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Personal:
Born October 7th - Murray, Utah
Education: Currently pursuing
Master of Aeronautical Science at Embry Riddle Aeronautical
University (about 1/4 complete). Bachelor of
Science, Management Information Systems at Brigham Young University;
Certificate, Air Traffic Control at Minneapolis Community &
Technical College; Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE);
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA); Microsoft Certified
Professional + Internet (MCP+I)
Profession: Air Traffic
Controller, since 2002; Technology Consultant since 1995
Achievements & Affiliations:
Certified Professional Controller (CPC); Aircraft Owners & Pilots
Association (AOPA); National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA);
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI); Foundation
for Ancient Research & Mormon Studies (FARMS); Virtual Air Traffic
Simulation Network (VATSIM); Private Pilot, ASEL; Eagle Scout Award
Affiliations Pending or
Considering: The National Society of the Sons of the American
Revolution (SAR); The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation (SOLEIF);
Sons of Utah Pioneers (SUP)
Hobbies: Genealogy,
photography, writing, politics, scuba diving, aviation, virtual aviation, and
history
Websites: Here is a complete
list of websites that I run:
www.allthingssmallville.com,
www.arcomsystems.com,
www.arcomtravel.com,
www.bentzel.org,
www.chaddutson.com,
www.cloward.org,
www.conders.org,
www.dutsons.org,
www.holyoak.org,
www.kump.org,
www.kylen.org,
www.mendenhalls.org,
www.mormonimages.com,
www.mountain-air.org,
www.nicholsfam.org,
www.nicholslibrary.org,
& www.ourimmigrants.org
Political Opinions:
Local Issues
- Neighborhoods - Every individual
has the right to maximize the "quality of life" around
himself/herself and likewise it is the responsibility of each
individual citizen to maintain a healthy, clean environment and
not take away nor infringe on these rights of others; Local government should
only get involved in these issues when others' rights are
imposed upon.
- Sales Tax - Sales tax on
essential living items needs to be eliminated for the benefit of
the poor. Essential living items could include food, cosmetics,
medical costs, utilities, cleaning supplies, and more.
- State Income Tax - The
state income tax should be completely eliminated and replaced
with statewide sales tax, similar to the National Fair Tax
proposition, that assists the poor.
- County Property Tax -
County property taxes take choice and decisions away from the
ordinary citizen. County taxes should be incorporated into the
sales tax system where essential living items are not taxed, yet
"premium" or "luxury" items are taxed.
- Growth Plan - It is the
responsibility of local government to ensure their society
establishes, implements, and follows stringent plans to beautify
their surroundings and keep their citizens safe. An example
would be removing telephone and power lines by placing them all
underground. Likewise, by city ordinance new utilities should be
required to be placed underground.
- Salt Lake County's
Transportation - Salt Lake County's transportation system is
nothing short of a quagmire. Once you get to a freeway, any part
of the city is accessible within 15 to 20 minutes, which is
commendable, but the problem is getting to the freeway.
Who was the loony who thought Bangerter Highway was a futuristic
fix to the problem? Or even the Mountain View Corridor? Sure the
Mountain View Corridor will help in my commute northbound, but
it does nothing for east-west traffic. An example is the drive
to my in-laws. They live a short 14.7 miles due east of my home
via the existing roads. The sad tale is that this drive takes 30
to 40 minutes to complete due to the lack of an East-West
freeway system. Just adding more pavement is NOT going to fix
this problem!
- Northern Utah Airspace
Initiative - Congressman Jim Matheson states "I have heard
from many concerned Utahns about both the proposed downwind
patterns over the Salt Lake Valley and the Four Corner Post
concept for the entire Wasatch Front metropolitan area. The
downwind patterns would introduce air traffic and increase noise
over a large portion of the valley including Salt Lake City,
South Salt Lake, Holladay, Murray, Midvale, Sandy, and Draper."
But what Congressman Matheson fails to mention is that the
opposite effect would take place on the western half of Salt
Lake County, nor does he bring up the point that this initiative
would expectedly saves the airlines money and make the air
traffic flow into and out of Salt Lake City safer.
- Education - Our schools
should be the pride of our nation. We should fund education
appropriately, at the local level, to maintain strict levels of
competence at both the teacher and student levels. Local
governments must be funded and empowered to make the difference!
In fact, a serious debate whether there should even be a
Department of Education in the federal government should be
considered.
National Issues
- God in Government - It was not
the intent of our Founding Fathers to eliminate God from
government, but rather to keep man, acting for God, from
meddling in governmental affairs nor establish a so-called
"national religion." Freedom of religion is one of our most
precious gifts in the Constitution. From the words of James
Madison, "Congress should not establish a religion and enforce
the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to
worship God in any manner contrary to their conscience, or that
one sect might obtain pre-eminence, or two combined together,
and establish a religion to which they would compel others to
conform" (Annals of Congress, 15 Aug 1789, pp 730-1, emphasis
added). Therefore, God in government itself was never meant to
be forbidden,
but rather a nationalized religion is against the law. A mere
belief in God nor mention of the name is NOT illegal nor should
it be implied that way. In God We Trust and forever it shall be!!
