Oklahoma minister Dr. Robin Meyers is sure to make people mad with this book, Why the Christian Right is Wrong.
But somehow, I don’t think that will bother him.
Meyers, a progressive Oklahoma minister, lays out his issues and his criticisms of the Christian Right in his latest work — and it’s a tough, critical look.
Based on a speech given at a peace rally on the University of Oklahoma campus, Meyers books gives the reader an unvarnished, unapologetic critique of the “moral values” of the Christian right.
Written in a spunky, almost H.L. Menken style, Meyers isn’t big on hypocrisy.
He’s mad.
He’s passionate.
He’s indignant.
And he wants to make sure you understand exactly what he’s believes.
“Granted, thinking is hard work, and thinking about moral and ethical issues is particularly hard work,” he writes. “Although the phrase ‘situational ethics’ rolls off the tongue of the Christian Right with disdain, the fact is there is no other kind. Jesus proved this when he forgave the woman caught in adultery.”
Reading Meyers’ book, I’m amazed by his insight and his courage. And while I’m sure he’s received his share of hate mail for this work, I do believe he wrote something which needed to be said.
Each of us, on this journey from one plain to the other, are simply trying to get along.
But many would seek to make their issues and their beliefs the single repository for all human existence.
Thankfully, Meyers exposes this.
Just about 200 pages long, Why the Christian Right is Wrong is a book every student of Oklahoma — and for that matter, national — politics should have.
Believe me, it will make some furious.
But, hopefully, it will also make them think.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Oh, by the way...
While I'm very pleased with the response this little experiment has received, I felt I should clarify a couple of things. Here, you'll see stories of a political nature — they are pretty obvious. However, mixed in with them are opinion pieces I've written. Up until now I haven't listed them as "opinion" or "news."
But just to keep down the sniping, and to make sure that you all know when I'm expressing my opinion (I mean, Hell, it's my blog, I should be able to get on my soapbox once in a while) from now on I'll put the word "Commentary" in the headline.
Hopefully, that will explain the difference.
And thanks for reading.
But just to keep down the sniping, and to make sure that you all know when I'm expressing my opinion (I mean, Hell, it's my blog, I should be able to get on my soapbox once in a while) from now on I'll put the word "Commentary" in the headline.
Hopefully, that will explain the difference.
And thanks for reading.
Weather Center is "money well spent" Cole says
The University of Oklahoma’s $69 million state-of-the-art National Weather Center is an example of governmental “money well spent” Republican U.S. Congressman Tom Cole said Wednesday.
Cole — back in Oklahoma for the Memorial Day break — spent about two hours touring the weather center Wednesday afternoon.
And he had high praise for the facility.
“You know there’s a common myth that a lot of what we do in government is waste and it’s all terrible,” he said. “And there are certainly some things that, boy, if you have a $2.9 trillion budget, believe me there’s some waste in that, but you get things like this, too.”
A facility such as the OU weather center, he said, “would not happen only simple private capital, alone.”
“It’s the relationship back and forth,” he said, between the private sector and government.
Walking slowly from floor to floor around the five-story, 244,000-square foot building, Cole — along with several members of his staff — said the center represents a “synergy” between governmental entities.
“It’s world class,” he said. “You’re seeing tremendous synergy between the federal sector, the state sector, the private sector, and international cooperation. It’s extraordinary. It is a remarkable building; that’s what you want to see in Oklahoma.”
And that relationship, he said, benefits more than just the weather center.
“The possibilities are almost infinite,” he said. “Any time you are the leader in the world at something, you attract the best in the world. The applications are pretty extraordinary.”
Those applications could include global warming.
“Sadly, or soberingly, maybe is a better way to put it, if we really are in an era, and we are, of global warning this kind of ability, this kind of capability, is going to very important in minimizing loss and saving lives.”
The center’s commercial and humanitarian importance, he said, is “pretty phenomenal.”
On a more personal level, Cole — a native of Moore — said the center has particular meaning for him.
“With the tornados of ‘98, ‘99 and 2003 it has extraordinary meaning. My house came with 100 yards of one of those (tornados). You think of the lives that can be saved and the forecasting capability and the warnings.”
