OpEd – The Okie

Pruitt: Jeb Would Limit Federal Government to Its Proper Constitutional Role

The Okie — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 20:33:08 +0000

by SCOTT PRUITT September 29, 2015 3:27 PM

As we choose our next president, Americans will doubtless turn their attention to the crucial issues of economic opportunity, national security, family, and faith.

Underlying all of these issues, however, is another that shouldn’t be overlooked: our frustration with how the federal government has invaded nearly every aspect of American life, while consistently failing to accomplish the few basic tasks the Constitution actually requires of it.

The Obama presidency has made this reality clearer than ever, with the federal government’s choosing to put regulators on the ground in our heartland to fight farmers and power plants instead of boots on the ground to fight ISIS, choosing to seize control of our health care instead of securing control of our borders, and choosing to bind economic growth and innovation at home while recklessly loosening economic sanctions with state sponsors of terrorism in Iran.

Read the full article at National Review.

Our Take: Brogdon’s Last Stand

The Okie — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 16:59:39 +0000

Here is our take on the events of Saturday. Perspective and coverage from those who were there…

This past Saturday, the Oklahoma Republican Party met in Oklahoma City for its State Convention. While many items were on the agenda, the race for State Chairman was the main event.

The OKGOP had the most competitive three-way race for State Chair in almost ten years, when Gary Jones defeated incumbent Tom Daxon and Tulsan Jerry Buchanan.

In the first round of balloting, former State Senator Randy Brogdon garnered 47.45%, OFRW President Pam Pollard 29.11%, and current OKGOP Chairman Dave Weston came third place with 23.43%. On the second ballot, Brogdon prevailed in a close race with 53.35% in the runoff.

Many were shocked by the results, including the AP, who seemed flabbergasted that Chairman Weston could be defeated after the election successes of 2014. We aren’t so surprised.

What Southern State Chairs, in particular, have begun to learn is that their activist base now expects Republican wins. If you have an “R” in front of your name in the South, you got a good chance of winning. Activists now want more than just electing Republicans out of their State Parties. Fair or unfair, that is the reality.

A lot of people will point to the registration and credentialing delays on Saturday and say that hurt Weston. We don’t buy it. Activists showed up with their minds made up. Weston deserved reelection based on the Nov, 2014 election results. Unfortunately for him, activists want more than wins at the ballot box.

Which brings us to Randy Brogdon. There is no question about it: this is Brodgon’s last stand. After all the botched campaigns and gaffes, he somehow someway finds himself the Chairman of the most powerful and influential political party in Oklahoma. Very few people get a second chance to define their legacy. He knows it, and because of that fact, we believe he will play nicely in the sandbox. There will be bumps in the road — there always are in party politics — but this is his last chance and we don’t think he’ll blow it.

Lankford OpEd: Obama Budget Ignores Fiscal Realities

The Okie — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:30:15 +0000

Obama budget ignores fiscal realities
By Senator James Lankford

A government budget should demonstrate financial priorities, spending and policy to address our nation’s biggest challenges. Sadly, President Obama’s latest budget proposal demonstrates an attitude of “close enough for government work” rather than excellence and forward thinking.

Over the decades, presidential budgets have become more of a campaign document than an actual budget. But, it is the first legal step of the formal budget process. By law, the president’s annual budget request must be delivered to Congress each year by the first Monday in February. This allows the House and Senate budget committees to draft the congressional budget by April 15. Once the congressional budget is complete, the final budget “top-line” numbers are provided to the Appropriations Committees so they can finish their work by Sept. 30. Throughout the process, the essential needs and the long-term financial health of the country must be determined.

Recent modest economic improvements, along with relatively lower deficits, have created an illusion that our nation’s fiscal problems have been solved. This couldn’t be further from the truth. After major budget fights the past four years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office announced that our federal budget deficit for fiscal 2014 “fell” to its lowest level in six years, $483.35 billion. That “lower” deficit is still larger than any deficit under any previous president in history. Worse still, last year’s tax revenue was the highest of any year in history, which means the treasury has more tax money than ever, but our nation spent more than ever. More devastatingly, projections show in the next 10 years, entitlement spending will increase dramatically and the interest payments on our debt will accelerate from more than $200 billion to more than $800 billion a year.

The president’s answer: raise taxes again by $2.1 trillion, increase spending by 60 percent over 10 years, increase the debt by another $8.5 trillion and never balance the budget, ever. The president has proposed seven budgets, none of them balance and none of them articulate a plan for future prosperity. Middle class families do not live like that — a nation that works for middle class families cannot either.

