For years now, I've written about the "un-level" playing field that exists in the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) between Public and Private schools. Private schools enjoy unfair advantages provided by the OSSAA, when competing against public schools in all sports. These advantages afforded to private schools on the athletic field parallel those advantages provided by corporate lawmakers to private and corporate charter schools...which public schools don't have.
The advantages that private schools are allowed (by the OSSAA) are too numerous to mention all, but include the fact that private schools can recruit players, but public schools cannot; privates can offer scholarships (see LNH scholarship and work/study scholarships), but public schools cannot; private schools can control enrollment, public schools can't; private schools have superior athletic facilities, often paid for by corporate and wealthy supporters - while public school facilities are paid for by local taxpayers (not wealthy) or on the backs of hardworking sports boosters. All these advantages and more add up to create an un-level playing field in sports competition.
It's not sufficient to point at the success of individual private schools as a method for illustrating the imbalance or unfairness in private/public competition. For instance, while the number of state titles that Heritage Hall has won in all sports is astronomical (dozens), that in itself is not enough to indicate that since Heritage Hall is a private school, an un-level playing field exists, so it wins more games. As a matter of fact, private schools say they "win" more games than public schools do because they have superior coaches and their kids work harder than public school kids do.
We must analyze statistical data before any factual statements of indication are issued to be valid and reliable. Just saying "Heritage Hall wins, so it must cheat" is not valid and probably not true. Since the OSSAA will begin its high school football playoffs next Friday night, we can analyze some data and statistics, in order to issue an indication that the "playing field for private and public schools is un-level" or the "playing field is level". We won't be able to indicate what entity is responsible for any OSSAA discrepancies, whether it is the OSSAA or the private schools.
An examination of playoff teams, both private and public, may give us a clue to answer the question "Do private schools enjoy unfair advantages when competing with public schools?"
There are currently 18 private schools (approximately 5%) playing in the OSSAA and 320 public schools (approx. 95%). An estimated 14 private schools will make the playoffs (77% of total privates) while an estimated 108 public schools (34% of total publics) will. If there were no systemic factors present which affords private schools undue advantages in competition, the percentages should be roughly equal. The percentage datum is consistent with past years of play-off appearances also, which lends a high degree of reliability. In addition, for classes 4A and 5A - 100% of the private schools present will make the playoffs with McGuinness and Kelley in class 5A and Metro Christian, Heritage Hall, and Cascia Hall in 4A.
In perusing the OSSAA website for playoff competition, I've focused on football, since it is the H.S. sport closest to my heart. In taking a second look at another high school sport, volleyball - it seems private schools are even more dominant over the "more numerous" public schools. The discrepancies in competition between privates and public schools can not be ignored. Team volleyball season just concluded in Oklahoma, so the facts can now be analyzed:
1) There are 32 class 5A teams, 24 public school teams and 8 private school teams. Six private schools qualified for the 8 team state bracket, while 2 public schools qualified. Two private schools met in the finals, and a "private school" was crowned state champion.
2) There are 32 class 4A teams - 6 private and 26 public. Five of the eight state tournament qualifiers were private, with 2 privates meeting in the finals, again.
3) There are 28 class 3A teams in the state, 5 private and 23 public. All five private schools qualified for the state tournament, with once again... two privates meeting in the finals.
I guess the lesson learned for public schools is don't play volleyball.
In defense of the OSSAA - In attempting to level the playing field several years ago, it forced some private schools to move up one classification level if certain criteria were met. A few privates are now playing up a level, from 4A to 5A or from 3A to 4A. Metro, Heritage Hall, and Cascia Hall are playing in class 4A, but their enrollment dictates they play in 3A. Other private schools such as Bishop McGuinness, which was formerly playing in 4A, was going to 5A because the criteria was met for moving it up. It then increased its enrollment, so it now fits in 5A, regardless of any criteria. What happened as a result of the OSSAA's weak attempt to level the playing field, was what many public school supporters predicted: Those private schools which fit the OSSAA's criteria for leveling the playing field, simply "doubled down" on recruiting and scholarhips (work-studies) - so continue to dominate the public competition.
Update: Most everyone who keeps up with Oklahoma high school athletics is aware of the volleyball state tournament debacle which occurred last weekend. Evidently, the OSSAA assigned a private school, Victory Christian, to play in class 5A - when it should have been playing in class 4A. Victory Christian won the class 5A state title over Mount Saint Mary (another private school). I won't go into detail about why the debacle happened, because you can read it from a Daily Oklahoman sports writer in Tuesday's paper. This debacle just emphasizes the point of private school domination being allowed in the OSSAA... because of unfair advantages. The news article emphasized that Victory Christian school officials are just as culpable as the OSSAA as to which entity is guilty of the mistake. Many people believe that VC officials knew they were playing in the wrong class (5A), but did not care to correct the error, because they would win a class 5A title just as easily as a 4A title. It is more prestigious for a private school to win a title in a higher classification than a lower one. Claiming stupidity may be a valid excuse for the OSSAA to overlook the private school volleyball debacle, but VC officials can make no such claim. By the way, the state volleyball champions and runners-up were private schools in all classifications - Dominance created by your friendly neighborhood OSSAA.
