Saturday, July 14, 2007
IDEOLOGUE AMATEURS IN CHARGE
The state has been fortunate to fare as well as it has when the voters constantly put amateurs in charge of affairs. But Oklahoma is now suffering the disturbing consequences of having ideologue amateurs in positions of dominant leadership within our government, particularly in the legislature.
Youth is not a permanent handicap in a legislator, but youth and/or inexperience, plus a mind pre-set on most issues, can definitely deter quality in government.
The voters in Oklahoma made a big mistake a couple of decades ago when they allowed political outsiders to convince them that adopting term limits would improve the quality of legislative functioning. While the old-timers may have frustrated some by thwarting change, or slowing the speed of change, they had acquired experience, knowledge, negotiating skills, and a memory for past traditions that kept the legislature on track and away from many foolish mistakes.
There are a number of bright young (or new) legislators of both parties who may be properly viewed as up-and-coming students of government. Enid is blessed with a couple of these. But they cannot stay around long enough to become experienced leaders.
Instead, it appears that the most self-impressed demagogues have consistently emerged as the new party leaders. Their lack of experience, when combined with their fanaticism for party dogma, becomes a detriment to Oklahoma’s public services.
The situation at the State Medical Examiner’s Office is a case in point. Almost every intelligent reading and viewing adult in Oklahoma has heard several times about problems at the coroner’s office. Where have the legislative leaders been? Where were they when hearings were held on that budget?
Preoccupation with a party agenda, i.e. cutting taxes, making abortion difficult, tort claims, reducing consumer and worker access to courts, and promoting business, has led the majority party legislators to neglect the declining state infra-structure, penal law reform, mental health, education, and other vital state services.
Aversion to assessing road user taxes to pay for roads and bridges, and the failure to set taxes to pay for college and other public buildings has created vast fiscal problems. The state has been building up legally questionable bonded debt to pay for highways, college buildings, and other state improvements. State government has loaded future operating budgets with debt payments for current capital expenses.
College students who must pay tuition are paying higher and higher rates, while the legislature has given it away free to others with no new tax levied to pay for it, essentially taking it out of potential college appropriations. Average citizens continue to pay state and local taxes, while millions in tax incentives are given away to businesses.
It is imperative that state government officials, both legislative and executive, become better stewards of government. Public services cost money, and the public and businesses must both be taxed to pay for those services.
The state constitution prescribes the procedure for incurring debt, and that includes a special tax levy to amortize it – just like house payments. Follow the constitution!
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
Youth is not a permanent handicap in a legislator, but youth and/or inexperience, plus a mind pre-set on most issues, can definitely deter quality in government.
The voters in Oklahoma made a big mistake a couple of decades ago when they allowed political outsiders to convince them that adopting term limits would improve the quality of legislative functioning. While the old-timers may have frustrated some by thwarting change, or slowing the speed of change, they had acquired experience, knowledge, negotiating skills, and a memory for past traditions that kept the legislature on track and away from many foolish mistakes.
There are a number of bright young (or new) legislators of both parties who may be properly viewed as up-and-coming students of government. Enid is blessed with a couple of these. But they cannot stay around long enough to become experienced leaders.
Instead, it appears that the most self-impressed demagogues have consistently emerged as the new party leaders. Their lack of experience, when combined with their fanaticism for party dogma, becomes a detriment to Oklahoma’s public services.
The situation at the State Medical Examiner’s Office is a case in point. Almost every intelligent reading and viewing adult in Oklahoma has heard several times about problems at the coroner’s office. Where have the legislative leaders been? Where were they when hearings were held on that budget?
Preoccupation with a party agenda, i.e. cutting taxes, making abortion difficult, tort claims, reducing consumer and worker access to courts, and promoting business, has led the majority party legislators to neglect the declining state infra-structure, penal law reform, mental health, education, and other vital state services.
Aversion to assessing road user taxes to pay for roads and bridges, and the failure to set taxes to pay for college and other public buildings has created vast fiscal problems. The state has been building up legally questionable bonded debt to pay for highways, college buildings, and other state improvements. State government has loaded future operating budgets with debt payments for current capital expenses.
College students who must pay tuition are paying higher and higher rates, while the legislature has given it away free to others with no new tax levied to pay for it, essentially taking it out of potential college appropriations. Average citizens continue to pay state and local taxes, while millions in tax incentives are given away to businesses.
It is imperative that state government officials, both legislative and executive, become better stewards of government. Public services cost money, and the public and businesses must both be taxed to pay for those services.
The state constitution prescribes the procedure for incurring debt, and that includes a special tax levy to amortize it – just like house payments. Follow the constitution!
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
