Today, we conduct a little test. On the back of these flyers, I'll have different political writings, offering thoughts on things I think could be changed in the world around us. You be so kind, if you will, to call me up and say which flyer you got and whether it helped persuade you to vote for me. I won't answer, so it will go through to my voice mail and you won't have to say who you are. My number is 801-566-4023.

John Jackson for House District 44

You've heard more from my opponents, Tim Cosgrove and Christy Achziger, but I beg your vote, as well, and suggest you might like me more than either of them if you are not against significant change. Electing an independent would be significant, of itself. Although more Utah voters register as independents than as Republicans and Democrats combined, never has an independent been elected to the Utah Legislature. Never. If you should like, change that, make history. The father of your country warned you against parties, anyway, so why not occasionally elect an independent? Second, it would be significant to elect someone who is not accepting campaign contributions. I just don't think it the best thing that sometimes the very people who contribute are there after the election, wanting legislation. I won't take their money. If I don't take the money now, I won't have to worry then whether in the back of my mind a desire to return a favor is coloring my voting on legislation. After all these elections, year in and year out, for once, elect someone who refuses to take that money. It leaves me the poorest of candidates by far, but perhaps I would not have received many contributions anyway, as many contribute solely based on whether you are Democrat or Republican.

At any rate, take this piece of paper, read it, and vote for me. I haven't money for fancy mailers. I haven't money for the lawn signs. For once, vote for someone who is the best candidate on the ballot, but cannot win your vote by spending money. He doesn't have it. (Truth be told, I might could spend a little more than I have, but I like the notion of being elected without money.)

What you'll get:

Would it be significant if we changed it so you could vote for anyone you want in Utah? Surprise, surprise, you can't do that, right now. If you write in a vote, it has to be for a write-in candidate registered with the state. Otherwise, your vote will be trashed.  I will work to change that.

I don't know how the other candidates stand on abortion. I would guess they are against it. I can only say, you can elect someone who opposes it, but doesn't plan on doing anything about it, or you can elect someone who will, and perhaps in a very meaningful way. Way back when the Supreme Court was considering Roe v. Wade, Justice Potter Stewart said the attorney bringing the abortion cause before them would have an almost impossible case if it were established that the unborn fetus were a person. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger wondered out loud what would happen if the State of Texas (Roe v. Wade came out of Texas) adopted a statue saying a fetus is a person. So, pass such legislation, and hope it leads to a case going right back up the ladder and overturning Roe v. Wade.

Would it be significant to overhaul the prison system? Significant changes should be made, big enough changes that I don't know whether I would muster the votes to bring them about. Still, I will try, and if the bill does pass, Utah will be the better for it. I believe every prisoner should work, should have a support system providing love, and should be retrained in life skills and good behavior.