Those public school advocates who continue to hope for a better OSSAA system for school sports classification - my opinion is that it will never happen in Oklahoma, as the OSSAA is afraid of being sued and many state lawmakers tend to favor private schools over public schools (even our rural lawmakers). The sad part is that many states have already adopted fair HS playoff systems, but OK never will.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Corporatist Quarterback Frustrated, Budget Balancers Quarterback Injured
Corporatist quarterback, Charles McCall, in the Super Bowl of special sessions - has become frustrated with the "Budget Balancers" and sparred with Cory Williams (Defensive end for the BB) who sacked him once again in the media circus by eliciting a bull**** from McCall. McCall has evidently called a "Hail Mary" by keeping the vote open 'til midnight, hoping to rally his corporate lawmakers to victory... by sparing the wealthy and corporate interests from tax increases. By the time you read this, time will probably be expired in the Super Bowl of special sessions, and the Corporatists will have gone down in a stunning defeat. After all, Quarterback Charles McCall's offensive coordinator is none other than a full-time employee of the corporate oil and gas industry, so the defeat is certainly unexpected. While it may not be time for Balancer fans to start chanting the victory anthem "Sha na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye" its darn near close, as it's 8:30 PM - and only 3.5 hours 'til midnight, when the cinderella corporatists turn back into pumpkins... More tomorrow!
The "Big Lie" is perpetrated everywhere
The "Big Lie" was a campaign technique invented and perfected by Adolph Hitler during the 1930's in Pre-WWII Germany. The premise was based on the assumption that (if a politician tells a lie big enough and often enough, people will believe it. In Mein Kampf (Hitlers rule book for campaigning) - As a general rule, the most effective big lies are outrageous enough to be unbelievable, yet appeal strongly to the prejudices of the listeners and are stated in as bland and matter-of-fact terms as possible. It is sometimes more effective to string several big lies together in a series of talking points (Rational Wiki, Chapter 10 Mein Kampf). Hitler also wrote "The great masses of the people... will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one".
I was having a conversation with a friend about how state lawmakers are suggesting tax increases for middle income Oklahomans as a way to fill the state budget hole, when another friend suggested that "school consolidation" would "fill the giant chasm" created by the state legislators themselves. The injection of The Big Lie into the conversation was immediately evident. The friend stated "Cut out the top heavy admin cost (sic) in our schools..." as a way to prevent lawmakers from raising taxes on the working poor and middle-class Oklahomans. The "friend" has evidently believed the big lie perpetrated by corporate politicians - Consolidating schools and cutting administrators is the only way to solve the state's budget crisis. Many Oklahoma politicians have continued to perfect the big lie technique, by making statements that have a small amount of truth - which entices the listener to infer a big lie. An example of this "perfected" campaign technique is: A politician was asked the leading question "Do you think public schools in Oklahoma are 'top-heavy'?" His (or her) answer was "Yes, as an example the school superintendents in my county earn $$$." The politician answers the question with a true statement that invariably leads listeners to believe that school administrators and administrative costs are the real "enemy of the state" and the cause of our budget crisis - when it's not true. His answer provokes listeners to believe an inferred big lie.
After I quoted a few facts concerning "our top-heavy public schools" like Administrative expenditures make up about 3% of total school expenditures and Superintendent salaries make up about 1% of total school expenditures, the "friend" said "...I'm not privy to the figures... but schools seemed like a good place to start...". My friend has no ill intent in quoting the political disparagement of public schools, and really believes the "political rhetoric" of administrative and school consolidation is the TRUTH. To find the real truth behind these inferred big lies, one only has to observe their own local senator or representative.
An example of a real big lie perpetrated by Rep. John Bennett, R-Sallisaw, is the statement that state agency employees are terrorists. He said to his fellow lawmakers last Wednesday: "The agencies getting the money are telling our constituents, 'Hey the sky's falling!' And the agencies telling our citizens, they're going we want to cut their services to the most vulnerable. That's terrorism. We should not be negotiating with terrorists, period." Bennett seems to be following Adolph Hitler's rule book for campaigning (Mein Kampf), in which he says "... the most effective big lies are outragious enough to be unbelievable..." which makes them believable to many listeners. To label all state agency employees (teachers, doctors, nurses, state transportation employees, district attorneys, state highway patrol, state prison warden, and all other state employees of ODOT, public schools, health agencies, public safety agencies, etc...) as terrorists is just outrageous enough to be believable to many people. Bennett evidently has no constituents in his district employed by the state, or he believes that most of his constituents will believe the big lie. Let's hope not...
