Boren reportedly made the remark in early May at a meeting with students and faculty in which he also said OU students should expect some type of “modest” tuition hike this coming fall. The word “irresponsible” to describe the pending income tax cut on Jan. 1, 2012, is probably an understatement, but Boren deserves credit […]
Kurt Hochenauer
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Point: More doctors, less preachers
The strategy among creationism proponents for a long time has been to create a nonexistent controversy and cast doubt on proven science and the scientific method, a disingenuous ploy that brings into question the sincerity of those who push it. Why don’t the religious-inspired politicians here just openly push to place the story of Christian […]
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Workers under attack
Check that. For sure, the GOP has overreached again on typical wedge issues, such as “sanctity of life” involving medical research, evolution science and anti-illegal immigration, but the real overreach might just be its full fiscal assault on the middle class. It’s happening here and across the country as Republican-dominated legislatures work to cut state […]
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Counterpoint: Separation anxiety
Religious proselytizing in the state’s public schools will be virtually sanctioned under bills introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature for this upcoming session, a clear violation of basic church and state separation. The bills would also appear to directly violate Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which states: “No public money or property shall […]
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Okie flavor
In the November election, the GOP extended their majorities in the Oklahoma House and Senate, captured the governor’s office and swept every single statewide office. Coalescing around anti-President Barack Obama and anti-Washington hysteria, Republicans swarmed into office, often with landslide votes. It was a time for Republicans to celebrate. But that was so November. Republican […]
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Poverty picture
There are seemingly conflicting federal survey numbers about the depth of poverty in Oklahoma these days, but all the facts taken together show that there’s still too much suffering and more needs to be done in the fight against systemic impoverishment here. A U.S. Census report in September claimed the state’s poverty level actually declined […]
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Counterpoint: Recovery and redemption
Everyone knows the contemporary story of the addict who bottoms out only to find recovery and redemption later. In statewide race after race, Oklahoma Democrats bottomed out in the Nov. 2 elections, but at this low point, there remains for them an opportunity to re-create their brand. Sometimes it takes a breakdown for renewal. Nationally, […]
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What’s the point?
There are three state questions on the ballot this November that symbolize the deep ideological morass that has come to define Oklahoma’s current political climate. State Questions 751, 755 and 756 will probably pass by landslides as voters vent some anger or make larger political statements. But is it really worth the trouble? SQ 751 […]
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Prop 8 and Oklahoma
In a 2004 landslide vote, Oklahomans amended the state’s constitution to deny marriage equality to gay people. The so-called “defense of marriage amendment” made it illegal for anyone to issue a marriage license to a same-gender couple here and made it clear the state would not recognize same-gender marriages performed in states that do allow […]
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Elusive reform
What will it take to change the prevailing political mentality in Oklahoma when it comes to prison incarceration? In a recent media report, Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Justin Jones called the current prison situation a “crisis” because of the disparity between the high number of inmates and low number of corrections staff, which has […]