Read the complete story on tulsaworld.com

Blog Post: The best way to display the 10 Commandments

The Okie — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 15:51:30 +0000

Original post at Two Cities Blog

By Joel J. Miller

Last week a man in Oklahoma allegedly dropped trou, peed on the Ten Commandments monument outside the state house, got into his car, and rammed the granite statue. Satan, he said, told him to destroy it. For what it’s worth, the man’s mother claims he’s a devout Christian who’s had some “breakdowns.” Apparently so.

Publicity stunt

Monuments like this have been controversial for decades now. As a publicity stunt for his 1956 movie The Ten Commandments, Cecil B. DeMille partnered with the Fraternal Order of Eagles to install large granite monuments of the Decalogue across the country. The principal stars from the movie were sometimes present for dedication ceremonies.

The effort took on a life of its own. By the time the last Eagles monument was raised in 1985 some 150 had been erected, often on public land.

These were not the only such public tributes. One widely used estimate pegs the number at roughly 4,000 Decalogue displays on government property.

Lawsuits over these monuments eventually became routine. They started in 1958, according to the First Amendment Center, but dozens churned in district courts throughout the middle 1990s. Finally, in 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court decided on two cases, none too clearly, as the outcomes hung upon the supposed secular intent of an inherently religious display.

The only monument we need

The same time the Court considered the two cases, novelist Kurt Vonnegut came at the problem from a much different angle, one perhaps more fruitful for us:

For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes. But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. . . . I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere.

“Blessed are the merciful” in a courtroom? “Blessed are the peacemakers” in the Pentagon? Give me a break! (A Man without a Country, 98)

It may come off as cynical, but Vonnegut’s complaint strikes me as not only accurate but also helpful in understanding the controversy. Reasonably enough, he’s griping about hypocrisy and misplaced focus, but there’s something else in there worth noting.

Why don’t we need monuments for the Beatitudes? Because our faithfulness is the only monument the Beatitudes require. Jesus did not say the world would know us by our monoliths and statuary. Rather, our love will identify us (John 13.35).

One imagines that erecting a monument would even give us an out. By creating something observable, it takes the pressure off our observance. See, we’re honoring Christ’s commandments. We’ve got them chiseled right here. Meanwhile, we’re hardly meek, pure, or merciful.

Just another publicity stunt?

Vonnegut is right to critique our hypocrisy. And we’re right to correct it. The issue is how.

Oklahoma’s governor says that the state will rebuild its downed monument. Why not? I personally have no problem with such displays and, within certain parameters, neither does the law. But I do think any such project should be approached only within earshot of Vonnegut’s complaint—or it’ll just amount to one more publicity stunt.

For all of our posturing, Americans are fairly ignorant of the Ten Commandments. One study found us more familiar with the ingredients of MacDonald’s Big Mac and the characters of TV’s Brady Bunch than words long recognized as anchors in the Western moral and legal tradition. No number of monuments will fix that.

Like the Beatitudes, the best way to display the Ten Commandments is keeping them. And it’s paramount as Christians that we keep both lists. We are the only monument to our faith anyone will notice. They won’t give two straws about what we display in our words, only what we demonstrate in our actions.

Photo: Lawrence OP. Thanks to Phil Cooke for pointing me to the Vonnegut passage.

Romney: The Need For A Mighty U.S. Military

The Okie — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:20:40 +0000

The Washington Post

By Mitt Romney

The writer is the former governor of Massachusetts. In 2012, the Republican Party nominated him for president of the United States.

Russia invades, China bullies, Iran spins centrifuges, the Islamic State (a terrorist threat “beyond anything that we’ve seen,” according to the defense secretary ) threatens — and Washington slashes the military. Reason stares.

Several arguments are advanced to justify the decimation of our defense. All of them are wrong.

The president asserts that we must move to “a new order that’s based on a different set of principles, that’s based on a sense of common humanity.” The old order, he is saying, where America’s disproportionate strength holds tyrants in check and preserves the sovereignty of nations, is to be replaced.

It is said that the first rule of wing-walking is to not let go with one hand until the other hand has a firm grip. So, too, before we jettison our reliance on U.S. strength, there must be something effective in its place — if such a thing is even possible. Further, the appeal to “common humanity” as the foundation of this new world order ignores the reality that humanity is far from common in values and views. Humanity may commonly agree that there is evil, but what one people calls evil another calls good.

Read the full article at WashingtonPost.com.

Platt Makes Pitch for Instant Runoff

The Okie — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 15:30:07 +0000

Prosperity Policy: Off the runoff

By David Platt

John Cox won a decisive victory in last week’s runoff election for the Democratic Party nomination for state superintendent of instruction, gaining 62.9 percent of the vote to defeat challenger Freda Deskin.

The problem is that turnout among registered Democrats in the superintendent race barely surpassed 10 percent. Turnout for the runoff race plunged 42.8 percent from the initial primary. Cox’s 60,377 votes represented about 1 out of 15 eligible Democratic voters.