The center, he said, represents an investment that will be paid back “many, many fold.”
“We ought to build more of ‘em,” he said.
Cole — back in Oklahoma for the Memorial Day break — spent about two hours touring the weather center Wednesday afternoon.
And he had high praise for the facility.
“You know there’s a common myth that a lot of what we do in government is waste and it’s all terrible,” he said. “And there are certainly some things that, boy, if you have a $2.9 trillion budget, believe me there’s some waste in that, but you get things like this, too.”
A facility such as the OU weather center, he said, “would not happen only simple private capital, alone.”
“It’s the relationship back and forth,” he said, between the private sector and government.
Walking slowly from floor to floor around the five-story, 244,000-square foot building, Cole — along with several members of his staff — said the center represents a “synergy” between governmental entities.
“It’s world class,” he said. “You’re seeing tremendous synergy between the federal sector, the state sector, the private sector, and international cooperation. It’s extraordinary. It is a remarkable building; that’s what you want to see in Oklahoma.”
And that relationship, he said, benefits more than just the weather center.
“The possibilities are almost infinite,” he said. “Any time you are the leader in the world at something, you attract the best in the world. The applications are pretty extraordinary.”
Those applications could include global warming.
“Sadly, or soberingly, maybe is a better way to put it, if we really are in an era, and we are, of global warning this kind of ability, this kind of capability, is going to very important in minimizing loss and saving lives.”
The center’s commercial and humanitarian importance, he said, is “pretty phenomenal.”
On a more personal level, Cole — a native of Moore — said the center has particular meaning for him.
“With the tornados of ‘98, ‘99 and 2003 it has extraordinary meaning. My house came with 100 yards of one of those (tornados). You think of the lives that can be saved and the forecasting capability and the warnings.”
The center, he said, represents an investment that will be paid back “many, many fold.”
“We ought to build more of ‘em,” he said.
Okie businesses need a "better understanding" of insurance industry, state commissioner says
Oklahoma’s small businesses need to develop a better understanding of their insurance and how it can effect their business, the state’s insurance commissioner said recently.
Speaking in Norman, state insurance commissioner Kim Holland said most of the state’s small business owners don’t really understand their insurance or how it works.
“The number one complaint,” she said, “is a due to individuals not understanding their insurance. Whether it’s an individual or a business, it’s a flat lack of understanding that creates more problems for you and later for us.”
As consumers of insurance Holland said business owners should “have a solid understanding” of all types of their insurance, including:
• Workers compensation insurance
• Business property and liability insurance
• Commercial auto insurance
• Group health insurance
• Group disability insurance
• Group life insurance
• “Key” person life insurance
• Home based business insurance.
Additionally, she said, the biggest issue for businesses is the high cost of health insurance.
“The cost of health insurance is the number one issue for many,” she said. “It’s beyond the means of many of our small businesses.”
Because many of the state’s smaller businesses are “self sustaining” and are not making large profits, they are priced out of the health insurance market, she said.
“You have to make a lot of money to afford the yearly costs,” she said.
One way to help, she said, was with the state’s O-EPIC plan.
That plan — where the state helps pay a portion of the business owners’ insurance costs — applies to companies which employ 50 people or less and meet certain pay level requirements.
To qualify for the plan businesses:
• Must have fewer than 50 employees
• Be located in Oklahoma
• Offer an O-EPIC qualified health plan
• Contribute at least 25 percent of the premiums for eligible employees
• Complete the plan application.
“It’s a wonderful program,” she said “And it can help make the difference.”
Legislation to expand the program to include companies which employee 250 or less is currently awaiting Gov. Brad Henry’s signature.
A second issue, which Holland says is vital for the business community, is a better understanding of the insurance industry, the types of insurance and how it affects consumers.
“The goal is to educate small business owners and managers about the insurance industry and insurance issues,” she said.
That outreach has been a core part of Holland’s tenure as commissioner.
