Derek Monson
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COVID has taught us how to care for the sick and prepare for emergencies
If we can learn the lessons of the COVID pandemic to improve public health regarding respiratory diseases and become better prepared for the next pandemic, we will ensure that those whom COVID-19 has taken will not have died completely in…
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Legislative healthcare reforms target vaccination, mental health, prescriptions
The healthcare bills passed this year by Utah lawmakers will impact pandemic vaccination, mental health services and the prescription drug market in ways that are likely to be felt by Utahns for years to come – in both foreseen and…
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Civics lessons from Black Americans: Ida B. Wells and Frederick Douglass
Ida B. Wells and Frederick Douglass represent just two of the countless Black Americans who we can learn from as we tackle today’s urgent political and policy problems.
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Romney child allowance plan good for families – maybe work and government, too
Whatever the trajectory of the bill, it contains policy that ought to be considered and debated by Congress. America desperately needs policy to shore up civic institutions, and the Family Security Act represents reform that is fit for the times…
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Vaccine rollout and pandemic response lay bare the limits of federal competence
Many were hoping that the change in administration would lead to an improved federal response to the pandemic. Yet reports of federal pandemic failures continue. This could simply be because the Biden administration is so new that it hasn’t had…
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For Biden to achieve unity, he will have to improve his rhetoric
Biden is right to seek unity between Americans. He is also correct that building unity requires more than words. But words can unite or divide as well.
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Will Biden take his own advice on unity and religious freedom?
Utah offers Biden an example in unifying leadership. To move the country forward, he can rise above liberal demands for no compromise with religious freedom and conservative perceptions that principled compromise on religious freedom is impossible. Both extremes miss the…
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Utah’s new governor offers solid 500-day plan – here’s what we would add to it
Much of the speech and the roadmap are commendable. Here’s what’s missing: an emphasis on the foundation – including basic freedoms and civic education – of our democratic republic.
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Gov. Cox’s new budget proposal looks good – but one thing’s missing
In a year with nearly $2 billion in new taxpayer dollars to potentially spend, prudent fiscal stewardship via avoiding excess is no simple task.
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Lessons from the D.C. riot
There are reasons for optimism and hope despite disturbing violence coming out of Washington, D.C. this week. Our democracy is not about to crumble; we have seen such events before and not only survived them but thrived afterward. And we…