Paltry turnout plagued the 16 primary runoff elections. Average turnout was 18.1 percent and in 11 of the 16 runoff races, less than 20 percent of registered voters went to the polls. Turnout dropped between the initial primary vote and the runoff in every race but one, with the average drop being 32.4 percent.

Unfortunately, there is nothing exceptional about this year’s Oklahoma runoffs. A recent study of primary runoffs in federal House and Senate elections from 1994 to 2012 found that turnout decreased 162 times out of 168 and by an average of more than one-third.

The main argument for runoff elections is they improve representation by allowing primary voters to select a candidate with broad popular support. However, the consistently steep drop in turnout in runoffs defeats that purpose. In addition to low turnout, runoff races drive up the cost of elections substantially for candidates and taxpayers.

There are a number of possible reforms to the runoff system. One is to lower the runoff threshold to 40 percent. Another is to adopt so-called jungle primaries, in which all candidates compete in a single primary election, with the two top candidates, regardless of party, advancing to the general election.

Read the full article at JournalRecord.com

Tidwell: Playing The Education Blame Game

The Okie — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 03:00:14 +0000

Keep choice at the center of the education debate
By JOHN M. TIDWELL

Education dominated the Oklahoma political landscape this year.

Whether the superintendents race or at the state Capitol throughout the legislative session, so many policy debates grabbed headlines across the Sooner State: the repeal of the national Common Core standards, the legislation to expand and bolster the Lindsay Nicole Henry Scholarships, the debate over expanding public charter schools and the reading skills testing for all Oklahoma third-graders.

Education has not dominated the policy debate like this in a long time. But it always seemed that folks had their backs in a corner with fingers pointed out. They were playing the blame game and nothing was getting done.

Something occurred to me midway through the session as I was watching a press conference by a local superintendent. The answer, possibly the key, to the education debate which our state has been engaged in for so long was right in front of me: We’re all to blame.We have to accept our results: Everyone is at fault.

It’s not the state superintendent or the district administrators. It’s everyone. It’s groups of past and present: legislatures, teachers, parents, think-tanks and activist groups, the “education associations” more commonly referred to as teachers unions, governors and state superintendents, chambers of commerce and everyone in between.

We’re all to blame and until we agree on a plan to change it, we are destined to repeat the failures and continue limiting our success.

Let’s stop the blame game and focus on helping Oklahoma’s children succeed.

Read the complete story on tulsaworld.com

Oklahoman: If Tom Coburn’s A RINO, Then That’s A Problem For Republican Party

The Okie — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:20:32 +0000

The Oklahoman Editorial: If Tom Coburn’s a RINO, then that’s a problem for Republican Party

Published: October 1, 2013

SOMEWHERE along the way during his nine years in the U.S. Senate, Tom Coburn has gone from being a darling of Republican conservatives to being considered, by some, a RINO — a Republican In Name Only. Really?

It’s true. Coburn, R-Muskogee, has earned his reputation not only as one of the leading fiscal hawks in Congress but as someone who isn’t afraid to stand his ground when he thinks he’s right. But he also has been willing to try to broker compromises now and again — to at least discuss other ways of doing business with those in the Senate who view things differently.

This has made Coburn a target of some conservative groups that wanted President Barack Obama’s health care law defunded. If that didn’t happen, then these groups wanted not just Coburn but all Republicans to be willing to vote to shut down all government spending. Coburn is among a good number of GOP members (including others in the state’s congressional delegation) who can’t stand Obamacare, but also realize that shutting down the government isn’t the answer.

Groups such as Heritage Action and the Tea Party Patriots don’t want to hear that. They used the “defund” strategy as a litmus test for Republicans — and woe to those who didn’t get on board.

Read the complete story at Newsok.com

Jane Horton OpEd: To Those That Have Borne the Battle

The Okie — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:30:52 +0000

Many Oklahomans will remember Jane Horton, the proud wife and widow of SPC Christopher Horton who was Killed In Action on 09/09/2011. Formerly of Owasso, Jane has been working in Washington with the DoD on behalf of those wounded or killed in action and their families. This OpEd recently ran on the Huffington Post.

To Those That Have Borne the Battle

by Jane Horton

Two years ago on September 9, my beloved husband Chris was killed in Afghanistan. As I mark this sad anniversary, my heart is with his brothers in arms. I never really knew what it would be like to see him come home, experience a homecoming ceremony, run into his arms and kiss his beautiful war-torn face, or feel his invisible wounds of war.

My husband never came home as different person — I never had to maneuver my way around his new demeanor, personality, anxiety and PTSD.

I never awoke to him crying or screaming, not knowing who he was anymore, or with haunting images of battle.

Chris never had to hold his closest friends during their last breath — he never came home to deal with the pain, hurt, confusion, disappointment and guilt of being left on the battlefield and coming home with less than he went over with.

