Letter to the Editor: The Utah Legislature is destroying our freedoms and silencing our voices

Photo courtesy of E P Kosmicki.

The Salt Lake Tribune published a powerful letter written by Ann Florence. Her letter explains how the Utah Legislature is quietly dismantling the checks and balances that uphold democracy, consolidating power while limiting public oversight. She compares our political system to a basketball game, showing  just as a fair game requires neutral referees and consistent rules, the government relies on independent branches to ensure accountability.

Utah lawmakers are attempting to rewrite the rules to serve their own interests—expanding their authority while undermining the judiciary and making it harder for citizens to check their power through ballot initiatives.

“This is the game our legislators play. First, they write the rules, which always increase their own power, and then carry them out with impunity.

“Why is this not an egregious conflict of interest?

“Through gerrymandering, many ran unopposed, establishing a supermajority that cannot be overridden by the governor’s veto,” Florence writes. 

Nowhere is this more obvious than in their treatment of mining and industrial polluters. If lawmakers truly represented their constituents, they would prioritize clean air, safe water, and public health over corporate profits. Instead, they are doing everything they can to silence public opposition and consolidate their control. We must hold them accountable. Your legislators were elected to serve you, don’t be afraid to speak up for what you want from them! UPHE may have made some enemies speaking truth to power, but we’ve also created meaningful change.