It is axiomatic that Utahans in general, and Mormons in specific, are Republicans, and quite loyal to the party's mythology at that. Why, then, is the Great State of Utah operating a command, i.e. Socialist-style, economy?

UTAH STATE-OWNED LIQUOR STORES are the sole dispensers of carry-out liquor, wine and real beer. There are a number of these stores hidden throughout the state. They are closed on Sundays, holidays and other designated times. Lack of competition keeps the selection severely limited. Prices for wine and liquor are fixed with a minimum of 61% mark-up over cost, plus high state taxes. For real beer, the mark-up is 75% plus taxes, making the retail cost of some six-packs well over $10. Because of all this, the small community of Evanston, Wyoming (located about 70 miles east of Salt Lake City just over the Utah border) enjoys a bustling economy based on a large number of retail liquor stores located along Interstate 80.

From Utah's Unique and Curious Liquor Laws, which I found after doing a Google search for "Utah blue laws".

did you see "slc punk"? there's a whole sequence devoted this.

c.

No. I have not seen the film. Should I?

Because people have no idea what they actually believe in and what most politicians actually stand for. Voting for a president has become such a joke and scarily like High School elections- nothing more than a flimsy popularity competition.

No, but I have wanted to for a LONG time.

This is a state issue. Seeing as Sen. Hatch didn't hold public office until winning his Senate seat in 1976, I don't think that these laws are easily attributed to his work.

As for the first half, I'm more willing to attribute the vote of many people to the ability of elected officials, especially in Congress, to make sure that the people at home are taken care of. The seniority system has been upended to a degree, but for a long time in the Senate, seniority was king. Bump your incumbent out and you were back on the first rung.

As for the second, this really isn't a new phenomenon. Zachary Taylor won the White House in 1848 as a famous general in the Mexican War. Oddly enough, Taylor had never voted himself, nor did he vote for himself. He didn't cast his first ballot until a couple of years after elected President.

I used Orrin's name in the subject since he is the most prominent Utah pol. Plus, he's a songwriter -- and this is a music forum, ostensibly.

I could have said just as well, "Why did Brigham Young hate America?", or "Why does Mike Leavitt hate America?".

it's good. definitely worth $3 for a rental. kind of a punk's coming of age story in repressive salt lake city in the 80's.

Interesting. I can barely remember the last time I bought a six pack for under $10 and yet we don't get the benefit of legalized polygamy.

Hate to break the news to you, BR, but there has not been legalized polygamy in Utah for 123 years---you'll have to look elsewhere

Cripes, what good are Mormons without polygamy?

Winking eye very appropriate.

They "excommunicate" any membership of the Reformed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons. But, do they prosecute the thirty-five, forty years old men for taking eight, ten, fifteen wives, some as young as thirteen. No.

(This begs the question, of course: why isn't R. Kelly a convert to Mormony? I mean, they removed their dicta against negroid equality in the eyes of the Church in, what, 1978? Surely Robert would be welcome there now.)

Of course they do.

When? They did prosecute that one fellow who shares his name with Milwaukee's numero uno Elvis impersonator and Canada's most obnoxious funny man, but that was only because the Olympics were hitting the SLC, and the State AG didn't want the international media, but mainly the British tabs, to have anything with which to have a field month.
Otherwise, as long as the shit is only going down in the undrpopulated southeast of the state, no harm, no foul. And even if half (or more that half, in most cases) the wives are being supported not by their husbands, but by the state, in the form of welfare, food-stamps, the whole nine relief yards.

Current-day Mormon polygamists are Utah's cantankerous, senile granny in the attic.

Howie Mandell? Alan Thicke? Hayden?

Tom Green.