opinion

One part of the solution to Oklahoma’s budget dilemma is simple: The state government should raise taxes on the state’s wealthiest income earners. Obviously, this won’t happen for a variety of political reasons. But the fact income tax hikes or surcharges on the wealthy aren’t a major part of the state budget debate is fiscally […]

My son looked at me with a furrowed brow as we heard the news on the radio that, once again, “Nick’s Law” was killed in committee. He asked, “When conservatives say they don’t like mandates, why is it we have to wear seatbelts and you are required to carry auto insurance?” I didn’t have an […]

Oklahomans who cared about maintaining science standards in schools paid close attention to a bill introduced by state Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, which would have allowed teachers to discuss with their students the strengths and weaknesses of evolution, global warming and human cloning. Called the “Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act,” Senate Bill 320 appeared […]

At Channel 5 in the 1980s, I interviewed Roger Dale Stafford, one of Oklahoma’s most notorious serial killers. Like almost everyone on death row, Roger proclaimed his innocence until his execution. Years later, I was asked about the death sentence and my response was that people like Roger could go to heaven or go to […]

In a speech to a John Birch Society-sponsored event reported Feb. 4, 2009, in Oklahoma Gazette, state Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, pronounced that she had discovered the “gay agenda.” There is a long-standing joke in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community ” anytime someone mentions the “gay agenda” someone will say, “Have […]

The decline of the giant shopping mall is in full swing. There are 1,100 shopping malls in the US, and they are not doing so well. Crossroads Mall, which is now without a single anchor store, will soon confront the challenge of other aging malls: How to make money when stores and people don’t want […]

Here we go again. The powers that be in Oklahoma County have determined the taxpayers are going to have to foot the bill of a new detention center, to the tune of millions of dollars. I can hear the reasons: The jail is overcrowded, the federal government is going to take over the jail, or, […]

As part of Oklahoma Gazette’s 30th anniversary year celebration during 2009, commentaries will occasionally reflect on our newspaper and publishing company. This commentary is about our independence. We’re proud of it. We proclaim it each week on the front page of the Gazette, “Metro OKC’s Independent Weekly.” To maintain the trust, confidence and support of […]

What we should really be afraid of is those who support governmental control of our bodies. Don’t be fooled, because that’s what many of the falsely called “pro-life” members of our Legislature are after. It is their ideology that government can dictate to a person what they can and cannot do in matters of their […]