IS SENATOR HATCH NECESSARY?

In his campaign ads, Senator Orrin Hatch says it is urgent to reelect him, again, because he might become the Senate Finance Committee Chairman.

Actually -- 

If Orrin Hatch gets reelected and if the Republicans take control of the Senate, Hatch might become chairman of that committee.

If America elects a Republican president, and that is not yet a sure thing. If the Republican leadership proposes budgetary cutbacks. If.

America contains more than 310 million people. A nation that big cannot have a small government. It cannot have a small budget especially if a prospective President Romney seriously wants to increase military size and scope. 

Military spending comes in one variety -- expensive. 

Furthermore, a leader gives the people what it needs. A politician gives the people what they want. The senate's ratio of leaders to politicians means that the senators will all have various programs that they insist on funding. So far as I can tell, the Republican definition of budget cutting is cutting back on someone else's pet programs.

When Hatch served as senator in the Reagan administration, I remember he supported most or less enthusiastically the president's deficit spending, particularly the militaristic deficit spending, for two terms.

When Hatch served as senator back in the First Bush administration -- ditto.

When Hatch served as senator back in the Second Bush administration, I remember he supported most or less enthusiastically those two large wars that Bush funded off line by deficit spending and borrowing. If Hatch has any fiscal conservative tendencies, I do not quite remember them.

Frankly, several Republican senators sit on the Senate Finance Committee whose conservatism on the record is more conservative than Orrin Hatch's.

THE CALL TO ACTION

Senator Hatch really should have more time to spend with his grandchildren and in writing his poetry.    Eventually, the Republicans will take control of the Senate, though I have a hard time picturing this happening in 2012.   However, when the change comes, Utah should have a more conservative senator in the chair ready to go.   And that senator is not Orrin Hatch. 

MARRIAGE: DECLINE?? DEFINITIONS??

Interesting that around here in Utah when heterosexuals corrupted the concept of marriage they call it "progressive," and when the homosexuals corrupted the concept, it's called sin.  From marriage as political alliance to dowries  to women treated as property with no rights to polygamy to "la casa grande -- la casa bonita" to no-fault quickie divorces, heterosexuals have done the most damage to the concept of marriage over time.    Changing the gender ratio is only just the latest step in the devolution of marriage

Marriage is not a domestic agreement between two people. 

Marriage is a covenant between at least four entities

the man

the woman

the culture in which they live

and or

God

and children, who have a vested right to a solid stable extended family.  

Civil governments in general have done a lousy job in protecting and preserving marriage.  However, churches have not been entirely effective, either.    In fairness, though, neither the Old Testament or the New Testament are really clear on the subject of when God considers a couple “married.”     The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sections that do a more convincing job of defining that point. 

Marriage is not first and foremost about companionship.   Marriage should not be confused with companionship.   Marriage is about a stable legal framework to raise children.   Eventually most marriages if not all marriages get in-laws, friends, ecclesiastical leaders, and lawyers attached to them as well as children.     If a married couple is not careful, a marriage is a great way to insure that you get what you do not want. 

The president’s comments on marriage on 9 May 2012 only shows how little those in authority have thought out the definitions of family life, marriage, and domestic arrangements.  Domestic arrangements have a long and sometimes honorable history in the long chain of human events.  However, children deserve both a male and a female parent.