Since 2005, she’s hosted a statewide summit on the high cost of health insurance, a climate and loss mitigation conference, increased the department’s outreach efforts and launched an InsureU Web site to better explain the insurance industry.
Appointed in January 2005 by Gov. Henry as a replacement for former commissioner Carroll Fisher, who was forced out of office, Holland was elected to her first term as commissioner last year.
Speaking in Norman, state insurance commissioner Kim Holland said most of the state’s small business owners don’t really understand their insurance or how it works.
“The number one complaint,” she said, “is a due to individuals not understanding their insurance. Whether it’s an individual or a business, it’s a flat lack of understanding that creates more problems for you and later for us.”
As consumers of insurance Holland said business owners should “have a solid understanding” of all types of their insurance, including:
• Workers compensation insurance
• Business property and liability insurance
• Commercial auto insurance
• Group health insurance
• Group disability insurance
• Group life insurance
• “Key” person life insurance
• Home based business insurance.
Additionally, she said, the biggest issue for businesses is the high cost of health insurance.
“The cost of health insurance is the number one issue for many,” she said. “It’s beyond the means of many of our small businesses.”
Because many of the state’s smaller businesses are “self sustaining” and are not making large profits, they are priced out of the health insurance market, she said.
“You have to make a lot of money to afford the yearly costs,” she said.
One way to help, she said, was with the state’s O-EPIC plan.
That plan — where the state helps pay a portion of the business owners’ insurance costs — applies to companies which employ 50 people or less and meet certain pay level requirements.
To qualify for the plan businesses:
• Must have fewer than 50 employees
• Be located in Oklahoma
• Offer an O-EPIC qualified health plan
• Contribute at least 25 percent of the premiums for eligible employees
• Complete the plan application.
“It’s a wonderful program,” she said “And it can help make the difference.”
Legislation to expand the program to include companies which employee 250 or less is currently awaiting Gov. Brad Henry’s signature.
A second issue, which Holland says is vital for the business community, is a better understanding of the insurance industry, the types of insurance and how it affects consumers.
“The goal is to educate small business owners and managers about the insurance industry and insurance issues,” she said.
That outreach has been a core part of Holland’s tenure as commissioner.
Since 2005, she’s hosted a statewide summit on the high cost of health insurance, a climate and loss mitigation conference, increased the department’s outreach efforts and launched an InsureU Web site to better explain the insurance industry.
Appointed in January 2005 by Gov. Henry as a replacement for former commissioner Carroll Fisher, who was forced out of office, Holland was elected to her first term as commissioner last year.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Terrill, Nichols' jail billl "Dead" for session
OKLAHOMA CITY -- While it's not exactly dead, a state Senate bill which would have prevented a county detention center from being built along Franklin Road, is on legislative life support and won't become law this year.
Senate Bill 896 by state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, and state Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, would have stopped county commissioners in Cleveland County from building a new jail facility within two miles of an existing elementary school, secondary school or technology center.
The measure also included Oklahoma and Tulsa counties.
The bill would have prevented Cleveland County commissioners from building a new detention center on a 30-acre plot of land located on Franklin Road and, instead, would have forced them to either expand the county's current facility or build a new jail within one mile of the old one, in downtown Norman.
The measure -- which quickly became controversial -- entered the legislative version of limbo this week, when the Senate adjourned for the year, Thursday evening.
Because the bill was still on the Senate's calendar, it was "held over" for next legislative session, keeping it alive.
"There were concerns about whether there were the necessary votes (for the bill)," Nichols said. "But the vehicle did survive the session and there is plenty of time to improve it."
The drama surrounding the jail's location has been ongoing for several years.
Following reports of overcrowding and threats by state health officials to either fine the county or close the jail if the inmate population isn't reduced, commissioners began scouting for land to build a new facility.
In August 2006, Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis threatend to circulate a initiative petition to move the county seat to Moore, if county officials tried to locate the jail there.
"The majority of county voters live north of Indian Hills," Lewis said. "We shouldn't be forced to have the jail without the rest of county government. Believe me, I wouldn't have any trouble calling for a public vote to move the county seat."
The debate about the jail's location continued, then reached a climax last month.