I was having a conversation with a friend about how state lawmakers are suggesting tax increases for middle income Oklahomans as a way to fill the state budget hole, when another friend suggested that "school consolidation" would "fill the giant chasm" created by the state legislators themselves. The injection of The Big Lie into the conversation was immediately evident. The friend stated "Cut out the top heavy admin cost (sic) in our schools..." as a way to prevent lawmakers from raising taxes on the working poor and middle-class Oklahomans. The "friend" has evidently believed the big lie perpetrated by corporate politicians - Consolidating schools and cutting administrators is the only way to solve the state's budget crisis. Many Oklahoma politicians have continued to perfect the big lie technique, by making statements that have a small amount of truth - which entices the listener to infer a big lie. An example of this "perfected" campaign technique is: A politician was asked the leading question "Do you think public schools in Oklahoma are 'top-heavy'?" His (or her) answer was "Yes, as an example the school superintendents in my county earn $$$." The politician answers the question with a true statement that invariably leads listeners to believe that school administrators and administrative costs are the real "enemy of the state" and the cause of our budget crisis - when it's not true. His answer provokes listeners to believe an inferred big lie.
After I quoted a few facts concerning "our top-heavy public schools" like Administrative expenditures make up about 3% of total school expenditures and Superintendent salaries make up about 1% of total school expenditures, the "friend" said "...I'm not privy to the figures... but schools seemed like a good place to start...". My friend has no ill intent in quoting the political disparagement of public schools, and really believes the "political rhetoric" of administrative and school consolidation is the TRUTH. To find the real truth behind these inferred big lies, one only has to observe their own local senator or representative.
An example of a real big lie perpetrated by Rep. John Bennett, R-Sallisaw, is the statement that state agency employees are terrorists. He said to his fellow lawmakers last Wednesday: "The agencies getting the money are telling our constituents, 'Hey the sky's falling!' And the agencies telling our citizens, they're going we want to cut their services to the most vulnerable. That's terrorism. We should not be negotiating with terrorists, period." Bennett seems to be following Adolph Hitler's rule book for campaigning (Mein Kampf), in which he says "... the most effective big lies are outragious enough to be unbelievable..." which makes them believable to many listeners. To label all state agency employees (teachers, doctors, nurses, state transportation employees, district attorneys, state highway patrol, state prison warden, and all other state employees of ODOT, public schools, health agencies, public safety agencies, etc...) as terrorists is just outrageous enough to be believable to many people. Bennett evidently has no constituents in his district employed by the state, or he believes that most of his constituents will believe the big lie. Let's hope not...
Hail Mary Falls Incomplete - Game Over..
Just a quick thought concerning the corporate plan for giving teachers a pay raise, courtesy of an insider at the capitol:
The Bill is written to pro-rate the raise for teachers providing that any and all teachers who are paid any portion of their salary with Federal Funds... shall receive a pro-rated amount as to the percentage of state funds used to pay the salary. For instance, a Title One reading teacher receiving his or her entire salary from federal funds would receive no salary increase from the state. A special needs teacher whose salary is paid with federal special ed. funds would receive no salary increase from the state. Just sayin...
Also in the Bill is the fact that No part of the amount of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) provided for each certified classroom teacher shall be used by school districts to fund the employer contribution payments mandated by "Law"... Correct me if I'm wrong, but this means public schools will be forced by corporate lawmakers to pay approximately $514.50 per teacher for the $3000 pay raise. So, a school with 100 teachers would pay $51,450 in extra charges, courtesy of our corporate lawmakers./
Also in the bill, The State Department of Education shall disburse these monies to local school districts... through the state aid formula... Correct me again if I'm wrong, but there are a couple dozen school districts in Oklahoma which do not receive funding through the state aid formula. If the raise for teachers is to sent to districts "through the formula", these locally funded districts will not receive the state monies for their teachers. Sorry, locally funded district teachers, you're out of luck. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is the corporate plan for providing some teachers a pay raise.
In my opinion, this bill to provide a pay raise for teachers is just one more way that corporate lawmakers using to "choke" public schools in Oklahoma. Of course I may be wrong, and the corporate lawmakers at the capitol just want to provide teachers a pay raise because they care...
Update: The front page of the Daily Joke (Oklahoman) says it all - NO DEAL, and if a picture is worth a thousand words... take a look: The photo portrays five corporate lawmakers (corporatists) staring in disbelief as their corporate tax plan is sinking like the Titanic. Unfortunately, the $3,000 teacher pay raise for some teachers... no longer has a funding source. Many public school supporters say it never did. The pay raise was predicated on the basis that regressive tax increases (sales tax and user tax increases) would pay for it. A regressive tax affects the working poor and middle income Oklahomans more than the wealthy and corporations. Back to the hilarious photo: By the looks on their faces, the corporatists can clearly see their "gravy train" screeching to a halt. The "corporate gravy train" would be $ hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions provided by the corporate oil and gas industry. I'm sorry, but this is a serious laughing matter for most Oklahomans. Those pictured obviously voted for the "corporate tax plan", which means no tax increases for corporations - but heavy tax increases for the working poor (teachers). Their philosophy toward teacher pay raises is it's OK for teachers to get a pay raise as long as teachers pay for it! They (the corporate lawmakers pictured) actually look like the coaching staff of the Sooners during the waning moments of the Iowa State game.
