For some time now, one narrative has been that the Democrats here have been splintered by differences and lacked a central message that resonated with voters. No one can deny that after the Republican statewide sweep in 2010, things looked particularly bleak for progressives. But that was before the 2012 legislative session, when progressives rallied […]
Kurt Hochenauer
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Politics of satire
Kurt Hochenauer Democratic state Sens. Constance Johnson of Oklahoma City, Judy Eason McIntyre of Tulsa and Jim Wilson of Tahlequah are responding to the GOP assault on women’s reproductive rights here and elsewhere this year with satire and humor. Their pointed barbs and actions have an obvious theme in common: Reproduction involves a man as […]
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The 99 percent
Occupy OKC and the entire Occupy Wall Street movement have started a long-overdue discussion about the inequity of growing wealth disparity and economic injustice, with some OWS supporters even using the label “oligarchy” to describe the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. It’s this type of language that could eventually stick and raise awareness. Along the […]
Posted inNews
The 99 percent
Occupy OKC and the entire Occupy Wall Street movement have started a long-overdue discussion about the inequity of growing wealth disparity and economic injustice, with some OWS supporters even using the label “oligarchy” to describe the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. It’s this type of language that could eventually stick and raise awareness. Along the […]
Posted inNews
Counterpoint: Bad tax model
But is eliminating the income tax here really the panacea some state leaders think it is, and can Oklahoma really emulate Texas, which is often cited as a tax model? No. On the surface, the proposal seems tempting. Most people don’t like paycheck taxes, state or otherwise, even though they enjoy and often take for […]
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Feeling the heat
The hot, dry weather, with temperatures often reaching triple digits, brought a severe drought to Oklahoma, causing an estimated $2 billion in farming losses, according to Oklahoma Agricultural Commissioner Jim Reese. The weather helped spark wildfires, here in Oklahoma City and elsewhere in the state, which have destroyed and damaged homes, other buildings and vehicles, […]
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Elitism for dummies
That’s what state Rep. Tom Newell, a Seminole Republican, apparently thinks, according to a recent media report, and he wants to “rein” it in through more intense legislative oversight. Newell’s comments were prompted by news that many Oklahoma universities and colleges were actually spending more this fiscal year than last year, despite a recent state […]
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War on logic
All rational people should agree that the war on drugs declared by former President Richard Nixon 40 years ago has been an epic failure that needlessly has filled our prisons with nonviolent inmates and cost taxpayers enormously. The numbers are staggering: Media reports show the United States spent $15.5 billion in 2010 on drug control […]
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Counterpoint: GOP undermines funding
In an ideal world, tuition-free, public college education, well-funded by the government, would be the best way to create a more educated, informed citizenry. College-educated people lead healthier lives and make this country and state more prosperous through innovation and creativity. Investing in higher education is paramount for any state that wants to thrive by […]
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Not fit for fitness
A well-respected fitness report recently ranked the Oklahoma City-area dead last among the country’s 50 largest metropolitan areas, a distinction that should serve as a wake-up call for political leaders and health professionals here. The report should not be ignored or qualified. It’s more than just another blemish on the area’s image or yet another […]