Kurt Hochenauer

It’s too early to call it a progressive juggernaut and events with political ramifications could change everything, but recent polls and an election show some Oklahoman voters may be shifting away from the conservative politics that have defined them for at least the last two decades.   Three recent SurveyUSA polls of Oklahomans may show […]

What will it take to make some Oklahoma politicians and leaders understand how detrimental it is for the state that teachers here are paid below regional and national levels?   Low teacher salaries send a clear signal to everyone here and outside the state that intellectualism and enlightenment are not appreciated in Oklahoma. This is […]

The famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass had it right about education in this often-cited quote: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”   Those words are as true today as in the mid-19th century when Douglass, a former slave, became the conscience of America, standing up boldly in speech after speech […]

By all reliable accounts, former District 1 Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth brought integrity and wisdom to county government.   Roth, who was appointed recently to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission by Gov. Brad Henry, defied stereotypes and political punditry. He was elected county commissioner in a state viewed as close-minded to diverse lifestyles. Oklahoma voters […]

Call it “reportitis” or report burnout, but Oklahomans have to be tired of hearing about all the latest studies and rankings that show the state has major problems.   One of the most recent reports by The Commonwealth Fund shows the state tied with Mississippi for worst overall health care performance in the nation. Mississippi? […]

Oklahoma County District Judge Richard Freeman’s decision a decade ago to ban the Academy Award-winning film “The Tin Drum” still goes down as one of the most embarrassing moments in local history.   Freeman might as well have issued a judicial decree proclaiming only religious folks and meth-lab cooks would be welcomed henceforth in Oklahoma […]

Why not establish a public university in the Bricktown area of Oklahoma City?   This university would secure the financial viability of the entertainment area, offer conveniently located classes and become a model for new urban universities in the country. It’s an idea that deserves real consideration.   Oklahoma consistently ranks under the national average […]

It’s time Oklahomans pay attention to how money has polluted the state’s political systems.   What many Oklahomans, no matter their political affiliation, may well conclude after taking a close look at the current situation is this: Politicians often abuse the contemporary campaign-funding system, and only rich people and their organizations have influence and power […]

There are several pending bills in the Oklahoma Legislature that, if passed, will send a clear message to the nation that the state does not support diversity, multiculturalism and women’s reproductive rights. The bills could have a detrimental effect on the state’s economic development.   State Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, has introduced a bill that […]

Who would have thought after all these grim years of death and destruction fighting religious extremism in the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans would be fighting the same war right here in Oklahoma?   There have been so many anti-abortion bills introduced in the state Legislature, along with a covenant marriage bill that at […]