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.