Work with court monitor
 
Opinion
The Spectrum
 
Receiving a "cold shoulder" is one thing, but unabashed disrespect for the democratic process is another. Bruce Wisan, the court-appointed special fiduciary charged last year to reform the United Effort Plan Trust, the financial arm of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, had a staff member request a month in advance to be put on the Colorado City, Ariz., council agenda to talk about required surveys on the properties in order to settle lot boundaries in the polygamous community.

The request went unanswered, forcing Wisan to articulate the business proposal, which divides each block into individual parcels for tax purposes, in the public comments segment of the meeting in three minutes - the permitted time for individual input.

Wisan is doing his best to fulfill his appointed role of collecting property taxes - estimated to be $1 million delinquent - from members of the community living on UEP trust land property in accordance to a 3rd District Court ruling that ordered an overhaul of the trust in order to secure and protect its assets from civil lawsuits ignored by FLDS church leadership - including fugitive FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs.

While municipal leaders have the right to control their own agenda, it is inexcusable as a representative government - made possible by the political ideology of America - to thumb its nose at the checks and balances system that is working on its behalf. It is additionally indefensible for that same governmental body to break its own laws, such as fences built in complete violation of the city's building code and the emergence of other construction without authorization of building permits.

If that isn't sanctimonious enough, the more evident display of hypocrisy is the claim that the practice of polygamy is a religious freedom under the Constitution, while unequivocally seeking sovereignty from its governance. The attempt to usurp power and authority from a freedom bestowed upon every U.S. citizen in order to perpetuate and benefit from illegal practices is undeniably criminal.

What other conclusion can be drawn from the actions, or lack thereof, that tout defiance and contempt for the enforcement of laws in which we all must adhere to and live by? While the city of Hildale agreed to have Wisan's presentation on its agenda, we implore the twin cities to cooperate fully with the court memorandum decision. Continued recalcitrance will only produce a chilling effect of further scrutiny and call into question your practice of democracy, in addition to your practice of polygamy.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published April 12, 2006
 
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