But you do.

Read the complete story on huffpo.com

Ralph Shortey… RINO?

The Okie — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 14:00:04 +0000

RINO? No! No!

by Ray Carter

Each year, the Oklahoma Conservative newspaper issues a “conservative index” that rates state legislators based on 10 votes. The rating is then used by other groups.

The Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee declares any Republican getting a score of 63 or less to be a “Republican in Name Only” nominee, or RINO. The challenge of accurately gauging conservatism based on just 10 votes out of hundreds cast is obvious. It’s not surprising the results sometimes raise eyebrows.

For instance, this year’s RINO nominees include Sen. Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City. That’s the same Ralph Shortey who once wanted schools to determine students’ residency status to identify the cost of educating illegal immigrants, who filed a bill allowing school personnel to carry a firearm and who sought judicial term limits.

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com

Oklahoma’s History With Income Tax Cuts: A Story Of Growth

The Okie — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 00:00:43 +0000

Oklahoma’s history with income tax cuts: A story of growth

BY JONATHAN SMALL, CPA AND DAVE BOND

From 2004 through 2009, Oklahoma’s personal income tax — the amount the state penalizes citizens and job creators for the right to earn a living — was lowered more than 20 percent. Over this period of time, the top marginal rate dropped, in a series of four reductions, from 7.00 percent to 5.50 percent.

With each drop in the rate, many individuals and organizations in favor of higher government spending worked against the income tax cuts. They claimed income tax cuts would result in less revenue for state government programs. Even the Oklahoma Tax Commission estimated, with each new income tax cut, that the state would see a loss in revenue.

What actually transpired was that Oklahoma saw an increase, both in economic activity and tax revenues, with each of the income tax cuts implemented between 2004 and 2009. Beginning in 2009, Oklahoma did see revenue declines in connection with the national recession, but a stronger reliance on sales tax revenues — due to income tax cuts — helped stabilize revenues compared with many other states.

Tax Cuts in 2005

In 2005, the Oklahoma Legislature passed what was, at that time, the largest personal income tax cut package in state history. The Oklahoma Tax Commission’s official estimate (a static analysis, projecting no economic growth due to cutting tax rates) was that, by fiscal year 2007, the tax cuts would cost the state $150 million. The reality was that, in that time period, individual income tax collections actually grew by $305 million, and state sales tax collections grew by $243 million.

So, what the Tax Commission estimated, using static analysis, would be a $150 million hole turned into a $548 million surplus for the state. Had the Tax Commission used dynamic analysis in their estimates, those estimates likely would have ended up much closer to what transpired.

Tax Cuts in 2006

In 2006, the Oklahoma Legislature passed the largest personal income tax cut package in state history, to be phased in over a four-year period. The Tax Commission’s official estimate (again, a static analysis) was that, by fiscal year 2007, the tax cuts would cost the state $94 million in lost income tax revenue. Yet state personal income tax collections were over $111 million more in 2007 than the cost estimates by the Tax Commission. Total personal income tax collections for the year actually exceeded by $17 million, the tax collections of the baseline year used to calculate the static reduction. Also, state sales tax collections increased by $112 million.

The Tax Commission’s official estimate was that, by fiscal year 2008, the income tax cuts would cost the state $339 million in lost revenue. Yet, state personal income tax collections were over $356 million more in fiscal 2008 than the Tax Commission’s estimates. Total personal income tax collections for the year actually exceeded by $17 million the tax collections of the baseline year used to calculate the static reduction. And state sales tax collections increased again, this time by $235 million.

Consistently higher revenues

Despite cutting the Oklahoma’s personal income tax rate by over 20 percent — from a top marginal rate of 7 percent down to 5.5 percent from 2004 through 2009 — state personal income tax collections were never less than the prior year until the recession which took effect in 2009.

Some may have forgotten the latter part of 2010, and the first couple months of 2011. The final quarter-percent reduction in the state’s personal income tax rate, which dropped the rate from 5.50 percent to 5.25 percent, was scheduled to begin for fiscal year 2012, and receive formal notification by the state Board of Equalization. At that time, a significant amount of concern was raised about the fact that revenue growth out of the low-revenue years had triggered the reduction. Tax users and their advocates loudly and publicly lamented the impending tax cut and claimed the quarter-percent income tax reduction would lower state revenues by approximately $61 million for fiscal 2012.

According to annual net collection data from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, state personal income tax collections were $2,396,668,662 for fiscal year 2011 and $2,692,968,300 for fiscal year 2012. This represents an increase of more than $296 million. State sales tax collections were $1,997,659,460 for fiscal 2011 and $2,190,600,218 for fiscal 2012. This represents an increase of more than $192 million.