They are all back at work this morning though - another day, another dollar... or in a corporate lawmakers sense "another day, another $30,000 dollars", so all is not lost. The only loss may be for those corporatists (2 or 3) who voted no on the budget bill. I'll explain my line of thinking:
The Speaker and corporate leader McCall voted Yes on the bill. He desperately wants his corporate bosses in the oil and gas industry to know that he made a valiant effort in protecting their interests, that he fought the good fight. He has a super eyewitness to observe his efforts - his Chief of Staff, Rick Rose. Mr. Rose has a "day job" of defending poor "defenseless" oil and gas corporations from greedy farmers and land-owners who want to rob them blind. Mr. Rose is an oil and gas attorney who moonlights as McCall's Chief of Staff and is in reality McCall's boss. So, there's the "rest of the story for those who voted Yes on the bill.
Of course, sixteen Republicans broke ranks to vote No on the bill. Most voted No, because they did not want to raise taxes on the working poor and middle class - and they weren't paid off by the corporate oil industry. There were a couple, though, who voted no... but were paid-off to vote yes! I certainly would not want to be in those lawmakers' shoes as they face their boss. One gets the feeling that one at a time, each corporate no voter will be called into a darkened office facing only the outline of the boss. The boss will have a couple of henchmen, one on each side, and then begin the questioning. After about three questions, in which the corporate underling gives trembling answers, the boss hits a button which releases a trap-door directly under the corporatist's feet. The still-trembling lawmaker drops immediately into the alligator pit below. Such a sad story, but there is more news to come as the session grinds on.
What sounds too good to be true probably is, but a $3,000 pay raise for teachers could be on the fast track as the Senate is suggesting the House add 2% (not much) to the present 2% GPT (4%). The "do-nothing" Speaker McCall and his "do-nothing" House caucus, however, may not take the bait - as McCall has fought valiantly to prevent his corporate bosses from being taxed, and reject the Senate's suggestion. But he may "throw in the towel" and accept the 4% GPT, figuring that "protecting his wealthy corporate bosses is now a lost cause, and accept the Senate's offer of 4% GPT. Only time will tell...
Speaker McCall, aka Dapper Dan or The Atoka Strangler, must be high-fiving his corporate bosses since the 4% GPT was flushed town the commode - along with any small hope of teacher pay raises. Plan B, which was really Plan A for the corporate oil and gas industry, will now probably be triggered (literally for state services) since many will suffer massive cuts. Public schools will reportedly suffer what the Atoka Strangler calls "minor adjustments" a 3.1% cut, and a nada, zip, zilch pay raise for teachers. All is not lost, though, as Dapper Dan will reportedly see a hefty Christmas bonus, along with his crooked caucus. And out-of-state shareholders in the 7 working oil and gas wells in Atoka County, along with all Oklahoma oil and gas producers will see massive profits. We''ll continue to monitor the "super bowl" of special sessions on Monday AM, as our do-nothing lawmakers continue to gouge state tax payers for $30,000 per day...
Some factual afterthoughts after the oil and gas corporations have whined and cried their way to no increase in GPT: I know a retired teacher and oil royalty recipient who collects a mere pittance in retirement benefits ($2000 per month). Her "landowner" production check is $100 per month, but oil company "fees" take that total down to $70 per month. Among the "fees" is a "gross production" reduction of 2%, which amounts to $2 being deducted from the check. If GPT is increased to 4%. the resulting reduction from her check will be $4. So who really pays for the GPT increase? I'll give you a hint: It's not the oil producers...
Here's the resulting analysis - If corporate oil and gas producers receive an increase in GPT... THEY WILL PASS IT ON TO FARMERS, RANCHERS, RETIRED TEACHERS, AND OTHER MINERAL OWNERS. THE WEALTHY WILL BECOME WEALTHIER! Long live the corporate oil industry and their cronies...
The oil producers' cronies would be Dapper Dan and other corporate lawmakers, and corporate attorneys such as Dee Dee's Chief of Staff Rick Rose. Rose, an oil company executive attorney, regularly defends poor oil and gas producers against farmers and other mineral owners, but his day job as Dee Dee's Chief of Staff - is making sure the state legislature passes no law which would reduce Billionaires' piles of money. Heaven forbid, Billionaires could become less wealthy Billionaies if their piles were reduced - and the fallacy that drilling for oil and gas would stop in Oklahoma, and oil companies would leave the state - is a big lie perpetuated by the corporate oil industry and their cronies!
Last Update for the special session that wasn't...
After charging Oklahoma taxpayers almost half a million dollars to balance the state budget, corporate (not conservative) legislators did not do their job! It is now evident the state legislature (House and Senate) is clearly divided, with corporatist lawmakers on one side (dubbed the axis powers) and the constituent lawmakers (allies) on the other. The Axis Powers of the state legislature shouldn't be confused with the Axis Powers of WWII (Italy, Germany, and Japan) often called the Axis of Evil by the Allies (United States, Great Britain, and France), although they are similar. For instance, Italy was led by a dictator, Benito Mussolini, who considered himself a Corporatist. A Corporatist is a government official who rules a state by partnering with corporations. In other words the government for the people shares power with corporations. It is reasonable to assume then, that state legislators who share power, or equally govern with corporations be called the Axis Powers. They get their marching orders from corporate interests...
