Recently the Mayor of Salt Lake City and Utah’s Lt. Gov., Greg Bell, launched an initiative to improve civility or rather public discourse in the state. As I read through the website and the associated media write-ups on the civility imitative some thoughts and questions came to mind:

1. Why is the government doing this? – At a very fundamental level, one of the primary roles of government is to protect free speech, particularly political speech, which at times becomes very uncivil.
2. Who defines “welcoming, inclusive and caring community?” – What looks like caring to one, looks like overbearing to another. Is government really in a position to be the ultimate arbiter of our words? I sure hope not. This sort of thing, good intentions aside, sets the stage for potential censorship or claims of “hate” speech by those in power when those they disagree with create discomfort because of what they say.
3. Do we get more civility or just a chilling political speech? – I think there is a tendency to equate being nice with being civil. They are anything but the same. Again given the initiator of this program, I doubt we get more civility but rather more feelings pushed under the rug (see political correctness) and boiling up in far more destructive ways.

In the end initiatives like these are best left to what Edmund Burke called the “little platoons” of society – churches, civic groups, and most importantly families. That is where civility is best taught, practiced, and developed.

I had a chance today to attend a workshop with Karl Rove, who was in town promoting his new book: Courage & Consequence.

It was an interesting hour. I was a little disappointed that much of the time was spent on storytelling and not on sharing his thoughts on campaign strategy (which was how the session was branded).

A couple key takeaways for me: 1) the power of influencers in a campaign and 2) data matters.

On a side note, when asked about the senate race, he endorsed Bennett as a “real” conservative. Perhaps that much time in the beltway has altered his view of what a real conservative is. I also wonder if he knows that Bennett’s first real campaign promise was to term-limit himself and if Bennett is willing to break that promise what would hold him back from breaking all his others.

By John F. Pilmer

US Constitution: “provide for the common defense” – one of the pillars of government’s purpose. While Washington is chasing control of one fifth of the US economy (healthcare), they have totally lost focus of a primary role of the U.S. Government – protect the people. Instead, we have protected criminal rights so much that victims cannot depend on the government for protection. The southern border of the U.S. is a joke!The handcuffs are on the police & law abiding citizens- not the criminals.

I have to provide Social Security number, proof of insurance, or my drivers license whenever I interface with government. I expect no less for ANYONE else–including immigrants. We love immigrants! America is built on the excellent efforts of immigrants. We are also a nation that has survived because we value the rule of law. Illegal immigrants, as their first act of residency, break the law to get here.  Arizona and Texas are among states crippled by this emergency situation.

Washington needs a complete home makeover. We must kick congress out in November and start over with representatives who protect the Constitution, not illegal immigrants. Stop government takeover of private industry and protect the borders–that’s your job, Congress! If Washington won’t DO IT, then AZ, TX, and others must protect themselves!! This is an emergency worthy of emergency measures.

Leadership is not a popularity contest like Obama seems to think. Millions will disagree with tactics, but we must act. Protect Americans–NOW!