In a year with the lowest top state personal income tax rate (5.25 percent) since income tax cuts began in 2005, the state set a record for net state sales tax collections and even managed to make a record deposit to the “Rainy Day Fund” — all after the state personal income tax rate had been cut yet again.

Sales tax collections increase

Since Oklahoma’s reductions in the personal income tax rate began in 2005, net state sales tax collections have increased by more than $694 million, even with periods of volatile energy prices. In the eight years preceding these state personal income tax cuts, the sales tax growth rate was 3.97 percent. In the eight years since state personal income tax cuts began, the sales tax growth rate was 5.80 percent, during a period that included both volatile energy prices and an economic decline that some have described as the worst since the Great Depression.

According to the Oklahoma’s Certified Annual Financial Report from the Office of State Finance and Tax Commission, total state tax revenues increased by $605 million from fiscal year 2010 ($6.3 billion total) to fiscal year 2011 ($6.9 billion total), and $883 million from fiscal year 2011 to fiscal year 2012 ($7.7 billion total), exceeding fiscal 2010 levels by $1.4 billion. Though state personal income taxes were cut, state tax collections grew by $883 million from fiscal years 2011 to 2012. Furthermore, this growth occurred at the same time that natural gas prices — and resulting state tax revenues from natural gas production — dropped significantly.

Conclusion

Pro-growth policies such as Right to Work (which Oklahoma implemented in 2001) and cutting income and death taxes work, and they are working in Oklahoma and impacting the region. Whether letting citizens have more control of the fruits of their labor has an immediate impact on revenues is not the highest priority. The highest priority is letting citizens have more control of the fruits of their labor. Period. Oklahoma has proven that when a state does so, it can result in a dependable growth effect on the state’s economy.

Read the complete OpEd on OCPAThink.org

Costello: Celebrating Our “Freedom” Earlier Next Year

The Okie — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 11:50:57 +0000

Celebrating Our “Freedom” Earlier Next Year

By Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Mark Costello

Do you remember what you were doing on April 6th of this year?

I think many of us would be hard-pressed to remember. It was a Saturday. In fact, Oklahoma City actually set a record high for the day at 74 degrees. Spring was in the air, and whether you knew it or not, it was a great day to breathe a sigh of relief.

You see, in Oklahoma, April 6th was Tax Freedom Day. That’s the day that we “celebrate” our independence from the taxman, both in Washington D.C. and Oklahoma City.

According to the National Tax Foundation, from January 1 to April 6, 2013, every dime you earned went to paying your share of federal, state and local taxes. I think that makes April 6th a day to celebrate indeed!

Oklahoma has always ranked near the bottom of the list for lowest overall tax burden, and this year we were 40th — for once it’s a good thing to be near the bottom of this list!

As we all know, the leadership in our own state capitol has made tax reform a priority and they should be applaud for it, but their work is not over. The tremendous tax burden that the federal government is pushing down to taxpayers is unprecedented. The growth of the IRS manpower to police the impending ObamaCare state is tremendous and we need any relief we can get.

But with great opportunities such as ours, come the great responsibilities that all elected officials owe to their citizenry: the money we spend comes from you, the taxpayer. The more money we spend, the more the taxpayer must provide. It’s a responsibility that I take very seriously. If state agencies, authorities, boards and commissions can conservatively manage your tax dollars, the less we need and the more likely we are to see your tax burden shrink and the more money stays in your pocket. It’s an economic theory that seems so simple that it just might work.

The lower the tax burden, the more competitive Oklahoma can be in attracting businesses and families to our state. A low tax burden leaves you the ability to make your own decisions, control your own destiny, and frankly, gives you the freedom to spend your money how you see fit. As we look forward to Independence Day I have a challenge for all of us elected office-holders. We should be pushing tax policies that put more money into citizen’s pockets, therefore, increasing freedom. It is my goal to celebrate Tax Freedom day earlier and earlier every year. Let’s make that a goal for all of us.

I’ve put a link to the National Tax Foundation on my Facebook page with links to the pertinent data for your review. You can find me at facebook.com/MarkCostelloforOklahoma.

Dr. Smith: Ivory Tower of Nonsense

The Okie — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 15:20:23 +0000

Ivory Tower of Nonsense
By G. Keith Smith, M.D.

“We’re all in this together.” ”Our common goal is to spread the condition of human misery across as wide a group as possible.” “When it comes to health care we must consider ourselves a collective.” “Individual preferences take a back seat to the greater good for all who choose to live in this society.”

These are all things that I heard recently at a conference in Boston. The sponsor of the conference very interestingly decided to bring in a socialist central planner and academic lawyer, someone whose advice was extensively sought during the crafting of TUCA (The Unaffordable Care Act).

