The song "Lord, You Gave Me a Mountain", written by Marty Robbins and performed by Elvis Presley in 1969, rolls through my mind as I write this column/blog. The lyrics to the ballad detail a series of challenges that one endures in life. Marty Robbins describes these setbacks as hills that he has scaled in the past with the help of God - but then states "this time, Lord, You gave me a mountain / A mountain You know I may never climb...".
Shawn Sheehan, Oklahoma's 2016 Teacher of the Year, may have had this song running through his mind - as he decided to leave Oklahoma in May of 2017. Shawn was an exceptional Algebra teacher in Norman Public Schools, but is now leaving Oklahoma for a better job in Texas - for his family. No one can blame him for thinking of himself and his family instead of our public schools' plight, and the way all teachers have been treated by Oklahomans. The best Oklahoma teacher of 2016 was committed to public school students and teachers across the state. While many are dedicated to our public schools and are dedicated to the cause of better conditions for our students and teachers, very few are actually committed - as was Shawn Sheehan. The difference between dedication and commitment is really very simple. Those who are dedicated to the state's students and teachers are willing to stand up and voice their opinion of how our teachers, with the lowest pay in the nation, have been lied to by our politicians. Lies like this: "I believe our teachers need and deserve a pay raise, but a one-cent sales tax is not the best way" and "Please believe me - teachers will get a pay raise if I'm elected", were first told by candidates during the 2016 election campaign. You know who they are, and "they are who we thought they were!" (Dennis Green, 2006).
Those committed to our public schools, students, and teachers, are willing to make personal sacrifice of time and money for the betterment of our schools. After garnering the 2016 Teacher of the Year, Shawn Sheehan decided to "run" for the District 15 State Senate seat in Norman. Mr. Sheehan committed his and his family's time for our state teachers and students, and committed personal funds to the cause as well. In return for his committment, the Oklahomans of Senate District 15 made sure he got only 38% of the vote. Meanwhile, the political corporatist machine won the seat with 62% of the vote. Needless to say, but... this time Oklahomans have given Shawn Sheehan a mountain, so he's leaving us. Who can blame him?
Now, "this time Lord, You gave me a mountain" is the way I feel today, and probably will for a long time. A personal tragedy for Sherrie and me occurred on Saturday, May 27, 2017, as my best friend was killed in a ranch accident. Fred, 11 years old, and the only dog I've ever had, died quietly after suffering a dislocated hip. I listen over and over again to Mr. Bojangles, and the most poignant line - The dog up and died, he up and died, and After 20 years he still grieved. You may listen to it on my facebook page or youtube. He and his sister Lillie are the only children Sherrie and I have. He was "our child" as we never had any others. I loved him as any parent would love a child, and will probably mourn until I leave this world.
This will be my last column/post concerning politics and public schools. I'm waving the white flag. Thank you all who've read my posts, but like Shawn Sheehan who committed to public schools, I'm gonna do something else, unrelated to politics...
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Friday, May 26, 2017
State Budget Countdown
KOCO 5 News is running a countdown to the end of the 2017 state legislative session, much like the countdown to launch we used to watch as NASA prepared for liftoff of its latest space rocket. The corporate legislator countdown is something we've never seen in the history of Oklahoma government. Corporate lawmakers are sitting behind monitors at the capitol... I mean "control room", nervously watching the countdown, much like the NASA scientists did at the old Cape Kennedy launch pad as an Apollo rocket prepared to launch. We witnessed "high fives" and cheering in the Cape Kennedy control room, which usually marked another successful rocket launch... And corporate lawmakers will surely celebrate another successful end to the legislative session, as there will be 1) no teacher pay raises, 2) more teachers will flee Oklahoma (Corporatists will say "don't let the door hit you in the backside on the way out"), 3) appropriations to our public schools will be reduced again, and 4) more taxpayer dollars will be funneled to out-of-state school management corporations.
Public school teachers are partially to blame for this legislative fiasco, as only about 50% voted in the last legislator elections, and many who did vote - supported the corporatists now in control at the capitol. Many political scientists believe that teachers are just as complacent about voting and are just as easily fooled by politicians, as the rest of the voters are. As public school supporters, we must pay attention to what candidates say concerning our public schools, and then always vote accordingly. As public school supporters, we must ask candidates the hard questions about our public schools, if we are to prevent their destruction. If the candidate answers questions with: A) "I believe in school choice" or... B) "I believe in schools sharing resources" or... C) "Teachers need a raise, but a one-cent sales tax is not the way", he actually means A) "I believe in sending Oklahoma tax dollars to my favorite charity - private and corporate charter schools" or... B) "I believe in small school consolidation" or... C) "I believe teachers don't deserve a raise, and by the way - don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out." Of course, the corporate candidate may avoid answering any public school questions, as a way to deflect criticism... Pay attention to what they say or don't say!
This marks the end of my rant concerning the end of the session, but continue to watch the corporate countdown at the capitol, especially the corporate scientists in the control room, as they celebrate another successful launch...
Public school teachers are partially to blame for this legislative fiasco, as only about 50% voted in the last legislator elections, and many who did vote - supported the corporatists now in control at the capitol. Many political scientists believe that teachers are just as complacent about voting and are just as easily fooled by politicians, as the rest of the voters are. As public school supporters, we must pay attention to what candidates say concerning our public schools, and then always vote accordingly. As public school supporters, we must ask candidates the hard questions about our public schools, if we are to prevent their destruction. If the candidate answers questions with: A) "I believe in school choice" or... B) "I believe in schools sharing resources" or... C) "Teachers need a raise, but a one-cent sales tax is not the way", he actually means A) "I believe in sending Oklahoma tax dollars to my favorite charity - private and corporate charter schools" or... B) "I believe in small school consolidation" or... C) "I believe teachers don't deserve a raise, and by the way - don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out." Of course, the corporate candidate may avoid answering any public school questions, as a way to deflect criticism... Pay attention to what they say or don't say!
This marks the end of my rant concerning the end of the session, but continue to watch the corporate countdown at the capitol, especially the corporate scientists in the control room, as they celebrate another successful launch...
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Lindsay Broomcorn Sweeps the World
With summer fast approaching, my memories fade back to what many remember as the worst teen-age summer job ever invented. As a young boy growing up in Purdy, America (Lindsay suburb) during the early 1970's, I believed that "cutting broomcorn" must have started in a Japanese concentration camp as a way to torture prisoners of war during World War II. As a matter of fact, one longtime Lindsay resident said that in 1945 many of the World War II Nazi and Nazi sympathizer POWs, interned at Pauls Valley, were brought to Lindsay to work broomcorn. Unfortunately, the German "Master Race" POWs considered working in the broomcorn patch - cruel and unusual punishment, so they were taken back to Pauls Valley... for recuperation from the oppressive Oklahoma heat. As a boy living down on Rush Creek, I also thought banishment to the broomcorn patch was cruel and unusual, but it was the only summer work we could get. Working 10 to 12 hour days, we could earn as much as $300 for six weeks at $1 an hour. I usually only made about $100 - because when football practice started in the first week of August, I had the good fortune of leaving the broomcorn field for the practice field, usually at around 3 PM. Junior High football practice was a welcome relief from the hard work, and the second week of football practice began two-a-days, so I didn't go to the broomcorn patch at all. As early as 6 AM each morning, several broomcorn crews would meet at the "Ice Dock" on Broomcorn Street to load up onto sideboarded trucks, which would then haul the broomcorn "Johnnys" and "Sallys" to the fields. Those workers who lived near the fields (like me) would arrive at 7AM to begin "cutting" or "breaking" the corn - by hand. I was not big or strong enough to be a "breaker", as it required the worker to walk between two rows of 'fifteen feet tall' corn, breaking 7 or 8 stalks at a time over behind the Johnny - as he walked half a mile each direction. My dad was the fastest breaker I ever saw, even blind.
During the 1960's and into the early 1970's, immigrant laborers, mostly Latin Americans, came north to harvest the broomcorn. Most crews had 20 to 30 Mexicans working alongside us locals, with a few very pretty Jr. High and High school senioritas among them. When I was fourteen years old, I became smitten with the most beautiful thirteen year-old Mexican seniorita I had ever seen, and maybe the only one... working broomcorn down on Rush Creek (my uncle's farm). She couldn't speak a word of English, and I could not speak Spanish nor understand it. All we could do was "make eyes" at each other (she tried to get physically closer to me by "tickling" me under my arms, as I jumped up to grab hold of a tree branch). After a couple of weeks - she left Rush Creek with her family, and I never saw her again... It reminds me of the 1970 pop song by Jeff Christie - Yellow River. You can listen to it on YouTube or my facebook page. "I'm finally returning to Rush Creek."
