Commentary

To: The media and whining Democratic delegates From: A cranky independent Re: “Superdelegates” Having watched with dispassionate disinterest the battle for the Democratic Party nomination, I want to tell one thing to all of the people who are upset about the lengthy primary calendar, the fact that superdelegates will pick the nominee, and the failure […]

The recent MAPS tax proposal engendered endless editorial page discussions on just what would make Oklahoma City a great city. Mostly, these centered on the effect of a professional sports team. Cities are complex systems whose components interact sometimes in unpredictable ways. Nevertheless, useful generalizations can be made about the properties of cities widely acknowledged […]

With the recent rash of flight cancellations by airlines suddenly inspecting planes, an increasing number of frustrated travelers may have been finding themselves with too many hours to kill. First, of course, they probably must stand in a long, slow-moving line to find out whatever it is that they’re supposed to do to get booked […]

Too often, the exigencies of politics, and the opportunism of politicians, lead to short-term thinking. Nowhere is this more apparent than in environmental policy. Immediate benefits can be realized through ignoring environmental concerns, but in the long run we all suffer. Such is the entire idea of sustainability. The people of Oklahoma are a practical […]

Is there a double standard when it comes to hate speech? What’s the difference between Sally Kern’s anti-gay tirade and Jeremiah Wright’s anti-America tirade? Kern compared gays to terrorists and cancer; Wright said, “God damn America,” blamed whites for a conspiracy to facilitate black drug use and fill up private prisons, and even suggested that […]

So far Oklahoma has escaped the major economic downturn faced in many areas of the country because of the foreclosure and banking crisis, but state revenues are down because of recent tax cuts. Government leaders should prepare for the worst. The state should not hesitate to use its $571 million “rainy day fund” as leaders […]

You can always tell an election year. Whether it’s in the state capital or Washington, politicians find someone to blame for whatever the current crisis is. Nationally, Republicans and Democrats up for re-election are criticizing America’s oil and gas companies because they are profitable, or ” more correctly ” too profitable! Call me crazy, but […]

Introduced in the Legislature this session was Senate Bill 1875, which, if enacted, would go where no smoking ban has gone before: everywhere!   Under present law, smoking is still allowed in taverns, retail tobacco stores, cigar bars, bingo parlors, restaurant smoking rooms vented to the outside, private workplaces where only the owner and immediate […]

What is more “Oklahoman” than football, the Fourth of July and ” well ” fast foods? Apparently, we could also add to the list of common experiences flu, colds and respiratory illnesses.   How does it happen? Not washing our hands enough, being in crowd with a “wet” sneezer, giving our kids a hug after […]

The Legislature has been back in town for about a month, facing a different set of circumstances than in recent years. Money is a little tighter, meaning the recent windfall of energy-generated taxes from businesses and individuals will have to be spread a little thinner.   The good news is new Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, […]