Utah: Cesspool or shining example?
By most standards, Utah's state government is considered among the least corrupt in the nation. For instance, in convictions for corruption, we rank 43th and for convictions in proportion to population, Utah comes in at 47th.But a recent survey of the Zion's state house reporters ranked Utah 14th in the land for corruption. Why the huge disparity? Here are some possibilities:
A. Utah's state house reporters and God hold elected officials to higher standards for honesty than prosecutors and the courts. (Reporters' theory.)One possible defense remains for Utah journalists. I asked around the political/state desk at the Tribune and no one recalls filling out or answering a survey on political corruption of any kind. Thus, the survey is corrupt.
B. Reporters know about horrible corruption, but never report it because they are part of the conspiracy. (The theory of the cranks who call me.)
C. Reporters are cynical bastards with a soft core of idealism. (Known fact.)
D. Reporters are drama queens when it comes to their beats. (Their editors' theory.)
E. Reporters are killer bees who exaggerate and slander. (Sen. Howard Stephenson's theory.)
2 Comments:
Of the theories you suggested, only the last one (survey was corrupt) makes any statistical sense.
Your theories explain why reporters in any and every state would rank their legislators low, but it doesn't address why reporters in one state are more likely to rate their legislators lower than reporters in other states.
I wouldn't be surprised, however, if Utah reporters did rank Utah legislators as corrupt, considering that most Utah reporters, particularly Tribune reporters, are bitter and angry about all things Utah (except the scenery and skiing).
You missed a probable theory:
The Utah Religiouslature have so honed their corruption skills that the reporters (like prosecutors) know of their corrupt ways instinctively but cannot prove it.
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