The Axis Powers, which includes some Republicans and a few Democrats, have successfully defended the oil and gas industry against GPT increases, unlike the Axis of Evil - which was soundly whipped by the WWII Allies. The Axis of the Legislature will now cut funding for state services such as the Department of Transporatation, Department of Corrections, our public schools, and all county and state health services.... and the Allies of the legislature cannot stop them. (Note: the Allies include all those conservative legislators who supported an increase in the GPT, both Republicans and Democrats.)
Another result of the Axis Powers' resounding victory is that teachers will probably not see a pay raise anytime soon. BTW, the cut to our public schools will probably be about 3.1%, which will amount to about $150,000 in state aid for Blanchard. The Axis of Power will now move on to more critical issues (for them), such as acquiring more tax dollars for private and corporate charter schools and consolidating our rural public schools, which you may read about in other posts...
Dead Last Update:
The Axis of Power (corporate lawmakers, corporate bosses, and their cronies) has looked over its shoulder while departing the scene of devastaion, and tossed Oklahoma teachers a bone (proposal for a $1,000 pay raise. While this proposal won't place teachers in the corporate oil and gas industry category, $1000 is most certainly a hefty raise (Corporate Lawmakers, 2017). Let's just look at what a $1,000 raise (about $1.50 a day) can pay for, and anyone with half a brain can see that it is a great raise. As a matter of fact, if OK teachers get that windfall - they will move from being paid dead last in the nation... to dead last.
If teachers are earlybirds and get that worm (to quote a recent TV ad), they will be able to pay the increased taxes on a pack of cigs (almost passed), or they may drink an extra can of strong beer from Wal Mart, or they may pay a small amount of the increased fuel costs, or they may use it to pay pay for the increased insurance costs... I could go on and on about the plethora of options teachers have for spending their $1.50 a day salary increase, but in the interest of time - I won't. I will make one more sarcastic statement, though, concerning the proposed $1,000 pay raise: This corporate pay proposal should certainly stem the tide of teachers leaving the state for better pay...
Super Dead Last Update:
In what could be the last day of the never-ending story.. the special session that not even a wooden stake can kill, the Senate is preparing to launch a Hail Mary to balance the state budget. The nuclear missile is aimed directly at the Corporate House Leadership and Corporate Representatives. The "budget plan" will increase taxes for the working poor and middle class Oklahomans by increasing the tax on a pack of cigs by $1.50, increasing the tax on a gallon of gasoline by 6 cents, and increasing many more regressive taxes (affects the poor and working Oklahomans more than the wealthy and Corporatists). It also increases the GPT from 2% to 4% for the first 36 months of an oil well's production, which will ensure that Oklahoma's GPT rate stays the lowest in the nation. Of course, we all know by now who really rules Oklahoma... I'll give you a hint - it's not Oklahomans. Or maybe it is.. two Oklahomans - Harold Hamm and Larry Nichols.
We will see what happens today - The "nuclear missile" will strike the target, and the Corporate House will fold under pressure by approving the measure or the Corporatists will survive to fight another day by rejecting it.
Super Duper Dead Last Update:
The Corporate House of Representatives or the Criminal Headquarters for the Underworld's Master Plan (CHUMP), has torpedoed the latest budget balancing teacher pay raise plan. Baron von Butcher (House Speaker) will now proceed to cut our state agencies (health care, safety, public schools, and transportation) to ribbons, and teachers will be unlikely to ever receive a pay raise. Corporate Lawmakers and other CHUMPs have succeeded in protecting the oil and gas overlords, like Milburn Drysdale (banker) protected Jed Clampett on an old Beverly Hillbillies episode. (Drysdale didn't want the Clampetts to leave town either).
The Bill is written to pro-rate the raise for teachers providing that any and all teachers who are paid any portion of their salary with Federal Funds... shall receive a pro-rated amount as to the percentage of state funds used to pay the salary. For instance, a Title One reading teacher receiving his or her entire salary from federal funds would receive no salary increase from the state. A special needs teacher whose salary is paid with federal special ed. funds would receive no salary increase from the state. Just sayin...
Also in the Bill is the fact that No part of the amount of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) provided for each certified classroom teacher shall be used by school districts to fund the employer contribution payments mandated by "Law"... Correct me if I'm wrong, but this means public schools will be forced by corporate lawmakers to pay approximately $514.50 per teacher for the $3000 pay raise. So, a school with 100 teachers would pay $51,450 in extra charges, courtesy of our corporate lawmakers./
Also in the bill, The State Department of Education shall disburse these monies to local school districts... through the state aid formula... Correct me again if I'm wrong, but there are a couple dozen school districts in Oklahoma which do not receive funding through the state aid formula. If the raise for teachers is to sent to districts "through the formula", these locally funded districts will not receive the state monies for their teachers. Sorry, locally funded district teachers, you're out of luck. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is the corporate plan for providing some teachers a pay raise.
In my opinion, this bill to provide a pay raise for teachers is just one more way that corporate lawmakers using to "choke" public schools in Oklahoma. Of course I may be wrong, and the corporate lawmakers at the capitol just want to provide teachers a pay raise because they care...