Thankfully, I graduated to a much easier job by the 9th grade - hauling hay. Hay hauling did have its drawbacks though, as there were no pretty girls around... they were left in the broomcorn patch. I did have the good fortune of meeting one very pretty girl who still cut broomcorn, in November of my 9th grade year, 1971. That's the only reason I ever wished I were back in the broomcorn field.
Fortunately or... unfortunately, the hand harvesting of broomcorn died out in about 1974, and the "Broomcorn Capitol of the World" was no more...
During the 1960's and into the early 1970's, immigrant laborers, mostly Latin Americans, came north to harvest the broomcorn. Most crews had 20 to 30 Mexicans working alongside us locals, with a few very pretty Jr. High and High school senioritas among them. When I was fourteen years old, I became smitten with the most beautiful thirteen year-old Mexican seniorita I had ever seen, and maybe the only one... working broomcorn down on Rush Creek (my uncle's farm). She couldn't speak a word of English, and I could not speak Spanish nor understand it. All we could do was "make eyes" at each other (she tried to get physically closer to me by "tickling" me under my arms, as I jumped up to grab hold of a tree branch). After a couple of weeks - she left Rush Creek with her family, and I never saw her again... It reminds me of the 1970 pop song by Jeff Christie - Yellow River. You can listen to it on YouTube or my facebook page. "I'm finally returning to Rush Creek."
Thankfully, I graduated to a much easier job by the 9th grade - hauling hay. Hay hauling did have its drawbacks though, as there were no pretty girls around... they were left in the broomcorn patch. I did have the good fortune of meeting one very pretty girl who still cut broomcorn, in November of my 9th grade year, 1971. That's the only reason I ever wished I were back in the broomcorn field.
Fortunately or... unfortunately, the hand harvesting of broomcorn died out in about 1974, and the "Broomcorn Capitol of the World" was no more...
The Legislator Shell Game - Where's the Taxpayers' Money?
"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive", and the Oklahoma legislators' state budget plan is a "shell game" and deception for taxpayers. Lawmakers have been lying about the State Budget going on a couple years now, piling on lie after lie, and certainly weaving a tangled web. We can only hope "the domino effect" is working, as three dominos (Shortey, Loveless, and Kirby) have already fallen this year, but Oklahoma taxpayers will probably have to unseat the remaining liars. The lies perpetrated by some lawmakers concerning the state budget, started a few years back, but we'll only examine a few lies of 2016 and 2017.
2016
LIE - "We're holding harmless public school funding." (no reductions).
TRUTH - Public Schools were shorted textbook funding, which reduced public school funding. Public school funding was then reduced time and time again during the course of the year.
2016
LIE - "The House and Senate appropriations are being reduced."
TRUTH - "The House and Senate played the old game of "Hide the Money" and moved much of their appropriated funds to another agency, effectively keeping it out of sight of taxpayers. The House and Senate both received huge $$$ increases."
2017
LIE - "Again, we've already told you once... we're not reducing public school appropriations... why aren't you believing us?"
TRUTH - Textbook funding and teachers' health insurance are not fully funded, and schools will likely be cut again in 2017.
LIE - "We believe teachers deserve a pay raise, but the 1 cent sales tax for education is not the way to do it."
TRUTH - "We believe teachers do not deserve a raise, so we will not provide one."
These are but a few of the lies that corporate lawmakers have fed the Oklahoma taxpayers over the past two years only. The sad part is that all of them were elected to office by the taxpaying public, so the charade will continue on, indefinitely and eternally.
A good friend came up with a very good idea as to how to identify the "liars" and "cheats" in our state legislature: When they're first elected to office, they must wear the "team uniform" at the capitol and to each and every campaign function attended. A new law could be passed which requires the team uniform to be similar to the jacket and car that NASCAR drivers wear and drive: "Lawmakers shall be required to wear and display the 'colors' and sponsors (bosses) names on all clothing and/or automobile." I'd be willing to bet that no "constituent's" names would be displayed, only the out-of-state corporate interests and $billionaires...
2016
LIE - "We're holding harmless public school funding." (no reductions).
TRUTH - Public Schools were shorted textbook funding, which reduced public school funding. Public school funding was then reduced time and time again during the course of the year.
2016
LIE - "The House and Senate appropriations are being reduced."
TRUTH - "The House and Senate played the old game of "Hide the Money" and moved much of their appropriated funds to another agency, effectively keeping it out of sight of taxpayers. The House and Senate both received huge $$$ increases."
2017
LIE - "Again, we've already told you once... we're not reducing public school appropriations... why aren't you believing us?"
TRUTH - Textbook funding and teachers' health insurance are not fully funded, and schools will likely be cut again in 2017.
LIE - "We believe teachers deserve a pay raise, but the 1 cent sales tax for education is not the way to do it."
TRUTH - "We believe teachers do not deserve a raise, so we will not provide one."
These are but a few of the lies that corporate lawmakers have fed the Oklahoma taxpayers over the past two years only. The sad part is that all of them were elected to office by the taxpaying public, so the charade will continue on, indefinitely and eternally.
A good friend came up with a very good idea as to how to identify the "liars" and "cheats" in our state legislature: When they're first elected to office, they must wear the "team uniform" at the capitol and to each and every campaign function attended. A new law could be passed which requires the team uniform to be similar to the jacket and car that NASCAR drivers wear and drive: "Lawmakers shall be required to wear and display the 'colors' and sponsors (bosses) names on all clothing and/or automobile." I'd be willing to bet that no "constituent's" names would be displayed, only the out-of-state corporate interests and $billionaires...
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
World's Dirtiest Job: Oklahoma State Legislator
Oklahoma State Legislators - it's what they do: the world's dirtiest job... Everyone has probably heard by now that the House budget committee passed not one, but two $6.8 billion state budget bills, at midnight last night. The only difference in the two, was that one contained a $1000 teacher pay raise and the other didn't. Guess which one the senators heard? You're right! The one with no teacher pay raise, but remember... "It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it." Prognosis negative: In retrospect, teachers are unlikely to ever see a pay raise, as most teachers have never contributed one thin dime of payola toward any lawmaker's paycheck.
The typical Oklahoma state legislator has a very dirty job because they often work past midnight, with no extra pay or "gratitude" from their constituents (the voters who elected them). The voters in their respective districts do not sign their paychecks, however, so it's doubtful many legislators actually work for their constituents - but work for the entities which do sign lawmaker paychecks. By the way, I know of no teachers who signed legislator paychecks, so why should any self-respecting state lawmaker work for teachers?
State legislators do get paid, so someone must sign the checks. One of the largest legislator employers is the oil and gas industry which payed out about $683,000 to sitting lawmakers over the last two years, while public schools payed lawmakers virtually nothing. The old saying "Don't complain if you don't vote" has been changed by corporate lawmakers to "Don't complain if you don't sign my paycheck", which actually means "Don't complain if you didn't donate to my campaign". The job of a state legislator is too dirty and difficult to be wasting time on those that don't pay - it's just that simple. It's the reason that lawmakers are reluctant to increase the gross production tax rate, from the lowest in the nation (3.2%) to tied with the lowest (5%). In addition, many lawmakers signed a pledge that they will never vote to increase the tax rate... (only for the "wealthy" and corporate interests only, as they sign paychecks).
Since I live and work in House District 42 and Senate District 43, I usually only pay attention (not payola) to how the House District 42 Representative and District 43 Senator vote on all major issues. I also take note of which entities sign their paychecks - in other words, which entities have provided a living wage for their efforts. The District 42 House member, Tim Downing, received $113,901 from various corporate groups, individuals, and dark money groups, of which $6,751 came from the oil and gas industry. These "oil and gas paychecks" were signed by ten different contributors, of which only one was a voting constituent. As for myself, I am a District 42 voting constituent, but have not "bought" any influence (contributed to the Tim Downing Fund) - so I don't expect any favors... and ask none.
In summary, the work of a State Legislator is a difficult and dirty job, primarily because of the sheer number of corporate bosses that many answer to. When you become frustrated that the state budget is still on ice, or that teachers will receive no pay increase, or that Oklahoma is dead last in the nation for funding public schools - just remember, "Money talks and BS walks". Have a nice day...
The typical Oklahoma state legislator has a very dirty job because they often work past midnight, with no extra pay or "gratitude" from their constituents (the voters who elected them). The voters in their respective districts do not sign their paychecks, however, so it's doubtful many legislators actually work for their constituents - but work for the entities which do sign lawmaker paychecks. By the way, I know of no teachers who signed legislator paychecks, so why should any self-respecting state lawmaker work for teachers?