This man could not answer even the most rudimentary questions about difficulties with TUCA and its implementation. He would say “that is something the regulators would need to take another look at.” Price controls were one of his favorite methods for controlling costs. “Where did you get those prices,” he was asked. He didn’t know. I found his arrogant delivery annoying at first. By the time he was done I realized that this was a demonstration of unfiltered central planning the arrogance of which blinds the tyrant wanna-be’s to the death and destruction that result from inevitably faulty planning and calculation. In spite of this man’s declarations otherwise, he could not have cared less what anyone else at this conference had to say.

The problems with academics are that many times they are not practical. This ivory tower impracticality likely leads to the formation of conclusions based on premises that are not valid. He discussed in great detail the conclusions he had drawn downstream of a collectivist premise. I have found that discussing or arguing against these false conclusions is a distraction and a complete waste of time and energy. Discussing the faulty premise or first principle is so radical and confrontational that only the rare intellectual is capable of re-booting and reconsidering their foundations.

“We’re all in this together.” Sorry, no we’re not. Why should a man’s motorcycle wreck cause you to cancel a family vacation? Why should a neighbor’s diabetes or lung cancer prevent you from contributing to your child’s college fund? I don’t think this is oversimplifying things. The money has to come from somewhere and the government doesn’t have any money that it doesn’t first take from others.

“Our common goal is to spread the condition of human misery across as wide a group as possible.” Nope. Wrong again. This one is more devious as embedded in this statement is the assumption that everyone is ready and willing and able to own and share the burdens of others in addition to their own. This statement is a violation of the idea of private property and freedom of association. Stepping up to help our neighbors and the poor and the victimized is one thing. Inflicting our misfortunes on each other is quite another. Don’t tell me that people won’t do this voluntarily. I live in Oklahoma City and just witnessed a professional basketball player and three energy companies deliver more money to the tornado victims here in 24 hours than the total amount the “government” has promised them, money these folks will not likely ever see. That is the compassion of the “government.” Empty and inefficient promises grounded in the despoliation of private property.

“When it comes to health care we must consider ourselves a collective.” Why stop there? Why not in every sector of our lives? This one is too silly to remark on further.

“Individual preferences take a back seat to the greater good for all who choose to live in this society.” Sound familiar? Maybe you will recognize this one better if I write it in this way:

“Einzelne Präferenzen nehmen einen Rücksitz zum übergeordneten Wohl für alle, die beschließen, in dieser Gesellschaft zu leben.”

I prefer this Latin quote:

Principiis obsta, finem respice. “Resist the beginnings and consider the end.” Those without “real world” experience will never see (and perhaps have no desire to see) the results of their failure as central planners and their role in launching deadly initiatives like TUCA.

Read more from Dr. Smith on his blog.

Carnuccio: Hanging Together

The Okie — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 18:00:48 +0000

Free Market Friday: Hanging together

By Michael C. Carnuccio, Guest Columnist

The Internal Revenue Service began targeting organizations with the terms tea party, patriot and 9-12 in their names on March 1, 2010. Thirteen months later, that agency’s director of exempt operations, Lois Lerner, was informed of the inappropriate activity, initiated an internal audit, yet continued the practice of targeting these groups.

Within nine months, the media began reporting that ideologically conservative groups were being harassed by the IRS. Having met earlier that March with top officials, Douglas Shulman, then the IRS commissioner, testified before Congress that there was no targeting.

That May, Deputy Director Steven Miller was informed that the targeting of conservatives had occurred, just as Lerner had been one year prior. One month later, the inspector general disclosed the IRS probe to senior officials at the Treasury Department. By the end of the year, Shulman had stepped down as commissioner and Miller assumed those duties as acting commissioner.

Three months ago, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew was briefed about the IRS inquiry regarding the targeting of American citizen groups. One month later, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney postured that the White House Counsel had just learned of the investigation.

Steve Fair: We Naturally Crave Liberty!

The Okie — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:35:01 +0000

WE NATURALLY CRAVE LIBERTY!

by Steve Fair

On May 25th, my wife and I marked our 40th wedding anniversary. To celebrate we took a Mediterranean cruise. One of the ports of call was Kusadsi, Turkey, a resort community in the south of Turkey. Kusadasi is near the biblical town of Ephesus and a huge tourist destination. Because of the recent demonstrations in cities across Turkey, in particular by young people in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, tension was high as we left the ship. We encountered no protests or witnessed any unrest, but the western influence in Kusadsi was evident. The food, dress, and mannerisms of the Turks were very western and much different than other Arab countries.

Mark Lowen of the BBC reports that Turkey is becoming even more polarized. Lowen says, “The divisions here are deepening, which could lead Turkey into paralysis and dangerous waters. The prime minister has lost control of Turkey.”