Update: The front page of the Daily Joke (Oklahoman) says it all - NO DEAL, and if a picture is worth a thousand words... take a look: The photo portrays five corporate lawmakers (corporatists) staring in disbelief as their corporate tax plan is sinking like the Titanic. Unfortunately, the $3,000 teacher pay raise for some teachers... no longer has a funding source. Many public school supporters say it never did. The pay raise was predicated on the basis that regressive tax increases (sales tax and user tax increases) would pay for it. A regressive tax affects the working poor and middle income Oklahomans more than the wealthy and corporations. Back to the hilarious photo: By the looks on their faces, the corporatists can clearly see their "gravy train" screeching to a halt. The "corporate gravy train" would be $ hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions provided by the corporate oil and gas industry. I'm sorry, but this is a serious laughing matter for most Oklahomans. Those pictured obviously voted for the "corporate tax plan", which means no tax increases for corporations - but heavy tax increases for the working poor (teachers). Their philosophy toward teacher pay raises is it's OK for teachers to get a pay raise as long as teachers pay for it! They (the corporate lawmakers pictured) actually look like the coaching staff of the Sooners during the waning moments of the Iowa State game.
They are all back at work this morning though - another day, another dollar... or in a corporate lawmakers sense "another day, another $30,000 dollars", so all is not lost. The only loss may be for those corporatists (2 or 3) who voted no on the budget bill. I'll explain my line of thinking:
The Speaker and corporate leader McCall voted Yes on the bill. He desperately wants his corporate bosses in the oil and gas industry to know that he made a valiant effort in protecting their interests, that he fought the good fight. He has a super eyewitness to observe his efforts - his Chief of Staff, Rick Rose. Mr. Rose has a "day job" of defending poor "defenseless" oil and gas corporations from greedy farmers and land-owners who want to rob them blind. Mr. Rose is an oil and gas attorney who moonlights as McCall's Chief of Staff and is in reality McCall's boss. So, there's the "rest of the story for those who voted Yes on the bill.
Of course, sixteen Republicans broke ranks to vote No on the bill. Most voted No, because they did not want to raise taxes on the working poor and middle class - and they weren't paid off by the corporate oil industry. There were a couple, though, who voted no... but were paid-off to vote yes! I certainly would not want to be in those lawmakers' shoes as they face their boss. One gets the feeling that one at a time, each corporate no voter will be called into a darkened office facing only the outline of the boss. The boss will have a couple of henchmen, one on each side, and then begin the questioning. After about three questions, in which the corporate underling gives trembling answers, the boss hits a button which releases a trap-door directly under the corporatist's feet. The still-trembling lawmaker drops immediately into the alligator pit below. Such a sad story, but there is more news to come as the session grinds on.
What sounds too good to be true probably is, but a $3,000 pay raise for teachers could be on the fast track as the Senate is suggesting the House add 2% (not much) to the present 2% GPT (4%). The "do-nothing" Speaker McCall and his "do-nothing" House caucus, however, may not take the bait - as McCall has fought valiantly to prevent his corporate bosses from being taxed, and reject the Senate's suggestion. But he may "throw in the towel" and accept the 4% GPT, figuring that "protecting his wealthy corporate bosses is now a lost cause, and accept the Senate's offer of 4% GPT. Only time will tell...
Speaker McCall, aka Dapper Dan or The Atoka Strangler, must be high-fiving his corporate bosses since the 4% GPT was flushed town the commode - along with any small hope of teacher pay raises. Plan B, which was really Plan A for the corporate oil and gas industry, will now probably be triggered (literally for state services) since many will suffer massive cuts. Public schools will reportedly suffer what the Atoka Strangler calls "minor adjustments" a 3.1% cut, and a nada, zip, zilch pay raise for teachers. All is not lost, though, as Dapper Dan will reportedly see a hefty Christmas bonus, along with his crooked caucus. And out-of-state shareholders in the 7 working oil and gas wells in Atoka County, along with all Oklahoma oil and gas producers will see massive profits. We''ll continue to monitor the "super bowl" of special sessions on Monday AM, as our do-nothing lawmakers continue to gouge state tax payers for $30,000 per day...
Some factual afterthoughts after the oil and gas corporations have whined and cried their way to no increase in GPT: I know a retired teacher and oil royalty recipient who collects a mere pittance in retirement benefits ($2000 per month). Her "landowner" production check is $100 per month, but oil company "fees" take that total down to $70 per month. Among the "fees" is a "gross production" reduction of 2%, which amounts to $2 being deducted from the check. If GPT is increased to 4%. the resulting reduction from her check will be $4. So who really pays for the GPT increase? I'll give you a hint: It's not the oil producers...
Here's the resulting analysis - If corporate oil and gas producers receive an increase in GPT... THEY WILL PASS IT ON TO FARMERS, RANCHERS, RETIRED TEACHERS, AND OTHER MINERAL OWNERS. THE WEALTHY WILL BECOME WEALTHIER! Long live the corporate oil industry and their cronies...