State legislators do get paid, so someone must sign the checks. One of the largest legislator employers is the oil and gas industry which payed out about $683,000 to sitting lawmakers over the last two years, while public schools payed lawmakers virtually nothing. The old saying "Don't complain if you don't vote" has been changed by corporate lawmakers to "Don't complain if you don't sign my paycheck", which actually means "Don't complain if you didn't donate to my campaign". The job of a state legislator is too dirty and difficult to be wasting time on those that don't pay - it's just that simple. It's the reason that lawmakers are reluctant to increase the gross production tax rate, from the lowest in the nation (3.2%) to tied with the lowest (5%). In addition, many lawmakers signed a pledge that they will never vote to increase the tax rate... (only for the "wealthy" and corporate interests only, as they sign paychecks).
Since I live and work in House District 42 and Senate District 43, I usually only pay attention (not payola) to how the House District 42 Representative and District 43 Senator vote on all major issues. I also take note of which entities sign their paychecks - in other words, which entities have provided a living wage for their efforts. The District 42 House member, Tim Downing, received $113,901 from various corporate groups, individuals, and dark money groups, of which $6,751 came from the oil and gas industry. These "oil and gas paychecks" were signed by ten different contributors, of which only one was a voting constituent. As for myself, I am a District 42 voting constituent, but have not "bought" any influence (contributed to the Tim Downing Fund) - so I don't expect any favors... and ask none.
In summary, the work of a State Legislator is a difficult and dirty job, primarily because of the sheer number of corporate bosses that many answer to. When you become frustrated that the state budget is still on ice, or that teachers will receive no pay increase, or that Oklahoma is dead last in the nation for funding public schools - just remember, "Money talks and BS walks". Have a nice day...
Monday, May 22, 2017
Squealin' Like a (Voucher) Pig Under a Gate
Voucher wolves, voucher vultures, or voucher hogs - they are names that have been used interchangeably for the same group of school voucher supporters... those out-of-state corporate school management firms who want our public school tax dollars. Just as "feral hogs" have multiplied rapidly and damaged our local farm and ranch land, voucher hogs are also multiplying at an unprecedented rate and threatening our public school funding and taxpayer dollars. Voucher hogs have many in-state employees - those state senators and representatives who have accepted pay checks (donations) in order to direct precious public school funding to them. They have been "squealin' like a pig under a gate" to their Senate and House friends for more and more public tax dollars... all year.
Those who may be squeamish to what feral hogs are capable of should stop reading at this point, as I'll relate a personal incident of feral hog behavior. We've all heard about how hogs will eat anything they can fit in their mouths, including baby deer, calves, and other indigenous wildlife. As I searched for a cow and calf this past weekend down on my Rush Creek ranch, I came upon a brush covered area that had evidently been used as a hog buffet. No, the non-local feral hogs had not consumed my cow and calf - but had feasted on other indigenous species, several unfortunate baby armadillos. The shells were lined up and cleaned out, just like watermelon halves.
Many public school supporters believe voucher hogs use the same MO as real feral hogs. The latest attempt to create a buffet for them is House Bill 1459, the special school voucher bill. It expands the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship (vouchers) to students prior to enrollment in second grade who have been "...identified as eligible...," but with no requirement that these students ever have attended any public school or been placed on an Individual Education Plan. House Bill 1459 will greatly expand eligibility for the LNHS vouchers, funneling taxpayer dollars away from Oklahoma public schools at a time when schools are already struggling to make ends meet. In addition, the LNHS voucher program has experienced tremendous growth in the last five years and will siphon more than $3.6 million in legislative vouchers this school year. What grunts like a feral hog, probably is one, and what smells like a voucher hog... probably is one. Voucher proponents are currently setting the taxpayer buffet, and preparing to "clean-up" taxpayer dollars...
Those who may be squeamish to what feral hogs are capable of should stop reading at this point, as I'll relate a personal incident of feral hog behavior. We've all heard about how hogs will eat anything they can fit in their mouths, including baby deer, calves, and other indigenous wildlife. As I searched for a cow and calf this past weekend down on my Rush Creek ranch, I came upon a brush covered area that had evidently been used as a hog buffet. No, the non-local feral hogs had not consumed my cow and calf - but had feasted on other indigenous species, several unfortunate baby armadillos. The shells were lined up and cleaned out, just like watermelon halves.
Many public school supporters believe voucher hogs use the same MO as real feral hogs. The latest attempt to create a buffet for them is House Bill 1459, the special school voucher bill. It expands the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship (vouchers) to students prior to enrollment in second grade who have been "...identified as eligible...," but with no requirement that these students ever have attended any public school or been placed on an Individual Education Plan. House Bill 1459 will greatly expand eligibility for the LNHS vouchers, funneling taxpayer dollars away from Oklahoma public schools at a time when schools are already struggling to make ends meet. In addition, the LNHS voucher program has experienced tremendous growth in the last five years and will siphon more than $3.6 million in legislative vouchers this school year. What grunts like a feral hog, probably is one, and what smells like a voucher hog... probably is one. Voucher proponents are currently setting the taxpayer buffet, and preparing to "clean-up" taxpayer dollars...
Friday, May 19, 2017
Small, Rural Schools Hammered Again
Memorial Day 2017 is on Monday, May 29 this year - and is a time to remember those that have given their lives in defense of freedom and our American way of life. Our American soldiers who died on the battlefield were truly committed, not just dedicated to America... for the difference between commitment to a cause and dedication is the difference between life and death. I'm sure that many Americans know friends, relatives, and ancestors, who "gave everything" in protection of our country - the greatest country the world has ever known, and so it is that we remember those who sacrificed life itself, not just on Monday, but every day of the year.
Senate Bill 859, the motor vehicle revenue re-distribution bill, is just one more effort the corporatists at the capitol are making to eliminate our small (less than 500 students) rural public schools. SB 859 will move motor vehicle revenue from state-dedicated revenue apportioned to schools as a state aid chargeable to state-appropriated revenue... as part of the state aid funding formula. It will also redistribute $7 million of state funding from schools receiving none or very little state aid - to schools which already receive a large amount of state aid. Once again, the corporatist legislature is "robbing Peter to pay Paul". Under the bill, 53 small rural schools and 2 larger rural schools will lose student funding, while 472 larger urban and suburban schools will receive more student funding. All corporately managed charter and virtual charter schools will receive more state funding under SB 859.
Many school financial experts believe there are four reasons the corporatist lawmakers are supporting this bill. First and foremost, the corporatists want to receive credit for increasing appropriations to schools. Currently, motor vehicle revenue is not allocated by the state legislature, so it gets no credit for providing motor vehicle revenue to schools. Corporatists desperately want credit. Secondly, corporate lawmakers want to provide more money (remember, it's what they do..) to corporately managed charter schools. Corporate charter schools have never received motor vehicle revenue. Thirdly, corporate lawmakers continue their quest to snuff out our small rural schools by taking their student funding - or "robbing Peter (small rural schools) to pay Paul (corporately managed charter schools). A fourth reason for SB 859 is to "divide and conquer" all public schools. The corporatists at the capitol believe if they can force public schools to turn on each other (many larger schools will see an increase in state funding), they will be much easier to destroy from within. Please pay attention to how each lawmaker votes on this bill, as it will help illuminate who the corporatists are at the capitol...
Senate Bill 859, the motor vehicle revenue re-distribution bill, is just one more effort the corporatists at the capitol are making to eliminate our small (less than 500 students) rural public schools. SB 859 will move motor vehicle revenue from state-dedicated revenue apportioned to schools as a state aid chargeable to state-appropriated revenue... as part of the state aid funding formula. It will also redistribute $7 million of state funding from schools receiving none or very little state aid - to schools which already receive a large amount of state aid. Once again, the corporatist legislature is "robbing Peter to pay Paul". Under the bill, 53 small rural schools and 2 larger rural schools will lose student funding, while 472 larger urban and suburban schools will receive more student funding. All corporately managed charter and virtual charter schools will receive more state funding under SB 859.
Many school financial experts believe there are four reasons the corporatist lawmakers are supporting this bill. First and foremost, the corporatists want to receive credit for increasing appropriations to schools. Currently, motor vehicle revenue is not allocated by the state legislature, so it gets no credit for providing motor vehicle revenue to schools. Corporatists desperately want credit. Secondly, corporate lawmakers want to provide more money (remember, it's what they do..) to corporately managed charter schools. Corporate charter schools have never received motor vehicle revenue. Thirdly, corporate lawmakers continue their quest to snuff out our small rural schools by taking their student funding - or "robbing Peter (small rural schools) to pay Paul (corporately managed charter schools). A fourth reason for SB 859 is to "divide and conquer" all public schools. The corporatists at the capitol believe if they can force public schools to turn on each other (many larger schools will see an increase in state funding), they will be much easier to destroy from within. Please pay attention to how each lawmaker votes on this bill, as it will help illuminate who the corporatists are at the capitol...
