Were it not for the extremely selfish cultural focus of the state of Utah, almost all political subunits throughout the state, and the typical voter, it might be possible to join in the “pioneer” spirit intended by this holiday.

I moved here nearly a half-century ago, from a horrifically burned-out lead-zinc and coal mining region of southeastern Kansas, via four or five majors over a decade in the University of Kansas system, only to encounter this callous indifference of government toward indigenous cultures, archaeological and paleontological wealth, and the prevalence of ways of thinking other than Mormon. What a fabulous physical wonderland — if we can suspend awareness of the impacts of the burgeoning populace. Compounded by the sudden onset of global warming, the Trump/Zinke/Herbert administration effort to put as much as possible of Utah’s hydrocarbon storehouse into the atmosphere may be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.