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power since 2003, has decried the demonstrations. “These protests that are bordering on illegality must come to an end as of now,” Erdogan said to a large crowd of supporters outside a terminal at Istanbul’s airport Friday. Erdogan also blamed the escalation of the widespread public protests on “terror groups” which he lumped in with leftist parties and members of his political opposition.

But political observers believe Erdoganjust doesn’t get the reason for the protests.

Bahar Leventoglu, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Economics at Duke and a native of Turkey says, “A lot of people now see Erdoğan’s policies as a ‘cultural war’ against their lifestyles, and see the government’s so-called ‘Taksim project’ as an extension of this cultural war. Erdogan also has no tolerance for criticism. He believes that he knows what is good and what is bad for citizens of Turkey, and so we have to obey him as if we are teenagers being disciplined by dad. I’m sure he was taken by surprise by the protests against the government, as Turkey does not have a long history of this. But times are changing, and Erdogan is behind the times in this one.”

In a strange twist of events, on Monday Turkey’s president defended the right of citizens to protest, in strong contrast to the dismissive stance of the prime minister. Meanwhile police used tear gas for a fourth day in an attempt to disperse demonstrations that grew out of a sit-in to prevent the uprooting of trees at Istanbul’s main square. He likely sees an opportunity to be the next Prime Minister if the protestors are successful in their achieving their demands.

On Monday, Erdogan again dismissed the street protests as being organized by extremists, described them as a temporary blip and angrily rejected comparisons with the Arab Spring uprisings.

Turkey is different from other Islamic countries. Even though most of the population is Islam, their constitution provides for freedom of religion, but less than 2% of the population of Turkey is Christian.

Turkey borders Iraq and Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that his government was worried about the security implications of the situation in Turkey, saying the country was “an essential part of the stability of the region.” “We believe that resorting to violence will widen the circle (of violence) … in the region, and we call for restraint,” he said.

Turkey has been trying to join the European Union since 2005, but because of widespread accusations of human right violations have not been admitted. While western in many ways in their culture and government, their leaders still cling to an authoritarian, totalitarian style of government. It is highly unlikely the Turkish government will be able to stop the liberty movement in their country. It’s a part of human nature to crave liberty and to be self governed.

Episcopal Dean: Use Golden Rule With Heated Issue

The Okie — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 12:20:39 +0000

Episcopal dean: Use Golden Rule with heated issue
BY REV. JUSTIN LINDSTROM

Over the course of our nation’s history when divisive political issues are allowed to fester unresolved, they have eroded the foundation upon which our country was built. While there is a natural separation between politics and religion on many public policy issues, the debate over immigration and the proposed reforms bring the two together.

For almost every religion some version of the Golden Rule calls upon us to “do unto others as you would have done to you.” In the context of immigration reform we are called to be compassionate to those who will be affected by policy changes. At the same time, as citizens of this country and stewards of the Constitution, we must respect our system of laws and those who have followed them.

While the immigration reform debate has been heated, it is clear that our current laws are outdated, unjust and need changes. The bill put forward by the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” in the U.S. Senate is a thoughtful and balanced reform of our policies on immigration.

By securing our borders and creating an effective employment verification program, we take away the ability and the incentive for people to come over the border illegally. When we create a new streamlined process to attract the “best and the brightest” to the United States — and not make it difficult for them to stay if they wish — we recognize that legal immigration strengthens our country. It should be noted that the pathway is not easy and it requires both time and effort on the part of the prospective U.S. citizen, recognizing that these sacrifices have been made by generations of immigrants who have followed existing law.

Read the complete OpEd at NewsOK.com

Bridenstine Pitches Congressional Term Limits In Politico OpEd

The Okie — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:55:14 +0000

OPINION CONTRIBUTOR

Checking the power of incumbency

By REP. BETO O’ROURKE and REP. JIM BRIDENSTINE | 5/15/13

Many in our country and in the districts we represent feel that Congress is out of touch and that members are more focused on reelection than on providing real solutions to our nation’s biggest challenges. We hear from constituents all the time that there is a lack of urgency and focus when it comes to solving our country’s toughest issues — like tackling the deficit and putting policies in place that will lead to economic growth.

The two of us, freshman members from different parties with divergent views on many issues, have come together because we believe a healthy debate is warranted on how we best serve the American people and whether, in a time of enormous powers of incumbency and multimillion-dollar campaigns for Congress, we can be better public servants and curb the corrupting influence of money and power by limiting a member’s term in office.

Public opinion in favor of term limits for members of Congress is unquestionable. A Gallup Poll released this past January reflects the same trend seen year after year from countless reputable research firms. Overall, 75 percent of American adults responding to the survey were in favor of implementing term limits and the support is unanimous across party lines.