The Budgeting Elephant in the Lawmakers' Room
The State Budget elephant in the room has just recently appeared at the State Capitol, and like the new Dos Equis "world's most interesting man" commercial - if there is one, he brought it. Instead of the world's most interesting man bringing the elephant - corporatist lawmakers brought it. The "elephant in the room" at the capitol is the gross production tax. It's the missing link and the last "elephant" for balancing the state budget. Almost all tax increases have been agreed to by the Senate and House (republicans and democrats) for balancing the state budget including a cigarette sales tax increase, gasoline tax increase, income tax reduction freeze, specific fee increases, and many more tax increases for ordinary Oklahoma taxpayers. The one sticking point is a rollback of gross production tax reduction to the rate of five or six years ago, from the present 2% to 7%. Some budgeting experts say it could raise as much as $300 million each year, and reduce the state budget deficit by 33%. Corporatist lawmakers, not republicans or democrats, won't hear of it, however, so the stalemate continues...
A gross production tax rate rollback to what it was until recently, is the elephant no self-respecting corporatist wants the public to see. The reason for this balanced budget blockade by corporatist lawmakers is really very simple - the love of money. Many Senators and House members have accepted as much as $5,400 from each corporation not wanting their severence taxes increased. The lawmaker beneficiaries are enough in number to squelch any consideration of a gross production rate increase. Several corporate owners (George Carlin's 1973 rant which can be seen on YouTube) are now "cashing in their chips" and demanding a "return on investment" (ROI) for providing $thousands to their corporate cronies (corporatist lawmakers). The "corporate cronies" have thus far stalled the gross production rate increase, thereby providing the demanded ROI for the out-of-state corporations and "for profit" non-profits.
We may see who the real winners are by the end of today, Friday, May 19, 2017. It will be either Oklahoma citizens... or out-of-state corporate entities and corporatists. Then again, we may not see the end of the budget melee, as corporatists at the capitol may extend the budget negotiations into a special session - in order to make more money. It's what they do...
A gross production tax rate rollback to what it was until recently, is the elephant no self-respecting corporatist wants the public to see. The reason for this balanced budget blockade by corporatist lawmakers is really very simple - the love of money. Many Senators and House members have accepted as much as $5,400 from each corporation not wanting their severence taxes increased. The lawmaker beneficiaries are enough in number to squelch any consideration of a gross production rate increase. Several corporate owners (George Carlin's 1973 rant which can be seen on YouTube) are now "cashing in their chips" and demanding a "return on investment" (ROI) for providing $thousands to their corporate cronies (corporatist lawmakers). The "corporate cronies" have thus far stalled the gross production rate increase, thereby providing the demanded ROI for the out-of-state corporations and "for profit" non-profits.
We may see who the real winners are by the end of today, Friday, May 19, 2017. It will be either Oklahoma citizens... or out-of-state corporate entities and corporatists. Then again, we may not see the end of the budget melee, as corporatists at the capitol may extend the budget negotiations into a special session - in order to make more money. It's what they do...
Thursday, May 18, 2017
The State Budget Sham
The title of this post belies the content, as it's not about the Oklahoma State Budget - but about Sham, the great American thoroughbred of 1973.
A couple weeks ago I wrote about an event and competitor which affected me more deeply than anything else in my life, up to that time (1973). This column/blog usually concerns itself with politics and education, but occasionally departs that topic for more interesting and personal topics. Secretariat winning the triple crown of thoroughbred racing in 1973 was one such event which had a dramatic effect upon my psyche, as I actually wept while watching the ending of the 1973 Belmont Stakes. I became "choked up" as Secretariat pulled away from the competition, winning by 31 lengths. I thought at the time that I became emotional because of the "perfection" that Secretariat, the "Tremendous Machine" or "Super Horse" exhibited. In my mind, it was akin to watching Elvis Presley sing "An American Trilogy".
The "rest of the story", though, is Secretariat's perfect race is not the real reason for my emotional response. After several weeks of reflection, I came to the conclusion that I became choked up - not because Secretariat ran the perfect race that day, but because I sympathized so deeply with Sham. Many racing fans believe Sham was the second greatest thoroughbred of all time, but second greatest was not good enough in 1973. Most people don't even recognize the name.
Many horse racing experts say that a thoroughbred will "die on the track" rather than quit running. The thoroughbred is committed to racing, while the jockeys and owners are only dedicated. Sham had beaten Secretariat in the Wood Memorial, just before the 1973 Kentucky Derby, but he had simply "awakened a sleeping giant" as Secretariat beat Sham in the Derby by two and a half lengths. Most people don't realize that Sham had knocked out two teeth just as the race began by slamming his head into the gate. He had broken the Kentucky Derby record, but still placed second. Sham went on to place second in the Preakness as well, but then came the legendary Belmont race. I expected Sham to win the Belmont Stakes, because it's very difficult to any competitor (Secretariat) to beat another three times in a row. As I related two weeks ago, Sham immediately took the lead as the gates opened, and led until Secretariat pulled up alongside. He then bolted in front a couple more times, and looked as though he may actually pull off a victory. But entering the last quarter, Secretariat, like a nitrous oxide propelled race car - flipped the switch... and like a "tremendous machine", as the announcer called him, shot to the finish line. My throat began to get tight and I silently wept, as Secretariat vanquished the competition by some 31 lengths. But it was not Sham who was second that day - Sham had faded to dead last... "31 lengths to eternity" according to one sports writer. I believe I wept that evening not because I was witnessing the greatest thoroughbred in the history of the sport, but because I was witnessing maybe the second greatest ever, die of a broken heart. One of the trailing jockeys to both Secretariat and Sham said that he actually could see Sham's heart breaking.
My father, an old rodeo cowboy who was blind, also had tears streaming silently down both cheeks as he "listened" to the broadcast on the old black and white TV. He too could imagine Sham's breaking heart. Sham didn't die right away, however, as his heart was too big and strong to succumb so easily. As a matter of fact, when autopsied, it was discovered that Sham's heart weighed an astounding 18 lbs., two times larger than the average thoroughbred's heart. It was maybe the second largest heart ever recorded, behind only Secretariat, whose heart was estimated to weigh 22 lbs.
Sham never raced again. He retired to stables in Kentucky for the next 20 years. At around 3 AM on the morning of April 3, 1993, the night watchman at Walmac Farm gave Sham a bucket of oats - as he had been restless all night. At around 4 AM, the watchman returned to see if Sham had consumed his oats. Sham lay dead in his stall... finally succumbing to a heart attack. I firmly believe that Sham died of a broken heart. Not many people knew, and fewer still even cared.
I believe Sham was just as much a sports hero as Secretariat, as he also broke the track records at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and had almost "left it all on the track" at the Belmont. It is said that some animals can sometimes think like human beings, reflecting on their past and looking ahead to the future. Horses are believed to be one such animal, and I think that the 1973 Belmont Stakes hurt Sham for the rest of his life. Maybe in his mind, he was the world's greatest loser - we'll never know...
A couple weeks ago I wrote about an event and competitor which affected me more deeply than anything else in my life, up to that time (1973). This column/blog usually concerns itself with politics and education, but occasionally departs that topic for more interesting and personal topics. Secretariat winning the triple crown of thoroughbred racing in 1973 was one such event which had a dramatic effect upon my psyche, as I actually wept while watching the ending of the 1973 Belmont Stakes. I became "choked up" as Secretariat pulled away from the competition, winning by 31 lengths. I thought at the time that I became emotional because of the "perfection" that Secretariat, the "Tremendous Machine" or "Super Horse" exhibited. In my mind, it was akin to watching Elvis Presley sing "An American Trilogy".
The "rest of the story", though, is Secretariat's perfect race is not the real reason for my emotional response. After several weeks of reflection, I came to the conclusion that I became choked up - not because Secretariat ran the perfect race that day, but because I sympathized so deeply with Sham. Many racing fans believe Sham was the second greatest thoroughbred of all time, but second greatest was not good enough in 1973. Most people don't even recognize the name.
Many horse racing experts say that a thoroughbred will "die on the track" rather than quit running. The thoroughbred is committed to racing, while the jockeys and owners are only dedicated. Sham had beaten Secretariat in the Wood Memorial, just before the 1973 Kentucky Derby, but he had simply "awakened a sleeping giant" as Secretariat beat Sham in the Derby by two and a half lengths. Most people don't realize that Sham had knocked out two teeth just as the race began by slamming his head into the gate. He had broken the Kentucky Derby record, but still placed second. Sham went on to place second in the Preakness as well, but then came the legendary Belmont race. I expected Sham to win the Belmont Stakes, because it's very difficult to any competitor (Secretariat) to beat another three times in a row. As I related two weeks ago, Sham immediately took the lead as the gates opened, and led until Secretariat pulled up alongside. He then bolted in front a couple more times, and looked as though he may actually pull off a victory. But entering the last quarter, Secretariat, like a nitrous oxide propelled race car - flipped the switch... and like a "tremendous machine", as the announcer called him, shot to the finish line. My throat began to get tight and I silently wept, as Secretariat vanquished the competition by some 31 lengths. But it was not Sham who was second that day - Sham had faded to dead last... "31 lengths to eternity" according to one sports writer. I believe I wept that evening not because I was witnessing the greatest thoroughbred in the history of the sport, but because I was witnessing maybe the second greatest ever, die of a broken heart. One of the trailing jockeys to both Secretariat and Sham said that he actually could see Sham's heart breaking.
