Commentary

Progressives and conservatives have more in common than we care to admit (in public, at least). We desire efficacious and transparent government, we expect our elected officials have an understanding of the Constitution (or at least be able to spell “constitution” ” with a few notable exceptions), we desire less governmental intrusion in our personal […]

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 […]

Author George Washington Cable wrote after the Civil War about how the Italian butchers in the French Market in New Orleans often would delight their customers by joyously singing as they cut meat for them.   While the Muslim meat cutters at the International Foodmart on N. Portland Avenue in Oklahoma City do not sing […]

The events and proceedings surrounding the applications of Public Service Co. of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. to build the Red Rock generating facility seem as tangled and confusing as “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”   Under state law, electric utilities such as PSO and OG&E don’t need the Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s permission to […]

By any definition, Sen. Tom Coburn is very conservative. Some of his social positions have made him the subject of ridicule. On the other hand, he has distinguished himself as one of the most honest members of Congress when it comes to government spending. The ranking member of the federal financial management subcommittee, Coburn has […]

I thought this might get your attention. We elected them to end the war, and they have failed us. We sent them to Washington to slow down the train wreck that is the worst administration in U.S. history, and they have enabled it. We gave them control of both houses of Congress, and it’s business […]

On Feb. 4, 2008, the Oklahoma Legislature will convene its second session. The first thing the Legislature should do immediately is assemble a concurrent special session and take up ethics reform.   The problems confronting our state in the area of campaign finance increasingly are capturing the attention of the news media and do not […]

As someone who used to work under the dome of the state Capitol, I can tell you that many interim study hearings are not worth the ink spilled printing their agendas. A refreshing exception is the review of merit pay for teachers under way in the state House.   We say that teachers are professionals […]

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 […]

Francis Schaeffer is well-known for his book and video series “How Should We Then Live,” in which he describes the ebb and flow of culture over the centuries. And, 30 years later, it is still a profound work of literature. Some would argue that Schaeffer was prophetic in his presuppositional theological treatise, pointing to the […]