is Comprehensive Land Use Planning Worthwhile?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:31:19 -0800

Comprehensive planning is something that has emerged as a new layer of land use regulation in the U.S., starting, as far as I recall, in Oregon in the 1970's - a long enough time to start to evaluate how it works. Washington State has had it mandated since 1990 - I'm now in Colorado, where it appears to just be getting started. Curiously, the rural Colorado County where I am now located has just dropped the planning product of a two year process with over 150 public meetings.

UPDATE: Alaskan Way Viaduct Growth Management Act Challenge

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:52:08 -0800

My somewhat Quixotic battle against the Gregoire power machine continues with my very symbolic Growth Management Act challenge of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project. Two key issues which go to the edge of the Growth Management Hearing Board's authority concern the financial aspects of the Comprehensive planning. RCW 36.70a.120 concerns internal financial requirements. Perhaps even more important for the future of Growth Management is the regional coordination requirements, including fair financial dealings, as in RCW 36.70.100. As you will recall, the State Legislature required the City of Seattle to cover any cost overruns. Numerous legal authorities have said this is unenforceable, including Rob McKenna and former King County Prosecutor Sally Bagshaw who infamously stated that "virtually every Attorney in Seattle" concurred. I argue, Pro Se, the contrary, extending the Growth Management Act to the full (and appropriate) limits of its authority. Here's the original petition: There were some interim pleadings, refining issues and the like that I believe are safe to omit. The Central Puget Sound GMHB's final response was in a PDF: Download PDF File Follow the jump to see my response, a 'MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION'.

A Song for the Time Burl Ives - 'Ghost Riders in the Sky'

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:11:54 -0800

I'm spending my first Christmas in the desert SW, and getting at least a bit more exercise, though even with the sun it is quite cold. This isn't a Christmas song, per se - but it works for me.

Public Land and a Full Employment Plan for the 99%

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:37:29 -0800

The Durango (Colorado) Herald reports on a call for action from Headwaters Economics signed by 100 Economists and Academics regarding the use of Public Lands to stimulate employment. The subject of selling public lands to pay off the deficit is also raised, but not given a high priority. I've got a friendly amendment to that, how about transferring Federal Lands to local municipalities to fill the FAILINGS of the Federal Government, however they so choose....

Utah and the Feds

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:58:40 -0800

Never mind Mitt Romney's strong bid for the Republican party's nomination to be the next U.S. President, but do consider these three court cases between Utah and the Federal Government. Perhaps symbolically most important is a case regarding public access to Federal Lands - of which there is an awful lot in Utah. I've touched on this issue in another area of the State, but not far away. With greater business implications, but also symbolically revealing of corporate business practices in America today, consider the Utah based anti-trust lawsuit against Microsoft, for the benefit of the Utah based Novell, once the leader in word processing (Word Perfect) and computer networking. Lastly, there is a Federal action against Utah for its current immigration law. As you might recall, I'm having my own battle with the Federal Government over the abusive handling of a camping ticket in SW Colorado, less than an hours drive from that State, and perhaps the heart of the Four Corners region. Occupy Access to America's Public Resources and PROSECUTE THOSE THAT TRASH OR PREVENT THEIR USE!