My father, an old rodeo cowboy who was blind, also had tears streaming silently down both cheeks as he "listened" to the broadcast on the old black and white TV. He too could imagine Sham's breaking heart. Sham didn't die right away, however, as his heart was too big and strong to succumb so easily. As a matter of fact, when autopsied, it was discovered that Sham's heart weighed an astounding 18 lbs., two times larger than the average thoroughbred's heart. It was maybe the second largest heart ever recorded, behind only Secretariat, whose heart was estimated to weigh 22 lbs.
Sham never raced again. He retired to stables in Kentucky for the next 20 years. At around 3 AM on the morning of April 3, 1993, the night watchman at Walmac Farm gave Sham a bucket of oats - as he had been restless all night. At around 4 AM, the watchman returned to see if Sham had consumed his oats. Sham lay dead in his stall... finally succumbing to a heart attack. I firmly believe that Sham died of a broken heart. Not many people knew, and fewer still even cared.
I believe Sham was just as much a sports hero as Secretariat, as he also broke the track records at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and had almost "left it all on the track" at the Belmont. It is said that some animals can sometimes think like human beings, reflecting on their past and looking ahead to the future. Horses are believed to be one such animal, and I think that the 1973 Belmont Stakes hurt Sham for the rest of his life. Maybe in his mind, he was the world's greatest loser - we'll never know...
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
When Pigs Fly.. or When Hell Freezes Over?
Just when we think we've seen it all - we haven't. The conservative republican leadership now believes we've gone too far in tax cuts for the wealthy, and is now demanding the Oklahoma Senate and House increase taxes. The corporate donors to many corporatists at the capitol are now demanding their money back - as they see no return on investment (LOL). What Oklahomans are now witnessing is "flying pigs" and hell freezing over. It's like a total eclipse of the sun. Don't miss it...
The State Budget: Three-Ring Circus or Oklahoma Dust Bowl?
I've likened this year's legislative budgetary exercises, especially the efforts to fill the $878 million budget hole, to a circus. I now believe it's more like the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, the greatest man-made natural disaster the world has ever known. This analogy hits the nail on the head, as the federal government created the Dust Bowl - and the Oklahoma State Government has created the 2017 state budget catastrophe.
To set the stage for this comparison of legislative disasters, I think it's important to recognize that Oklahoma now has three political parties, not two, as has been the case in the past. The republicans, the democrats, and now the corporatists exist at the capitol. The republican party has traditionally been the party of wealth, and only during the past few decades has been considered conservative in nature. The democrat party was once the conservative party, but has recently turned more neo-liberal. Corporatism is a hybrid of both republican and democratic philosophies. Corporatists do not favor individual welfare programs but do favor corporate welfare in the form of tax breaks to billionaires and business corporations. Many former conservative republicans in the Oklahoma State House and Senate are now corporatists, just as many Federal lawmakers were corporatists back in the Dirty Thirties.
The Oklahoma Dust Bowl (also part of three other states) was created in a large part by federal subsidies (corporate welfare) which were accessed by suitcase farmers (out-of-state farming corporations) which swept in from the east to take advantage of Oklahoma's farm and range land. They bought up or leased every square inch of range they could, and then plowed it all under - to plant wheat and make money ("Making a profit" is the cornerstone of corporate farming endeavors, while "survival" is the goal of local farmers and ranchers). On a personal note - I did not live through the Dust Bowl - but three of my grandparents did and told me some "horror" stories of those times. My grandfather on my father's side (Virgil Beckham) died in November, 1933, as a result of being drug to death by a mule, during a dust storm near Clinton, Oklahoma. My grandfather on my mothers side pointed out the exact location on his ranch where over one-hundred head of cattle were slaughtered in 1935 - because there was nothing left for them to eat. All area ranchers were forced by the government to drive their cattle (except one) to a central location, where they were shot and covered with dirt. My uncle, Ray Smith of Duncan, an 8 year old at the time, told me of how his heart was broken as he and his father drove their "herd of ten cows" 3 miles to be shot. (He got to keep his favorite milk cow). In my opinion, this economic and personal calamity had two causes - the federal government... and corporate acquisition of tax dollars (the love of money). I believe the 2017 State budget fiasco mirrors the Dust Bowl in many ways:
1930's Oklahoma Dust Bowl 2017 State Budget Fiasco
Greatest man-made natural disaster Greatest man-made state
budget disaster...
Caused by corporate greed Caused by corporate greed
Allowed by government corporatists Allowed by government...
Affected farmers and ranchers Affected public schools
National suitcase farmers to blame National and International
charter schools...
Remembered 90 years later Will be remembered 90 years
later...
As many believe, the State Budget Catastrophe of 2017 has much in common with the Dust Bowl of the dirty thirties, and those who will not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. We must hope today's state problem is solved much more quickly than the "state" problem of long ago...
To set the stage for this comparison of legislative disasters, I think it's important to recognize that Oklahoma now has three political parties, not two, as has been the case in the past. The republicans, the democrats, and now the corporatists exist at the capitol. The republican party has traditionally been the party of wealth, and only during the past few decades has been considered conservative in nature. The democrat party was once the conservative party, but has recently turned more neo-liberal. Corporatism is a hybrid of both republican and democratic philosophies. Corporatists do not favor individual welfare programs but do favor corporate welfare in the form of tax breaks to billionaires and business corporations. Many former conservative republicans in the Oklahoma State House and Senate are now corporatists, just as many Federal lawmakers were corporatists back in the Dirty Thirties.
The Oklahoma Dust Bowl (also part of three other states) was created in a large part by federal subsidies (corporate welfare) which were accessed by suitcase farmers (out-of-state farming corporations) which swept in from the east to take advantage of Oklahoma's farm and range land. They bought up or leased every square inch of range they could, and then plowed it all under - to plant wheat and make money ("Making a profit" is the cornerstone of corporate farming endeavors, while "survival" is the goal of local farmers and ranchers). On a personal note - I did not live through the Dust Bowl - but three of my grandparents did and told me some "horror" stories of those times. My grandfather on my father's side (Virgil Beckham) died in November, 1933, as a result of being drug to death by a mule, during a dust storm near Clinton, Oklahoma. My grandfather on my mothers side pointed out the exact location on his ranch where over one-hundred head of cattle were slaughtered in 1935 - because there was nothing left for them to eat. All area ranchers were forced by the government to drive their cattle (except one) to a central location, where they were shot and covered with dirt. My uncle, Ray Smith of Duncan, an 8 year old at the time, told me of how his heart was broken as he and his father drove their "herd of ten cows" 3 miles to be shot. (He got to keep his favorite milk cow). In my opinion, this economic and personal calamity had two causes - the federal government... and corporate acquisition of tax dollars (the love of money). I believe the 2017 State budget fiasco mirrors the Dust Bowl in many ways:
1930's Oklahoma Dust Bowl 2017 State Budget Fiasco
Greatest man-made natural disaster Greatest man-made state
budget disaster...
Caused by corporate greed Caused by corporate greed
Allowed by government corporatists Allowed by government...
Affected farmers and ranchers Affected public schools
National suitcase farmers to blame National and International
charter schools...
Remembered 90 years later Will be remembered 90 years
later...
As many believe, the State Budget Catastrophe of 2017 has much in common with the Dust Bowl of the dirty thirties, and those who will not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. We must hope today's state problem is solved much more quickly than the "state" problem of long ago...
Monday, May 15, 2017
Small School Consolidation? Senate Bill 514
This blog is an update of the school consolidation piece I touched on last week. Senate Bill 514 was signed by the governor last Thursday, which now means it is law. The original SB 514 was designed to force schools with less than 500 students to consolidate with other schools. The new and improved version of SB 514, which now becomes law - is slightly different. How different from the original forced consolidation bill remains to be seen. For the new consolidation law, a "task force" is appointed by different entities (House and Senate leadership,the State Department of Education, the State Superintendent, and the governor) to study school consolidation over the next year and make recommendations for consolidation. There is no evidence that any of the appointing officials are NOT biased toward school consolidation, as all have previously stated that school consolidation should take place, regardless of any study. There is no evidence that any of the 12 appointed members will be unbiased as they study school consolidation and no evidence that any of the task-force members will even know how to conduct a study. There is no requirement that any school official with less than 500 students will be appointed to the task force (only one member who is a superintendent for a school district with less than 1000 students).
The task force could recommend the closure of all schools with less than 500 students, as Senator Stanislawski originally intended. The consolidation of schools still could be forced, just taking more time to get there. We must pay attention to the task force selection at this point...
The task force could recommend the closure of all schools with less than 500 students, as Senator Stanislawski originally intended. The consolidation of schools still could be forced, just taking more time to get there. We must pay attention to the task force selection at this point...
Friday, May 12, 2017
The State Budget Circus: Whose fault Is It?
Many Oklahomans blame the state budget fiasco on our elected senators and representatives at the capitol, while many others place the blame of the budget debacle on only a specific political party. The true responsibility for this unprecedented Oklahoma disaster should not be pinned on the legislature or even specific lawmakers, as I believe all voting age adults are responsible. Those voters who supported the sex offenders, thieves, and those lawmakers who can't balance the budget, voters who did not support them, and voters who didn't bother to vote, are all equally responsible for the present budget calamity. I would be among the "voters who did not support them" but must share equally in the responsibility for allowing them to be elected.
Obviously, those that voted for the charlatans at the capitol must shoulder the lion's share of the blame, as they directly placed Oklahoma in harm's way. Those Oklahomans who did not bother to vote are not as responsible for the budget horror (I'm running out of descriptive adjectives), but nonetheless have no right to complain, as they allowed it. Those Oklahomans who did not support the charlatans are still partially responsible, abeit less so than the true supporters and the apathetic voters. I believe we (Oklahomans who knew of their big spending behavior and questionable ethics) are partially guilty of allowing them a free pass by not speaking up concerning their budgeting ineptness and previous unethical behavior. I am guilty of not speaking up loudly enough..
One person who considered himself guilty of not speaking up was Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran minister who spent 7 years imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp before and during World War II. Niemoller expressed, after he was freed by the allies, that what he regretted most of all during his internment was the fact that he did not speak up - as his neighbors were hauled away to certain execution or torture. In his post-internment poem, Then They Came For Me, Niemoller laments about not speaking up as he writes:
"... Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Jew.
"Then they came for me-
and there was no one left to speak for me.
His point was that "Germans...had been complicit through their silence in the Nazi imprisonment, persecution, and murder of millions of people." (Clarence G. Oliver, Jr.,Ed.D., Leading With Integrity, 2015). His poem may be seen on YouTube.
I believe the tenet of ethical behavior that Niemoller suggests is: to be ethical, I must speak out when unethical or immoral behavior is observed being directed at others, even though it may not affect me personally.Those of us (me and others) who did not speak out loudly enough concerning certain lawmakers' inabilities, therefore, share some responsibility for allowing them to be seated.
The responsibility for our state budget disaster (I'm still not out of descriptors) falls on the shoulders of all Oklahomans, not just state senators and representatives. This "responsibility" belief may also be heard in the pop song by Al Wilson, The Snake (Oklahoma City, 1974), which may be seen on YouTube. Al Wilson describes a woman who finds a half-frozen poisonous snake, revives it by warming it up, and is finally bitten by the snake - in return for her kindness. The snake tells her that "You knew I was a poisonous snake when you took me in - don't blame me for your misfortune... it's what I do". So, don't blame the state budget crisis on our state lawmakers... we knew what they were capable of, when we elected them...
Obviously, those that voted for the charlatans at the capitol must shoulder the lion's share of the blame, as they directly placed Oklahoma in harm's way. Those Oklahomans who did not bother to vote are not as responsible for the budget horror (I'm running out of descriptive adjectives), but nonetheless have no right to complain, as they allowed it. Those Oklahomans who did not support the charlatans are still partially responsible, abeit less so than the true supporters and the apathetic voters. I believe we (Oklahomans who knew of their big spending behavior and questionable ethics) are partially guilty of allowing them a free pass by not speaking up concerning their budgeting ineptness and previous unethical behavior. I am guilty of not speaking up loudly enough..
One person who considered himself guilty of not speaking up was Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran minister who spent 7 years imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp before and during World War II. Niemoller expressed, after he was freed by the allies, that what he regretted most of all during his internment was the fact that he did not speak up - as his neighbors were hauled away to certain execution or torture. In his post-internment poem, Then They Came For Me, Niemoller laments about not speaking up as he writes:
"... Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Jew.
"Then they came for me-
and there was no one left to speak for me.
His point was that "Germans...had been complicit through their silence in the Nazi imprisonment, persecution, and murder of millions of people." (Clarence G. Oliver, Jr.,Ed.D., Leading With Integrity, 2015). His poem may be seen on YouTube.
I believe the tenet of ethical behavior that Niemoller suggests is: to be ethical, I must speak out when unethical or immoral behavior is observed being directed at others, even though it may not affect me personally.Those of us (me and others) who did not speak out loudly enough concerning certain lawmakers' inabilities, therefore, share some responsibility for allowing them to be seated.
The responsibility for our state budget disaster (I'm still not out of descriptors) falls on the shoulders of all Oklahomans, not just state senators and representatives. This "responsibility" belief may also be heard in the pop song by Al Wilson, The Snake (Oklahoma City, 1974), which may be seen on YouTube. Al Wilson describes a woman who finds a half-frozen poisonous snake, revives it by warming it up, and is finally bitten by the snake - in return for her kindness. The snake tells her that "You knew I was a poisonous snake when you took me in - don't blame me for your misfortune... it's what I do". So, don't blame the state budget crisis on our state lawmakers... we knew what they were capable of, when we elected them...
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
The Feral Hogs of Corporate Welfare
Almost everyone in rural Oklahoma knows that the feral hog problem is increasing on our farms and ranches. Feral hogs destroy farmland crops and grassland, and eat anything they can get in their mouths - including baby calves, fawns, and other indigenous wildlife. They contaminate our water and increase the risk of disease among our livestock. The cost to our farmers and ranchers nationwide is approximately $2 billion each year, with Oklahoma, Texas, and California having the highest hog populations. This problem must be eliminated - for the benefit of our farmers, ranchers, and our Oklahoma taxpayers.
Just like feral hogs, the corporate charter school industry is proliferating in Oklahoma, at a high cost for taxpayers. As an example, Blanchard Public Schools received approximately $2,848.60 per student in state taxpayer dollars (and soon to be reduced again), while corporate charter schools received approximately $3,996.11 per student in "state" tax dollars - for the same time period. Many public school experts believe the feral charter school industry will destroy the economy by allowing state tax dollars to flow out of Oklahoma to out-of-state corporate charter schools. Just like feral hogs taking advantage of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers - the corporate charter school industry takes advantage of Oklahoma taxpayers by "buying" (campaign donations) the corporatists at the capitol. Just like feral hogs eating anything and everything - the feral charter school industry never saw a tax dollar it didn't like, and will do anything to acquire state tax dollars that our rural public schools use to operate. Just as feral hogs cost farmers and ranchers close to $2 billion each year, feral charters cost taxpayers $ billions each year.
Just like feral hogs, the corporate charter school industry is proliferating in Oklahoma, at a high cost for taxpayers. As an example, Blanchard Public Schools received approximately $2,848.60 per student in state taxpayer dollars (and soon to be reduced again), while corporate charter schools received approximately $3,996.11 per student in "state" tax dollars - for the same time period. Many public school experts believe the feral charter school industry will destroy the economy by allowing state tax dollars to flow out of Oklahoma to out-of-state corporate charter schools. Just like feral hogs taking advantage of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers - the corporate charter school industry takes advantage of Oklahoma taxpayers by "buying" (campaign donations) the corporatists at the capitol. Just like feral hogs eating anything and everything - the feral charter school industry never saw a tax dollar it didn't like, and will do anything to acquire state tax dollars that our rural public schools use to operate. Just as feral hogs cost farmers and ranchers close to $2 billion each year, feral charters cost taxpayers $ billions each year.
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Senate Bill 514: Small School Consolidation
Senate Bill 514 is the Oklahoma Legislature's school consolidation bill, make no mistake, and the governor is likely to sign it next week. In order to comprehensively analyze the final version of SB 514, which creates a "task force" to study administrative efficiency (consolidation) of small schools.
As introduced, SB 514 required the State Board of Education to consolidate or annex certain school districts, and required new school board elections be held for consolidated school districts. The school districts forced to consolidate would be those with less than 500 students and located within 65 miles of another school. Senate Bill 514 was a forced school consolidation bill in its original form. It was "billed" (no redundancy intended) as a way to save the state money, but research indicates that very little money, if any, would truly be saved by forced consolidation. Multiple studies conducted in various states, including Oklahoma, indicate that no significant money is saved.
In comparing and analyzing SB 514, the soon-to-be consolidation law, it is different from the original, but the analysis may prove it to be identical to the enrolled version. Decide for yourself:
The "original" SB 514 was authored by Senator Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, and co-authored by Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City. Both "Stan the Man" (Stanislawski) and "Love Less Small Schools" (Loveless) have no schools with less than 500 students in their respective senate districts (# 35 and #45). There is no love lost (voters lost) as they support forced school consolidation for those schools with less than 500 students.
Senate Bill 514, the "forced" school consolidation bill, then "morphed" into the new and improved school consolidation model. The new SB 514 allows for appointment of a "task force" which will study and make recommendations to the Legislature on administrative costs... and improving efficiency among school district operations. To "make recommendations to the Legislature on administrative costs" is code speak for small school consolidation. The "task" of the force is to provide justification to the Legislature for consolidating small schools, as it will examine ... the average daily membership (ADM) (less than 500 students in the old bill) and a school's proximity to another school district... (within 65 miles in the old bill). The task (small school consolidation) force will also study the performance of school districts "with less than 500 students" based on the "now discredited, invalid and unreliable A through F school grading scheme (my opinion only). The small school consolidation force will be composed of:
1) One member who is a member of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. This member is likely to be a school consolidation supporter;
2) One member who is a member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, also likely to be a school consolidation supporter;
3) One member who represents a statewide association of school board members, appointed by the State Department of Education. Joy Hofmeister, the State Superintendent of Schools, has expressed concern that "Oklahoma has too many public school districts", so this member is likely to be a school consolidation supporter;
4) One member who represents a statewide organization that represents school administrators, appointed by the State Department of Education. Since Joy Hofmeister may be a supporter of forced school consolidation, the appointed member may be a supporter of small school consolidation;
5) One member who is a superintendent for a school district with an ADM of 1000 students or less, appointed by the State Department of Education. This member may be a small school (less than 500 students) consolidation supporter;
6) One member who is an administrator for a school district with more than 1000 students, but less than 2,500 students... (see #5);
7) One member who is a financial officer for a school district... with more than 2,500 students but less than 10,000 students (see #5);
8) One member who is an administrator for a school district... with more than 10,000 students (see #5);
9) One member who is appointed by... (see #5);
10) Two members of the business community, appointed by the Governor. The Governor has indicated that small schools are "dinosaurs", extinct, so these members may be supporters of forced school consolidation; and
11) One member who represents the Career and Technology Education system, appointed by... (see #5).
Those of us who support small schools can understand how the "deck can be stacked" to recommend forced small school consolidation, as the original SB 514 intended. Stan the Man is still the author, so it's reasonable to assume that the new SB 514 will achieve the same goal of forced small school consolidation, although it will just take longer to get there. To prevent this scenario from happening, small school supporters must ensure that unbiased members are appointed to the task force. In the words of Winston Churchill as the Nazis were closing in on London - Never give in...
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Governor Leaving the Dark (Money) Side?
Wow! I never thought I would see pigs fly, but the governor may be leaving the dark money side for greener pastures - but I'm certainly not referring to the governor as a pig. Governor Fallin has always touted lower taxes for Oklahomans as a way to improve the economy, but recently has been advocating higher taxes as the only way to prevent state agency destruction. The dark side is composed of corporatists (lawmakers who want to choke state agencies, and dark money groups which provide support to lawmakers), who are adamently opposed to balancing the state budget on the backs of billionaires. Governor Fallin even attempted embarrassment as a way to get the corporatist lawmakers off their duff to provide a balanced state budget, during last week's press conference. Who really knows if this tactic will work, as most corporatists do not feel embarrassment, when money is involved.
Fuel Tax Increase to Balance State Budget?
One politician proposal to help balance the state budget is a 6 cent increase in the gas fuel tax and 7 cents for deisel fuel. Many Oklahomans believe this tax increase will affect families and the middle class much more than it will affect billionaire CEO's and corporate executives. As an example, I drive about 20,000 miles each year in my job as a cattle rancher. If the truck I drive gets 10 miles to the gallon (which it does), and fuel costs increase 6 cents per gallon - my fuel costs will increase by $140. This is a tax increase which will greatly affect me personally as well as many others. Simple arithmetic was utilized in determining the $140 figure, but several corporatists claim the math is a "questionable financial claim" and "ignores reality" and even "undermines public confidence". So now, a simple statement of facts, is being chided for being untruthful. Corporate economists in the news media also claim that the state superintendent is "wildly imprecise" when she says schools will lose more than $100 million by June. I agree, as schools will likely lose closer to $150 million.
The corporate media (not conservative, but progressive) is attempting to persuade the public that tax increases for individuals are good, but tax increases for corporations and billionaire executives are bad. Corporatists are making a concerted effort to hide the fact that raising the oil and gas production tax from 2% to 7% can increase state revenue by $350 million, instead of the paltry $178 million increase by raising taxes for individuals. Sure, billionaire oil executives such as Harold Hamm may lose several million dollars, and he certainly may become a poorer billionaire - but who has ever heard of a poor billionaire?
Very simply, corporate lawmakers now outnumber conservatives and liberals added together at the capitol. I've learned some undeniable truths recently about our state budget catastrophe such as:
1) Corporate lawmakers have received $hundreds of thousands from both out-of-state corporations and corporate non-profits such as Citizens United.
2) Corporate lawmakers have received very few campaign donations from individuals in their respective districts.
3) Corporate lawmakers answer to money, not their district constituents who elected them to office.
4) Corporations and corporate non-profits now rule the capitol, not ordinary citizens.
An example of the "undeniable truths":
Prior to the November 8 elections in 2016, a corporatist, conservative, and progressive running for the same state office interviewed with an anonymous group in order to obtain campaign support. Members of the anonymous group included corporate executives and corporate attorneys. The three candidates spoke to the group at different times and answered questions pertaining to corporate support if elected, support of teacher pay raises if elected, etc... When entering the room for the interview, each candidate observed that the amount of campaign fund support garnered by all three (up to the interview) was displayed. The corporatist candidate already had $30 thousand in support, while the progressive had substantially less and the conservative had virtually no support. A few weeks after the interviews, campaign ads began appearing which supported the candidacy of one - while hammering the candidacy of the other two. One candidate also received campaign donations from corporations in the interview room, while the other candidates received no campaign support. I'll leave up to everyone's imagination as to which candidates received what. Many political experts believe the anonymous group which rewarded one candidate in particular, is Citizens United - the clandestine corporate advocate group, which runs negative campaign ads across the nation in support of corporatist lawmakers.
In the opinion of many economists, conservatives, accountants, and budgetary experts, Oklahoma is now in such a sad state of affairs, because of the fact that corporations (which are only concerned with their bottom line - profits) now rule the Oklahoma Capitol. This "Golden Rule" of corporatism (he who has the gold, makes the rules), is unlikely to change soon, as more and more corporatists are being elected to office in Oklahoma.
The corporate media (not conservative, but progressive) is attempting to persuade the public that tax increases for individuals are good, but tax increases for corporations and billionaire executives are bad. Corporatists are making a concerted effort to hide the fact that raising the oil and gas production tax from 2% to 7% can increase state revenue by $350 million, instead of the paltry $178 million increase by raising taxes for individuals. Sure, billionaire oil executives such as Harold Hamm may lose several million dollars, and he certainly may become a poorer billionaire - but who has ever heard of a poor billionaire?
Very simply, corporate lawmakers now outnumber conservatives and liberals added together at the capitol. I've learned some undeniable truths recently about our state budget catastrophe such as:
1) Corporate lawmakers have received $hundreds of thousands from both out-of-state corporations and corporate non-profits such as Citizens United.
2) Corporate lawmakers have received very few campaign donations from individuals in their respective districts.
3) Corporate lawmakers answer to money, not their district constituents who elected them to office.
4) Corporations and corporate non-profits now rule the capitol, not ordinary citizens.
An example of the "undeniable truths":
Prior to the November 8 elections in 2016, a corporatist, conservative, and progressive running for the same state office interviewed with an anonymous group in order to obtain campaign support. Members of the anonymous group included corporate executives and corporate attorneys. The three candidates spoke to the group at different times and answered questions pertaining to corporate support if elected, support of teacher pay raises if elected, etc... When entering the room for the interview, each candidate observed that the amount of campaign fund support garnered by all three (up to the interview) was displayed. The corporatist candidate already had $30 thousand in support, while the progressive had substantially less and the conservative had virtually no support. A few weeks after the interviews, campaign ads began appearing which supported the candidacy of one - while hammering the candidacy of the other two. One candidate also received campaign donations from corporations in the interview room, while the other candidates received no campaign support. I'll leave up to everyone's imagination as to which candidates received what. Many political experts believe the anonymous group which rewarded one candidate in particular, is Citizens United - the clandestine corporate advocate group, which runs negative campaign ads across the nation in support of corporatist lawmakers.
