All rational people should agree that the war on drugs declared by former President Richard Nixon 40 years ago has been an epic failure that needlessly has filled our prisons with nonviolent inmates and cost taxpayers enormously. The numbers are staggering: Media reports show the United States spent $15.5 billion in 2010 on drug control […]
government
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Mapmakers
The City Council wards, as required by federal law and the city charter, are redrawn every 10 years after the census is taken to ensure that each encompasses near-equal populations. There are a few proposed changes in the ward lines, such as all of the Capitol Hill community being included in Ward 6. The city […]
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Tishomingo attorney, former mayor eyeing Boren’s House seat
Tishomingo City Attorney and former Mayor Dustin Rowe (pictured left) stated in a press that he would be forming an exploratory committee to consider running for the seat vacated by current Rep. Dan Boren, who announced he would not be running again in early June. Rowe, 35, said he has been considering the decision for […]
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It’s the tax cuts, stupid
Here’s their solution: “OCPA has recommended that the Regents for Higher Education’s budget be reduced $250 million” (“Countdown to the budget deal: Who’s irresponsible now?,” May 11). The “empirical evidence shows that state appropriations for higher education neither positively affect economic growth nor lead to a higher percentage of collegeeducated citizens. … In other words, […]
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Do as I say
On July 10, the Tulsa World ran a story about elected state officials who have recently collected federal farm subsidies. The list of those receiving subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture included both Republicans and Democrats, but also a few names were on the list of those who have railed against government spending, and […]
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Under pressure
Very hot. So it was last week that the city, for the first time in more than a decade, implemented a mandatory odd-even water rotation program. Update: On Tuesday, July 19 the City of Oklahoma City announced via press release that the temporary outdoor watering ban for NW and NE areas will end at noon, […]
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Emergency functions
At a special Oklahoma City Council meeting July 12, Fire Chief Keith Bryant presented the city’s “window of opportunity” to opt out of the Emergency Medical Services Authority trust and either hand over ambulance services to the fire department or have the city or fire department manage emergency medical services and contract with a private […]
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Regressive progressives
Rob Bennett (Letters, “Ignorance isn’t bliss,” June 29) finds fault with Oklahoma Gazette for publishing my views on various subjects. Like many liberals, he does not bother to check the facts, but rather wants to jump to conclusions that serve his purpose. I assume it is OK for the Gazette to publish many liberal viewpoints, […]
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Labor pains
How Marty Morelli (Letters, “Reader: ‘Hitler was a progressive’”) can reconcile his claims that liberals and progressives are Nazis and Fascists with the fact that Jewish leaders have played a prominent role in liberal and progressive causes is laughable. This is not to say that Jews are only liberals and progressives. There are just as […]
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Maybe I’m amazed
That is funny to me because I have a huge book of quotes from evolution scientists that question evolution. Putting that aside, I want those of you who read my comments and those comments of my detractors, regardless of whether you agree with me or not, to consider an important point involved in this debate. […]