The oil producers' cronies would be Dapper Dan and other corporate lawmakers, and corporate attorneys such as Dee Dee's Chief of Staff Rick Rose. Rose, an oil company executive attorney, regularly defends poor oil and gas producers against farmers and other mineral owners, but his day job as Dee Dee's Chief of Staff - is making sure the state legislature passes no law which would reduce Billionaires' piles of money. Heaven forbid, Billionaires could become less wealthy Billionaies if their piles were reduced - and the fallacy that drilling for oil and gas would stop in Oklahoma, and oil companies would leave the state - is a big lie perpetuated by the corporate oil industry and their cronies!
Last Update for the special session that wasn't...
After charging Oklahoma taxpayers almost half a million dollars to balance the state budget, corporate (not conservative) legislators did not do their job! It is now evident the state legislature (House and Senate) is clearly divided, with corporatist lawmakers on one side (dubbed the axis powers) and the constituent lawmakers (allies) on the other. The Axis Powers of the state legislature shouldn't be confused with the Axis Powers of WWII (Italy, Germany, and Japan) often called the Axis of Evil by the Allies (United States, Great Britain, and France), although they are similar. For instance, Italy was led by a dictator, Benito Mussolini, who considered himself a Corporatist. A Corporatist is a government official who rules a state by partnering with corporations. In other words the government for the people shares power with corporations. It is reasonable to assume then, that state legislators who share power, or equally govern with corporations be called the Axis Powers. They get their marching orders from corporate interests...
The Axis Powers, which includes some Republicans and a few Democrats, have successfully defended the oil and gas industry against GPT increases, unlike the Axis of Evil - which was soundly whipped by the WWII Allies. The Axis of the Legislature will now cut funding for state services such as the Department of Transporatation, Department of Corrections, our public schools, and all county and state health services.... and the Allies of the legislature cannot stop them. (Note: the Allies include all those conservative legislators who supported an increase in the GPT, both Republicans and Democrats.)
Another result of the Axis Powers' resounding victory is that teachers will probably not see a pay raise anytime soon. BTW, the cut to our public schools will probably be about 3.1%, which will amount to about $150,000 in state aid for Blanchard. The Axis of Power will now move on to more critical issues (for them), such as acquiring more tax dollars for private and corporate charter schools and consolidating our rural public schools, which you may read about in other posts...
Dead Last Update:
The Axis of Power (corporate lawmakers, corporate bosses, and their cronies) has looked over its shoulder while departing the scene of devastaion, and tossed Oklahoma teachers a bone (proposal for a $1,000 pay raise. While this proposal won't place teachers in the corporate oil and gas industry category, $1000 is most certainly a hefty raise (Corporate Lawmakers, 2017). Let's just look at what a $1,000 raise (about $1.50 a day) can pay for, and anyone with half a brain can see that it is a great raise. As a matter of fact, if OK teachers get that windfall - they will move from being paid dead last in the nation... to dead last.
If teachers are earlybirds and get that worm (to quote a recent TV ad), they will be able to pay the increased taxes on a pack of cigs (almost passed), or they may drink an extra can of strong beer from Wal Mart, or they may pay a small amount of the increased fuel costs, or they may use it to pay pay for the increased insurance costs... I could go on and on about the plethora of options teachers have for spending their $1.50 a day salary increase, but in the interest of time - I won't. I will make one more sarcastic statement, though, concerning the proposed $1,000 pay raise: This corporate pay proposal should certainly stem the tide of teachers leaving the state for better pay...
Super Dead Last Update:
In what could be the last day of the never-ending story.. the special session that not even a wooden stake can kill, the Senate is preparing to launch a Hail Mary to balance the state budget. The nuclear missile is aimed directly at the Corporate House Leadership and Corporate Representatives. The "budget plan" will increase taxes for the working poor and middle class Oklahomans by increasing the tax on a pack of cigs by $1.50, increasing the tax on a gallon of gasoline by 6 cents, and increasing many more regressive taxes (affects the poor and working Oklahomans more than the wealthy and Corporatists). It also increases the GPT from 2% to 4% for the first 36 months of an oil well's production, which will ensure that Oklahoma's GPT rate stays the lowest in the nation. Of course, we all know by now who really rules Oklahoma... I'll give you a hint - it's not Oklahomans. Or maybe it is.. two Oklahomans - Harold Hamm and Larry Nichols.
We will see what happens today - The "nuclear missile" will strike the target, and the Corporate House will fold under pressure by approving the measure or the Corporatists will survive to fight another day by rejecting it.
Super Duper Dead Last Update:
The Corporate House of Representatives or the Criminal Headquarters for the Underworld's Master Plan (CHUMP), has torpedoed the latest budget balancing teacher pay raise plan. Baron von Butcher (House Speaker) will now proceed to cut our state agencies (health care, safety, public schools, and transportation) to ribbons, and teachers will be unlikely to ever receive a pay raise. Corporate Lawmakers and other CHUMPs have succeeded in protecting the oil and gas overlords, like Milburn Drysdale (banker) protected Jed Clampett on an old Beverly Hillbillies episode. (Drysdale didn't want the Clampetts to leave town either).