- Small Government - Our nation's
government is too large and therefore inefficient and too
bureaucratic. The federal government's so-called "power" should
be reduced by eliminating unnecessary programs and departments,
particularly those that don't directly support the benefit of
the average individual. The various departments within our
federal government should be run efficiently, similar to more
business organizations.
- Military - Our nation's military
should be strong and able at all times.
- Energy - Our nation's dependence
on oil is detrimental to our nation's well-being. Our government
must be proactive in identifying energy alternatives and promote
inexpensive options for these alternatives; This includes home
and business-based energy alternatives, not just automobiles!
- Environment - Our environment
must be cared for less we destroy our children's world. As an
example, a good rule-of-thumb when camping is to leave a
campground cleaner than when you arrived. Our nation must take a
stand at caring for our environment by eliminating pollution as
much as possible and imposing strict fines against those who do
not care for the environment.
- Healthcare - Our nation's
healthcare should remain a private industry. Socialized medicine
has no place in our federal government. The problem with
healthcare is the high cost of lawsuits. Lawsuits cost the
average household
- Social Security - The benefits
of social security are vital to our senior citizens and disabled
and I believe each American should be able to rely upon Social
Security benefits in their retirement. In order for this benefit
to fully provide the benefits it was designed for it is imperative the
federal government restructure Social Security to be a
full-scale retirement plan for Americans. The Social Security
system should be similar in design to the current Thrift Savings
Plan (www.tsp.gov) which is in
place for Federal Employees. There is no reason each and every
American can not reap the rewards of this type of program!
- Unborn Baby Rights - Abortion is killing
another individual who does in fact have a heartbeat. There is
no questioning this point. Regarding the choices we make, each
individual has the choice to either engage in sexual activity or
not, and if he/she decides to engage in sex he/she clearly
understands the consequences. The only exception
would be when a woman is NOT given the choice to engage in
sexual activity (i.e. rape).
- Gay Rights - Have you
ever heard of the phrase "homosexual rights?" I have not, so the
whole movement behind "gay
rights" has no place in our government. Each individual
has their own right to choose their own lifestyle and until that
person's choice infringes upon another's rights legislation does
not belong in this arena.
- Government Subsidies - Our
government should eliminate all subsidies to corporations,
except in the rare circumstance of a national crisis where
our industries need a competitive edge in order to maintain
competition with their international competitors.
- Frivolous Lawsuits - Frivolous
lawsuits are destroying the integrity of our nation's judicial
system, not to mention our healthcare system. Our judges should
not only aggressively throw out frivolous lawsuits, but also have the ability to "fine" those
lawyers/complainants who are plaintiffs in any such case
lawsuits, providing a deterrent to those cases that are beyond
the absurd.
- National Security - Our borders,
ports, airports, and skies must be protected. Once upon a time
our nation's borders were open to all including my ancestors,
but due to the security risks of our time the borders must be
guarded at any cost by dramatically altering the roles of the
Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard.
- Homeland Security - The CIA,
FBI, NSA, ATF, and Secret Service should be combined into a single agency in the
executive branch, Homeland Security. This would rapidly
eliminate any so-called "turf wars" and create an atmosphere of
cooperation. And what about the U.S. Treasury's own agrnys? Yes,
that should be eliminated, too.
- Federal, States, and County Judges - The
responsibility of judges is to interpret the law, NOT make law.
Any judge who overextends his/her authority should immediately
face impeachment.
- Cabinet Level Positions -
Cabinet level positions in the executive branch of the
government should be appointed by the President of the United
States at his/her discretion without the necessity of
Congressional oversight. George Washington didn't do it that
way, nor should it be now.
- Hatch Act - The Hatch Act must
be repealed. Federal employees should not be prevented from
running for public office. Are not the members of Congress and
the President of the United States themselves federal employees?
How is it not illegal that they run for office when their terms
expire?
- Income Tax - The federal income
tax as we know it should be completely eliminated. I fully support the Fair
Tax and have even contributed to this grand cause. I suggest
everyone does the same.
It is understood there are
certain "luxuries" maintained by our government that require
funding to function properly such as our military, freeways,
airports, monuments, and government buildings. In order
to continue to sustain these "luxuries" that are available to
the general public-at-large our nation should sponsor a dramatic
change by taxing the individuals/entities who/that utilize them. Appropriate examples for federal fees (or taxes)
are the following:
- Roads - Taxes on gasoline or
the use of tolls should pay directly for building roads and
their maintenance and NOT for any other use.
- National Parks - National
Parks are the treasures of our nation, but the general
public should not be taxed for those facilities they do not
enjoy. Each park should be self-sustaining by their own
entrance fees, meaning visitors (especially foreigners)
should be supporting each park's existence.
- Airports - Airports should
be built and maintained by the respective city upon which
they reside, not the federal government.
- History - An understanding
of our nation's history vital to each of our children's
futures and therefore federal taxes should be utilized to
maintain a strong national historical society.
- FAA/Air Traffic Control -
The FAA (ultimately the ATC system) should be supported
solely by aircraft fuel taxes. This will equalize the cost
of the system across the many users, from the local pilot
who flies a Cessna 172 to the owner of a Bombardier Learjet.
- Seat Belts - The federal
seat belt law is a perfect example of BIG GOVERNMENT eliminating
freedoms and should be amended to protect children, yet provide
adults the freedom to choose for themselves whether they feel
seat belts are important.
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