Read the complete story on politico.com

Carnuccio: Thanks To Moms

The Okie — Sat, 11 May 2013 20:05:12 +0000

Free Market Friday: Thanks to moms
May 9th, 2013

Written by: Michael C. Carnuccio

It’s just after 1 p.m. on Oct. 12, 2010, and my life is about to change forever. My perspective on the world, passion toward my craft and most importantly, the love and deep appreciation I have for my wife, are about to skyrocket.

In a few minutes, our first child will be born. In that instant, the beautiful woman I’m blessed to have as a best friend and soul mate will become the most inspiring, dedicated teacher and selfless individual with profound influence that I’ll ever know.

Similarly, for men, becoming a father is no small achievement. For many of us, it is the pillar of life’s dreams – indeed, surpassing career ambitions and personal satisfactions. However, no matter how good a father’s intensions and commitment to family, nothing man-made can compare to a mother’s love.

At some point, whether consciously or not, my wife made the decision that she would endure months of emotion and physical pain to then experience a day of excruciating physical pain to be rewarded with a lifetime of pains – all for someone she has not yet met. Before she knew the gender, if the child would be healthy, disabled or disadvantaged, and before she had answers to the myriad of questions that life throws at us, she decided to endure trial, tribulation and hardship so a tiny living organism would have more opportunity than she may have.

OCPA: Medicaid vs. Religious Freedom

The Okie — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:05:12 +0000

Medicaid vs. religious freedom

BY BRANDON DUTCHER AND JONATHAN SMALL

You’re perhaps aware that the Oklahoma City-based retailer Hobby Lobby is challenging the HHS anti-conscience mandate, born of Obamacare, which forces employers to cover drugs — such as the “morning-after pill” and the “week-after pill” — that can end a new human life by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg. Lawyers for the Becket Fund, the law firm representing the Green family in Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius, say their clients “believe human life begins at the moment of conception, and believe these drugs can end life after that moment, a violation of their deeply held religious beliefs.”

In the wake of Obamacare, several Oklahomans, to their great credit, have stood up to defend religious freedom. Last year Allison Garrett, then the senior vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma Christian University, told a congressional committee that it’s a violation of religious liberty to force employers “to cooperate in offering drugs or services that they believe are morally wrong.” Oklahoma’s senior United States Senator, Jim Inhofe, and state Attorney General Scott Pruitt have filed briefs backing Hobby Lobby’s challenge. Oklahoma Congressman James Lankford called the HHS mandate “a clear violation of the First Amendment right to religious freedom.” Oklahoma Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon is also pushing back against this sort of “religious intolerance.”

But quite apart from the Greens’ First Amendment right to religious freedom, consider for a moment the religious freedom of everyday taxpayers.

So called family-planning services — including the morning-after pill, the week-after pill, and much more — are a mandatory part of the state’s Medicaid program. They are available to Oklahomans as young as 17 — without parental consent. And they’re free; not even a modest fee or co-pay is allowed.

Now we realize that taxpayers frequently are forced to fund things (whether it’s Planned Parenthood or B-2 bombers) that they find morally objectionable. And we realize that state policymakers have no control over the federal Medicaid requirements. But it seems to us that the political leaders in one of the most pro-life, pro-religious-freedom, pro-parental-rights states in the nation should not expand a program which provides drugs that can end human lives, thus violating the deeply held beliefs of so many Oklahomans.

AFPOK: Reform Medicaid In Oklahoma, Don’t Expand It

The Okie — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:22:44 +0000

Reform Medicaid in Oklahoma, don’t expand it

BY MATT BALL | Published: May 3, 2013

The hospital lobby continues to argue that Oklahoma must expand Medicaid, a key component of the president’s health care law. Their flawed arguments serve as a thin veil for their real agenda: increasing their bottom line.

They argue that Oklahoma must devise a state scheme to “recapture” Medicaid dollars. If Oklahoma doesn’t expand Medicaid under the health care law, our tax dollars will go to pay for Medicaid expansion in other states. This simply falls flat. The money isn’t in a pot being competed for by states. It’s based on a formula. If Oklahoma opts not to expand this broken, costly program, then the money isn’t spent. Period.

Additionally, the hospital lobby argues, if Oklahoma continues to reject Medicaid expansion, we’ll be turning down $8.6 billion over 10 years in “free” money that would help keep uninsured Oklahomans out of emergency rooms. This is difficult to argue, considering that 25 percent of Medicaid patients still use the emergency room as their primary care doctor.

While uncompensated care is clearly a burdensome problem, this argument assumes Medicaid is an effective, efficient program. It isn’t. Oklahoma has the 11th-highest rejection rate for new Medicaid patients in the country, with more than 33 percent of Oklahoma doctors refusing to see them. Ironically, expanding Medicaid places further strain on emergency rooms, particularly in rural Oklahoma where physician recruitment is extremely difficult and the Medicaid population is often higher.

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com