In the opinion of many economists, conservatives, accountants, and budgetary experts, Oklahoma is now in such a sad state of affairs, because of the fact that corporations (which are only concerned with their bottom line - profits) now rule the Oklahoma Capitol. This "Golden Rule" of corporatism (he who has the gold, makes the rules), is unlikely to change soon, as more and more corporatists are being elected to office in Oklahoma.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Education and Politics
This column/blog "Education and Politics" usually concerns itself with our public schools and the detrimental effects that politicians and legislation bestow upon our schools. This particular post continues in that vein:
First of all, I've learned over the past couple of years that:
1) Republican and Democrat are not political philosophies, but political parties, something most people already knew.
2) Conservatism, Liberalism, Corporatism (yes, corporatism is a distinct political philosophy), and
Progressivism are not political parties (again, something most people already knew), but political
philosophies.
The following definitions and explanation of how political philosophies affect our public schools are mine only, with which many readers may not agree:
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes retaining traditional social institutions... such as our public schools.
Liberalism is a belief in the value of social and political change in order to achieve progress... such as the corporate public charter school movement.
Progressivism is a philosophy based on the Idea of Progress, which asserts that advancements in ... economic development and social organization are vital to the improvement of the human condition. Examples would be advancing from public education to private education or traditional public schools to virtual and charter public schools.
Corporatism is economic bipartism involving negotiations between business and state interest groups (politicians) to establish economic policy. Benito Mussolini first coined the term corporatism in 1941 when he said fascism would be better served being called corporatism, as it is the merger of corporations and state.
Both republicans and democrats can be conservative, liberal, corporate, and progressive although most republicans view themselves as conservative and most democrats view themselves as liberal or progressive. Neither republicans nor democrats want to be seen as corporatists, because corporatism is most often associated with fascism.
In applying the above definitions and explanations to our beleaguered state politicians (unable to balance the state budget without raising taxes), what does former Senator Kyle Loveless, former Representative Dan Kirby, former Senator Ralph Shortey, and former Senator Rick Brinkley all have in common? Democrats might say that they're all republicans who are guilty of breaking the law and unethical behavior (although republicans certainly don't have the market cornered when crime and immoral behavior is considered). The Oklahoman Editorial Board says that they're all republicans who've "cast a shadow" on the GOP, because of their ethical misconduct and moral turptitude. Over the last 2 years, Senator Kyle Loveless (R) has resigned over allegations of campaign finance irregularities, Representative Dan Kirby (R) resigned over allegations of sexual harassment, Senator Ralph Shortey (R) resigned after he was accused in a child prostitution case, and Senator Rick Brinkley (R) resigned after being convicted of embezzlement. Democrats have been reveling in the fact that the self-proclaimed "ethical" party (GOP) is not really ethical at all.
A deeper understanding of the true motives of those involved is required before we label all republicans as immoral. In the interest of full disclosure, I am presently a registered republican, but soon to be independent. I registered republican in 1980 because I thought it was the "conservative" party. I switched to democrat in 1996 because there were no republicans to vote for in a local sheriffs race. I switched back to republican in 2015 because I discovered the ranking democrats (Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan) were corporatists. Now, I'm disgusted with both parties for good reason.
The "Felonious Four", not otherwise known as the "Fantastic Four", are republicans, but there are also some very good conservative republicans in the House and Senate, albeit a few. Senator Ron Sharp (R) District 17 and Representative Dennis Casey (R) District 10 quickly come to mind as two of the best conservative lawmakers at the capitol. The Felonious Four, while being guilty of unethical behavior and possibly felonious actions, also subscribe to corporatism as their political philosophy of choice. In my opinion, the link between immoral or unethical behavior among lawmakers and their political philosophy is money. While Kirby and Shortey were accused of "sex crimes", Brinkley and Loveless have been accused of crimes and unethical conduct involving campaign expenditures and money. In my opinion, while the charges against Kirby and Shortey are much more serious, they still have the commonality of unethical campaign donations and unethical donation reporting - with Loveless and Brinkley. I believe it would be worthwhile to examine "campaign reporting records" of the corporatist multitudes now at the capitol, in order to drain the swamp. Oklahoma voters in all Senate and House Districts must vote these lawmakers out to effectively "drain the swamp". It is very unlikely this will happen in the near future, though, as all corporatists spent several hundred thousand dollars in both legal dark money and unethical campaign funds in order to get elected.
The public school commonality to the Felonious Four as well as the many other corporatists still representing Oklahomans at the capitol - is the "dark money" groups and out-of-state corporations which have supported them. We cannot identify them by party (D) or (R), but must identify them as (C), corporatist. This common theme among the Felonious Four and many other corporatists - "dark money" school voucher group support and out-of-state school corporate support, can be examined and used to identify "unethical" lawmakers - in order to drain the swamp...
First of all, I've learned over the past couple of years that:
1) Republican and Democrat are not political philosophies, but political parties, something most people already knew.
2) Conservatism, Liberalism, Corporatism (yes, corporatism is a distinct political philosophy), and
Progressivism are not political parties (again, something most people already knew), but political
philosophies.
The following definitions and explanation of how political philosophies affect our public schools are mine only, with which many readers may not agree:
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes retaining traditional social institutions... such as our public schools.
Liberalism is a belief in the value of social and political change in order to achieve progress... such as the corporate public charter school movement.
Progressivism is a philosophy based on the Idea of Progress, which asserts that advancements in ... economic development and social organization are vital to the improvement of the human condition. Examples would be advancing from public education to private education or traditional public schools to virtual and charter public schools.
Corporatism is economic bipartism involving negotiations between business and state interest groups (politicians) to establish economic policy. Benito Mussolini first coined the term corporatism in 1941 when he said fascism would be better served being called corporatism, as it is the merger of corporations and state.
Both republicans and democrats can be conservative, liberal, corporate, and progressive although most republicans view themselves as conservative and most democrats view themselves as liberal or progressive. Neither republicans nor democrats want to be seen as corporatists, because corporatism is most often associated with fascism.
In applying the above definitions and explanations to our beleaguered state politicians (unable to balance the state budget without raising taxes), what does former Senator Kyle Loveless, former Representative Dan Kirby, former Senator Ralph Shortey, and former Senator Rick Brinkley all have in common? Democrats might say that they're all republicans who are guilty of breaking the law and unethical behavior (although republicans certainly don't have the market cornered when crime and immoral behavior is considered). The Oklahoman Editorial Board says that they're all republicans who've "cast a shadow" on the GOP, because of their ethical misconduct and moral turptitude. Over the last 2 years, Senator Kyle Loveless (R) has resigned over allegations of campaign finance irregularities, Representative Dan Kirby (R) resigned over allegations of sexual harassment, Senator Ralph Shortey (R) resigned after he was accused in a child prostitution case, and Senator Rick Brinkley (R) resigned after being convicted of embezzlement. Democrats have been reveling in the fact that the self-proclaimed "ethical" party (GOP) is not really ethical at all.
A deeper understanding of the true motives of those involved is required before we label all republicans as immoral. In the interest of full disclosure, I am presently a registered republican, but soon to be independent. I registered republican in 1980 because I thought it was the "conservative" party. I switched to democrat in 1996 because there were no republicans to vote for in a local sheriffs race. I switched back to republican in 2015 because I discovered the ranking democrats (Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan) were corporatists. Now, I'm disgusted with both parties for good reason.
The "Felonious Four", not otherwise known as the "Fantastic Four", are republicans, but there are also some very good conservative republicans in the House and Senate, albeit a few. Senator Ron Sharp (R) District 17 and Representative Dennis Casey (R) District 10 quickly come to mind as two of the best conservative lawmakers at the capitol. The Felonious Four, while being guilty of unethical behavior and possibly felonious actions, also subscribe to corporatism as their political philosophy of choice. In my opinion, the link between immoral or unethical behavior among lawmakers and their political philosophy is money. While Kirby and Shortey were accused of "sex crimes", Brinkley and Loveless have been accused of crimes and unethical conduct involving campaign expenditures and money. In my opinion, while the charges against Kirby and Shortey are much more serious, they still have the commonality of unethical campaign donations and unethical donation reporting - with Loveless and Brinkley. I believe it would be worthwhile to examine "campaign reporting records" of the corporatist multitudes now at the capitol, in order to drain the swamp. Oklahoma voters in all Senate and House Districts must vote these lawmakers out to effectively "drain the swamp". It is very unlikely this will happen in the near future, though, as all corporatists spent several hundred thousand dollars in both legal dark money and unethical campaign funds in order to get elected.
The public school commonality to the Felonious Four as well as the many other corporatists still representing Oklahomans at the capitol - is the "dark money" groups and out-of-state corporations which have supported them. We cannot identify them by party (D) or (R), but must identify them as (C), corporatist. This common theme among the Felonious Four and many other corporatists - "dark money" school voucher group support and out-of-state school corporate support, can be examined and used to identify "unethical" lawmakers - in order to drain the swamp...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)