On April 25 -- following reports that county officials would seek to purchase land on Franklin Road -- local residents lobbied commissioners and packed a special commission meeting to discuss the jail legislation and its proposed location. That same week, state Sen. John Sparks, D-Norman, issued a media statement calling for Terrill and Nichols to withdraw their bill.
"The practical result in our county would be counter-productive to the bill's authors' stated purpose," Sparks said in April. "The passage of this bill would also create an undue burden on the taxpayers."
Since then county officials -- including commissioners from Cleveland, Oklahoma and Tulsa counties -- have lobbied hard against the measure.
"I think it's pretty much dead for the session," said Cleveland County commissioner George Skinner.
Oklahoma County commissioner Ray Vaughan, a Republican, said he, too, had "concerns" about the bill. "I talked to Senator Jolly, our senator from Edmond about it," he said. "Because we're in the position of building an addition to the exsiting jail and considering the relocation of our juvenile justice center."
Vaughan said the bill would make it difficult for Oklahoma County officials to relocate those facilities. "It's going to be tough enough without those kind of restrictions," he said.
Oklahoma County commisioner Jim Roth said he, too, urged Oklahoma County legislators to stop the measure.
"There's a school in virtually every square mile in Oklahoma County," Roth said. "It (the bill) makes it very difficult to relocate a facility. I'm glad it's dead for now. I think it had good intentions, but bad implications for local taxpayers."
Still, even with the controversy, Nichols said he would continue to work on the issue.
"My number one concern is public safety," he said. "We've been working well with citizens and commissioners. The matter is still very much alive, and I continue to listen to all parties involved."
By holding the bill over for the next legislative session, Nichols said there is "opportunity and time" for the bill to be changed and improved.
"It's alive for input," he said. "It could be worked on next session."
Yet for Cleveland County commissioners, the problem of an ever-increasing inmate population and the need for a new detention facility remain.
"We still have to build a jail," Cleveland County commissioner George Skinner said. "Wherever we put the jail, it's going to go in someone's back yard. We've been looking for a jail site for three years. Our county is filling up and there's just not a place to put it."
Senate Bill 896 by state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, and state Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, would have stopped county commissioners in Cleveland County from building a new jail facility within two miles of an existing elementary school, secondary school or technology center.
The measure also included Oklahoma and Tulsa counties.
The bill would have prevented Cleveland County commissioners from building a new detention center on a 30-acre plot of land located on Franklin Road and, instead, would have forced them to either expand the county's current facility or build a new jail within one mile of the old one, in downtown Norman.
The measure -- which quickly became controversial -- entered the legislative version of limbo this week, when the Senate adjourned for the year, Thursday evening.
Because the bill was still on the Senate's calendar, it was "held over" for next legislative session, keeping it alive.
"There were concerns about whether there were the necessary votes (for the bill)," Nichols said. "But the vehicle did survive the session and there is plenty of time to improve it."
The drama surrounding the jail's location has been ongoing for several years.
Following reports of overcrowding and threats by state health officials to either fine the county or close the jail if the inmate population isn't reduced, commissioners began scouting for land to build a new facility.
In August 2006, Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis threatend to circulate a initiative petition to move the county seat to Moore, if county officials tried to locate the jail there.
"The majority of county voters live north of Indian Hills," Lewis said. "We shouldn't be forced to have the jail without the rest of county government. Believe me, I wouldn't have any trouble calling for a public vote to move the county seat."
The debate about the jail's location continued, then reached a climax last month.
On April 25 -- following reports that county officials would seek to purchase land on Franklin Road -- local residents lobbied commissioners and packed a special commission meeting to discuss the jail legislation and its proposed location. That same week, state Sen. John Sparks, D-Norman, issued a media statement calling for Terrill and Nichols to withdraw their bill.
"The practical result in our county would be counter-productive to the bill's authors' stated purpose," Sparks said in April. "The passage of this bill would also create an undue burden on the taxpayers."
Since then county officials -- including commissioners from Cleveland, Oklahoma and Tulsa counties -- have lobbied hard against the measure.
"I think it's pretty much dead for the session," said Cleveland County commissioner George Skinner.
Oklahoma County commissioner Ray Vaughan, a Republican, said he, too, had "concerns" about the bill. "I talked to Senator Jolly, our senator from Edmond about it," he said. "Because we're in the position of building an addition to the exsiting jail and considering the relocation of our juvenile justice center."
Vaughan said the bill would make it difficult for Oklahoma County officials to relocate those facilities. "It's going to be tough enough without those kind of restrictions," he said.
Oklahoma County commisioner Jim Roth said he, too, urged Oklahoma County legislators to stop the measure.
"There's a school in virtually every square mile in Oklahoma County," Roth said. "It (the bill) makes it very difficult to relocate a facility. I'm glad it's dead for now. I think it had good intentions, but bad implications for local taxpayers."
Still, even with the controversy, Nichols said he would continue to work on the issue.
"My number one concern is public safety," he said. "We've been working well with citizens and commissioners. The matter is still very much alive, and I continue to listen to all parties involved."
By holding the bill over for the next legislative session, Nichols said there is "opportunity and time" for the bill to be changed and improved.
"It's alive for input," he said. "It could be worked on next session."
Yet for Cleveland County commissioners, the problem of an ever-increasing inmate population and the need for a new detention facility remain.
"We still have to build a jail," Cleveland County commissioner George Skinner said. "Wherever we put the jail, it's going to go in someone's back yard. We've been looking for a jail site for three years. Our county is filling up and there's just not a place to put it."
Thursday, May 24, 2007
COMMENTARY: How the anti-tax crowd is killing a city...
If you travel far enough on Oklahoma City’s Northwest Expressway, past the restaurants, the banks, and the struggling strip malls, you’ll eventually wind up in Warr Acres.
Warr Acres — a short hop away from Bethany — is a nice, sleepy little community. It’s a good place to raise a family.
And, it really doesn’t take long to get there, either.
Oh, you’ll know you’ve arrived when you see those stupid signs informing you about how you’ve entered Oklahoma’s version of low-tax Nirvana.
These signs — large ones — sit along side the road and proudly inform drivers they are now in the hamlet which offers the area’s lowest sales tax rate, and how, if you dare to travel out of this glorious little community, you’ll be faced with, God forbid, higher taxes.
Of course, there’s a little more to the story.
And it’s a story that I doubt the Warr Acres city council or the city’s mayor, Marietta Tardibono, will spend much time promoting.
But for you folks that follow city government, and for the loyal readers of this column, here’s the 411: Warr Acres is close to going belly up.
Yep, they ain’t got no money.
None. They are doing good to keep the lights on; their budget is dismal and they can barely pay for municipal services.
Why?
The answer is simple: Because they have no tax base.
“And why is that?” You ask.
That answer, too, is simple: Warr Acres has spent so much time touting the anti-tax line, anti-government line they have their tax base artificially low.
And chickens, my grandfather used to say, come home to roost.
Funny think about life in the U.S., those prices for everything from gasoline to stamps keep increasing.
But with their “low tax-no tax” sales line, Warr Acres officials are discovering that now, they can’t keep up.
Granted, the city — on the verge of falling apart — recently voted to increase their tax rate.
But it may a classic example of too little, too late.
Don’t believe me?
Here’s the situation from the mayor’s own pen:
“These last six months have been trying to say the least,” Tardibono said, during her state of the city speech in February. “Many are calling upon this new legislature to do something on a state level to help us out. Our representatives will be working this session to pass legislation which could be our saving grace.”
That’s interesting.
Warr Acres, the community that touts itself the area’s low-tax kingdom, wants the rest of us to help out. They want state lawmakers to shift some state law or some state money their way; they would like the rest of the state to help them pay for services they can’t (or won’t) pay for themselves.
Swell.
Tardibono continues, talking about how the city has reduced its staff from “…87 employees in 2003 to 64 which I consider to be a skeleton crew.”
Then she adds, the city “would have been in serious trouble, had not the voters approved the 1-cent sales tax.”
Okay, so you get the picture. Here’s this little town that bitched and moaned about taxes so much that it became their marketing theme.
Only it didn’t work.
Businesses and shoppers didn’t flood the plot that is Warr Acres. There was no mammoth influx of spending capital to keep the city’s budget in the black.
The signs didn’t work.
And, because the taxes they do assess have not kept pace with inflation, they’ve come to the point where they’ve almost run out of money – as in, struggling to keep the pay for municipal services.
So the Warr Acres city council convinces voters of the need for a sales tax increase and then sends a lobbyist to the Legislature to twist arms and plead for state revenue because they are still struggling.
Oh yeah, did I mention the signs?
Here’s the deal: If we, as Americans, are going to live in America, then we’re going to have to tax ourselves enough to cover governmental services. If you want fire, police, schools, roads, water, sewer, libraries and other municipal services, they you’re going to have to help pay for them.
There is no other way to do it.
And it’s real damn sanctimonious to put up signs that talk about how your town is some little low-tax oasis, then when money gets tight, you town expects the rest of us to bail you out.
Funny thing, those roads going into and out of Warr Acres are paid for by the other municipalities in the area which are in the “high tax” part of the city.
But I don’t hear any complaints about that.
Shoot, I don’t like paying taxes. I’d rather keep every cent of my money.
But that ain’t going to happen. So what do we do?
Try this: Elect intelligent, progressive, honest people to government. Then instruct them to hire the same type of governmental staff.
After that, set a reasonable, solid tax system in place that will cover the cost of services, recruit new businesses and spent a good portion of your money a quality educational system.
The keep the public informed and make sure they know what you’re doing every step of the way.
Sound familiar?
Well, that’s the recipe city officials use in Moore.
Here, you don’t have to look hard to see a dynamic, growing, progressive city with solid, top-flight leadership.
Take a look around you. Voters passed a temporary tax increase to fund public safety improvements. The city has the necessary revenue to keep police on the streets and water in the pipes.
And all that’s happening while Moore’s growing and expanding by leaps and bounds.
But my favorite part of this little tale is this: Instead of those stupid, moronic warning us of “higher taxes ahead” signs, we’ve got a water tower with Toby Keith’s name on it.
I love it.
Because in Moore, they understand that taxes are necessary and our leaders use those funds wisely.
Warr Acres — a short hop away from Bethany — is a nice, sleepy little community. It’s a good place to raise a family.
And, it really doesn’t take long to get there, either.
Oh, you’ll know you’ve arrived when you see those stupid signs informing you about how you’ve entered Oklahoma’s version of low-tax Nirvana.
These signs — large ones — sit along side the road and proudly inform drivers they are now in the hamlet which offers the area’s lowest sales tax rate, and how, if you dare to travel out of this glorious little community, you’ll be faced with, God forbid, higher taxes.
Of course, there’s a little more to the story.
And it’s a story that I doubt the Warr Acres city council or the city’s mayor, Marietta Tardibono, will spend much time promoting.
But for you folks that follow city government, and for the loyal readers of this column, here’s the 411: Warr Acres is close to going belly up.
Yep, they ain’t got no money.
None. They are doing good to keep the lights on; their budget is dismal and they can barely pay for municipal services.
Why?
The answer is simple: Because they have no tax base.
“And why is that?” You ask.
That answer, too, is simple: Warr Acres has spent so much time touting the anti-tax line, anti-government line they have their tax base artificially low.
And chickens, my grandfather used to say, come home to roost.
Funny think about life in the U.S., those prices for everything from gasoline to stamps keep increasing.
But with their “low tax-no tax” sales line, Warr Acres officials are discovering that now, they can’t keep up.
Granted, the city — on the verge of falling apart — recently voted to increase their tax rate.
But it may a classic example of too little, too late.
Don’t believe me?
Here’s the situation from the mayor’s own pen:
“These last six months have been trying to say the least,” Tardibono said, during her state of the city speech in February. “Many are calling upon this new legislature to do something on a state level to help us out. Our representatives will be working this session to pass legislation which could be our saving grace.”
That’s interesting.
Warr Acres, the community that touts itself the area’s low-tax kingdom, wants the rest of us to help out. They want state lawmakers to shift some state law or some state money their way; they would like the rest of the state to help them pay for services they can’t (or won’t) pay for themselves.
Swell.
Tardibono continues, talking about how the city has reduced its staff from “…87 employees in 2003 to 64 which I consider to be a skeleton crew.”
Then she adds, the city “would have been in serious trouble, had not the voters approved the 1-cent sales tax.”
Okay, so you get the picture. Here’s this little town that bitched and moaned about taxes so much that it became their marketing theme.
Only it didn’t work.
Businesses and shoppers didn’t flood the plot that is Warr Acres. There was no mammoth influx of spending capital to keep the city’s budget in the black.
The signs didn’t work.
And, because the taxes they do assess have not kept pace with inflation, they’ve come to the point where they’ve almost run out of money – as in, struggling to keep the pay for municipal services.
So the Warr Acres city council convinces voters of the need for a sales tax increase and then sends a lobbyist to the Legislature to twist arms and plead for state revenue because they are still struggling.
Oh yeah, did I mention the signs?
Here’s the deal: If we, as Americans, are going to live in America, then we’re going to have to tax ourselves enough to cover governmental services. If you want fire, police, schools, roads, water, sewer, libraries and other municipal services, they you’re going to have to help pay for them.
There is no other way to do it.
And it’s real damn sanctimonious to put up signs that talk about how your town is some little low-tax oasis, then when money gets tight, you town expects the rest of us to bail you out.
Funny thing, those roads going into and out of Warr Acres are paid for by the other municipalities in the area which are in the “high tax” part of the city.
But I don’t hear any complaints about that.
Shoot, I don’t like paying taxes. I’d rather keep every cent of my money.
But that ain’t going to happen. So what do we do?
Try this: Elect intelligent, progressive, honest people to government. Then instruct them to hire the same type of governmental staff.
After that, set a reasonable, solid tax system in place that will cover the cost of services, recruit new businesses and spent a good portion of your money a quality educational system.
The keep the public informed and make sure they know what you’re doing every step of the way.
Sound familiar?
Well, that’s the recipe city officials use in Moore.
Here, you don’t have to look hard to see a dynamic, growing, progressive city with solid, top-flight leadership.
Take a look around you. Voters passed a temporary tax increase to fund public safety improvements. The city has the necessary revenue to keep police on the streets and water in the pipes.
And all that’s happening while Moore’s growing and expanding by leaps and bounds.
But my favorite part of this little tale is this: Instead of those stupid, moronic warning us of “higher taxes ahead” signs, we’ve got a water tower with Toby Keith’s name on it.
I love it.
Because in Moore, they understand that taxes are necessary and our leaders use those funds wisely.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
COMMENTARY: Sine Die, Oklahoma
Like it does every year, the Oklahoma Legislature will adjourn sine die (Latin for “we’re outta’ here) this Friday at 5 p.m.
And by 5:03 that evening, all 148 members of the House and Senate will be headed back to their respective home towns so they can talk about just how much good or bad they did for the state.
This, of course, works as a preamble to the next legislative cycle and the 2008 elections.
Get ready.
Because while you might actually hear some facts about what happened this year at 23rd and Lincoln, you’ll also hear lots of crapola.
Seriously, lawmakers can’t help it; shoveling BS is a requirement to hold public office.
Anyway, first you’ll probably hear how the economy is stable. And yes, that’s truthful. State revenue is actually up and our constitutional reserve fund — also known as the ‘rainy day’ fund — will be filled to the maximum.
Currently the fund has about $495 million; with another $75.9 million expected to be deposited in 2007.
So far, so good.
But don’t let the boys and girls at the capitol tell you how oil and gas (especially natural gas) is growing our economy by leaps and bounds.
The fact is oil and gas production taxes generated about $505 million for the first 10 months of 2007. That may sound impressive, but in reality it’s also about $87.8 million below the prior year’s revenue.