Monday, October 23, 2017
Conservative - A belief in retaining traditionally successful institutions
If a "conservative" political philosophy is a belief in retaining traditional social institutions, then I guess I'm conservative. If a "liberal' political philosophy is a belief in moving forward to destroy traditional social institutions such as our public schools and our family farms, then many state legislators are liberal. These flaming liberal state legislators claim to be conservative, but it's NOT conservative to spend tax dollars hand over fist - on out-of-state and foreign corporations (their bosses). It's NOT conservative to crush our rural public schools by de-funding them in favor of privatization and corporate charters. And it's certainly NOT conservative to be convicted of sex crimes and tax crimes, like so many of our self-proclaimed conservative lawmakers have been. They and many more state lawmakers, only claim to be conservative, but they are not. They are wolves in sheeps' clothing, or corporate fascists in conservative clothing!
One traditional social institution that I believe in retaining is Friday Night Lights or high school football. It is a tradition that many corporate lawmakers would like to bring down. Friday night's high school football game, pitting our Blanchard Lions against the Ada Cougars, marks the first time ever the Daily Oklahoman has referred to Blanchard football being a "tradition-rich program". The DO acknowledged the Blanchard - Ada game as a "top-ten" high school football game this week, ranking it #5 among all 150+ games. The Ada Cougars own more state titles (13) than any other team in the state, and have usually played in classes 4A and 5A. As a matter of fact, Ada just recently dropped from class 5A to class 4A, while Blanchard has risen from 3A to 4A and the reason they're playing in the same district. Jacob Unruh, DO sports writer says that "The District 4A-2 title will go to Blanchard with a win, but a loss could lead to a three-way tie. Talk about drama between two tradition-rich programs!" This game with Ada brings back some old memories for me...
Two high school football programs with which I've been personally associated, Duncan and Lindsay, have taken on the Ada Cougars in years past... and lost. In 1992, while coaching in Duncan, we faced Ada in the 5A state title game at O.S.U. Although the Duncan Demons were very good, they lost 23-7 to the Cougars. On a Friday night, September 20, 1968, the class 'A' number five ranked Lindsay Leopards took on the class 2A number one ranked Ada in what was the Daily Oklahoman's number one game that week. My Leopards lost to the Ada Cougars 34-0. I was a fifth grader at Lindsay Elementary at the time, and it was Joe Tunnell's first year as head coach of the Leopards. Lindsay went on to face the Clinton Red Tornadoes in the class 'A' state semi-finals that year, and lost to the traditional powerhouse 35-7. Coach Joe Tunnell was on his way to becoming a legend in Oklahoma high school football, though, as Lindsay won more games than any other class 2A team during the 1970's and Tunnell won more high school games than any high school coach in the 1980's.
The "clash of traditional titans" this Friday night in Blanchard promises to be legendary, and standing-room only, so be there early and be a part of The Tradition... high school football's Friday Night Lights.
One traditional social institution that I believe in retaining is Friday Night Lights or high school football. It is a tradition that many corporate lawmakers would like to bring down. Friday night's high school football game, pitting our Blanchard Lions against the Ada Cougars, marks the first time ever the Daily Oklahoman has referred to Blanchard football being a "tradition-rich program". The DO acknowledged the Blanchard - Ada game as a "top-ten" high school football game this week, ranking it #5 among all 150+ games. The Ada Cougars own more state titles (13) than any other team in the state, and have usually played in classes 4A and 5A. As a matter of fact, Ada just recently dropped from class 5A to class 4A, while Blanchard has risen from 3A to 4A and the reason they're playing in the same district. Jacob Unruh, DO sports writer says that "The District 4A-2 title will go to Blanchard with a win, but a loss could lead to a three-way tie. Talk about drama between two tradition-rich programs!" This game with Ada brings back some old memories for me...
Two high school football programs with which I've been personally associated, Duncan and Lindsay, have taken on the Ada Cougars in years past... and lost. In 1992, while coaching in Duncan, we faced Ada in the 5A state title game at O.S.U. Although the Duncan Demons were very good, they lost 23-7 to the Cougars. On a Friday night, September 20, 1968, the class 'A' number five ranked Lindsay Leopards took on the class 2A number one ranked Ada in what was the Daily Oklahoman's number one game that week. My Leopards lost to the Ada Cougars 34-0. I was a fifth grader at Lindsay Elementary at the time, and it was Joe Tunnell's first year as head coach of the Leopards. Lindsay went on to face the Clinton Red Tornadoes in the class 'A' state semi-finals that year, and lost to the traditional powerhouse 35-7. Coach Joe Tunnell was on his way to becoming a legend in Oklahoma high school football, though, as Lindsay won more games than any other class 2A team during the 1970's and Tunnell won more high school games than any high school coach in the 1980's.
The "clash of traditional titans" this Friday night in Blanchard promises to be legendary, and standing-room only, so be there early and be a part of The Tradition... high school football's Friday Night Lights.
State Budget Deal?!?!?!
Nothing works as well as 'threatening to cut state legislators pay', to get them to pass a budget. One must remember that "money talks" to Corporate lawmakers. Last week, the head of the committee which sets state lawmakers' salaries threatened to cut legislator pay, if they didn't get on the ball and do some actual work - like passing a balanced state budget by increasing revenue. