Commentary

It’s significant that state political leaders, especially mainstream Republicans, recently denounced the idea of creating an official anti-federal government militia in Oklahoma. State tea party activists have apparently discussed the idea of such a state-sanctioned militia along with two state politicians, state Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, who is running for governor, and state Rep. Charles […]

I write this tribute to former Cherokee Nation Chief Wilma Mankiller with sadness and great humility. All readers know of her passing from this realm on April 6. For those of you who know a little more about her, I offer this commentary. Her biographical data and historical accomplishments you can read elsewhere. I first […]

Tommy Mason-Griffin, a University of Oklahoma basketball player, recently spoke through his Facebook page ” like many young people today ” to tell the world he was turning pro. Here’s what he wrote, as reported by the media: “On a mission. Its a official dat I am leavin skool and enterin draft. “¦ I aint […]

An unprecedented financial crisis drives crucial decisions that impact Oklahomans. After living under “boom or bust” economic policies, we are now paying the piper. A bureaucratic government needs reforms: too much waste, lack of accountability, spending without regard to long-term effect, excess bureaucracy and antiquated systems. For businesses, this means dysfunction and lack of profitability. […]

Just a few years ago, St. Anthony Hospital was considering moving from its current Midtown location to a spot in far south Oklahoma City. City and county officials all came to the forefront and rallied around promised Midtown improvements to make sure St. Anthony stayed on N.W. 10th Street. By the ferocity and rhetoric, you […]

All this opt-out legislation at the state Capitol this year ignores the fact that Oklahoma’s history shows the state is heavily dependent on the federal government for its viability. Oklahoma has been rescued by federal money and policies since statehood. Without the federal government’s continued support, Oklahoma would resemble a small, impoverished Third World country. […]

Over the past month, I’ve run a pair of columns on political blogs in the state. I noted the limited penetration of those blogs; the tendency of blogs on the right to get engaged in internal ideological struggles, while those on the left engage in external ideological struggles; and the fact that the quality of […]

A movement is afoot within the Republican Party in Oklahoma to create an invisible force field around the state. That force field would mean we in Oklahoma could pretty much snub our nose at anything we find distasteful oozing from the cesspool that is our nation’s capital. The Oklahoma Legislature has drifted hard to the […]

Consider that young couple with the beautiful children. Picture the kids’ smiles, their laughter, their infectious joy. Now imagine the world without those children. The couple not raising a family. Grandparents without their grandkids. Uncles and aunts unable to spoil their nieces or nephews. The children’s choir at church with fewer voices. Because that is […]