For too long, Oklahomans have been mislead by oil industry apologists who want us to believe that their industry is our state’s only hope of survival.
Wrong.
The facts paint a different picture.
The two biggest components of our state’s economy are income taxes and sales taxes.
Income taxes have generated about $2.32 billion for state government, with personal income tax accounting for a whopping $1.95 billion.
Sales tax added $1.27 billion to the public checkbook.
So what does this mean?
It means that you, my friend, are the chief component of the Oklahoma economy — the humble Oklahoma taxpayer.
Everytime you go to the store, buy a pair of shoes or grab a burger, you’re the one contributing; doing the heaving lifting.
You generate almost four times more revenue than the oil industry.
You generate almost three times more than the agricultural industry.
You pay the bills.
And while the money for state government comes from each and every Oklahoman, only about half of you (and we’re talking about those who are eligible) bother to tell our state’s elected representatives just how, exactly, you want those funds spent.
In reality it’s not the legislature’s fault; they’re going to behave like a kid with a credit card if you don’t give them some direction. And believe me, the less you pay attention, the worse they behave.
So congratulations on doing your part for keeping the ship of state sailing.
But please, if you’re going to give them several billion dollars to play with, then please get involved in where they spend your money.
And to those of you who think for yourselves, take what you hear from most state lawmakers with a grain of salt, and actually pay attention and vote, please move ahead to the front of the boat.
The rest of you do not pass Go.
You’ll need to brush up on our civics and American democracy classes.
Otherwise the government reflects only half of us. And everyone ought to get the chance to play.
And by 5:03 that evening, all 148 members of the House and Senate will be headed back to their respective home towns so they can talk about just how much good or bad they did for the state.
This, of course, works as a preamble to the next legislative cycle and the 2008 elections.
Get ready.
Because while you might actually hear some facts about what happened this year at 23rd and Lincoln, you’ll also hear lots of crapola.
Seriously, lawmakers can’t help it; shoveling BS is a requirement to hold public office.
Anyway, first you’ll probably hear how the economy is stable. And yes, that’s truthful. State revenue is actually up and our constitutional reserve fund — also known as the ‘rainy day’ fund — will be filled to the maximum.
Currently the fund has about $495 million; with another $75.9 million expected to be deposited in 2007.
So far, so good.
But don’t let the boys and girls at the capitol tell you how oil and gas (especially natural gas) is growing our economy by leaps and bounds.
The fact is oil and gas production taxes generated about $505 million for the first 10 months of 2007. That may sound impressive, but in reality it’s also about $87.8 million below the prior year’s revenue.
For too long, Oklahomans have been mislead by oil industry apologists who want us to believe that their industry is our state’s only hope of survival.
Wrong.
The facts paint a different picture.
The two biggest components of our state’s economy are income taxes and sales taxes.
Income taxes have generated about $2.32 billion for state government, with personal income tax accounting for a whopping $1.95 billion.
Sales tax added $1.27 billion to the public checkbook.
So what does this mean?
It means that you, my friend, are the chief component of the Oklahoma economy — the humble Oklahoma taxpayer.
Everytime you go to the store, buy a pair of shoes or grab a burger, you’re the one contributing; doing the heaving lifting.
You generate almost four times more revenue than the oil industry.
You generate almost three times more than the agricultural industry.
You pay the bills.
And while the money for state government comes from each and every Oklahoman, only about half of you (and we’re talking about those who are eligible) bother to tell our state’s elected representatives just how, exactly, you want those funds spent.
In reality it’s not the legislature’s fault; they’re going to behave like a kid with a credit card if you don’t give them some direction. And believe me, the less you pay attention, the worse they behave.
So congratulations on doing your part for keeping the ship of state sailing.
But please, if you’re going to give them several billion dollars to play with, then please get involved in where they spend your money.
And to those of you who think for yourselves, take what you hear from most state lawmakers with a grain of salt, and actually pay attention and vote, please move ahead to the front of the boat.
The rest of you do not pass Go.
You’ll need to brush up on our civics and American democracy classes.
Otherwise the government reflects only half of us. And everyone ought to get the chance to play.
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