Corporatist Lawmakers

      Corporatist Senators and Representatives across Oklahoma are feverishly pouring sugar on what has been described as the most scandalous and failure of a legislative session in state history. Even Governor Fallin stated: "Good luck if you think they're going to fix some of these hard issues" when referring to the legislature's ability and motivation to "fix" the state budget. Those corporatist lawmakers have received marching orders from their corporate bosses, so are publishing cookie cutter columns to local newspapers - detailing the giant effort they made to balance the budget... and the miracles they performed to actually increase funding to schools.
   Many Oklahoma citizens have asked hard questions about the corporatist claims, but received evasive, politically rhetorical answers in return - the same misleading facts as they've written in their newspaper columns. Many people believe, as do I, that a misleading fact is only a half-truth, but many others have the opinion that a misleading fact (quote) is nothing but a bald-faced lie. These half-truths and lies are often used by (corporate) politicians, not republican or democrat, in their news columns.
   As an example of political rhetoric, lies, or half-truths, a political column in the Purcell Register appeared only last week which touted "the important measures" approved by the Legislature. The author, a rookie lawmaker but experienced politician, starts out: Education is always a priority. This statement is copied from the corporatist playbook... verbatim, and has been used over and over to convince the public that politicans really do care about our public schools. It means that even though our Legislature has cut public school funding by 26.9% since 2009 and more than double the next worst state, Georgia, and even though our State teachers are the worst paid in the nation, and even though our State funding per pupil at $3004 is the worst in the nation... EDUCATION IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY! This statement seals the deal. Many will believe this lawmaker really does care about our teachers and students, simply because he said he does.
   The author goes on to say "As I mentioned before, the FY '18 budget provided nearly $22 million more for schools than the original FY'17 budget. While most state agencies received nearly 5% cuts to their budgets, our schools received additional funding, which was extremely difficult given the $1 billion revenue shortfall. The facts tell a little bit different story - Fact one: the original FY '17 budget provided schools $3046 per weighted student. Fact two: By the end of FY'17, the state appropriated student funding had been slashed and burned by the legislature to $3005.60 per student. Fact three: The initial FY'18 budget has provided $3042.40 per student. Fact four (for the mathematically challenged lawmakers): $3042.40 < (is less than) $3046.
   But the author is not entirely void of mathematical skills, but is probably very skilled at manipulating half-truths, so that the public only sees his truth. He calls "complying with the law" - "fulfilling an obligation" in the next line: The budget also fulfilled the state's obligation to cover 100% of the health insurance costs of teachers and school support staff by providing an additional $20.6 million. For example, when someone is driving the posted speed limit now, he can say he is fulfilling an obligation, instead of complying with the law. If he exceeds the posted speed limit, he could receive a ticket or a court summons. The reason many people comply with the law is because they could be penalized, if they don't. It's the same thing with the provided $20.6 million increase for teachers' health insurance - many lawmakers supported it, because it was illegal not to, not because of generosity as the author implies. It's the same thing with the $22 million increase - it is a legislative obligation, and wasn't provided out of the goodness of their hearts, but out of fear of ridicule and penalty. Although the author touts the increase as working a miracle, the increase actually resulted in a decrease as noted above. So the author evidently views a half-truth as the whole truth, while many citizens view a half-truth as a whole lie. The lesson taught to corporatist lawmakers (by their corporate bosses) is "It's always better to tell a half-truth, if you can get everyone to believe you". And if someone calls your hand on it, lie and say you just did not know the whole truth...
Next week: Corporate scandals in the Legislature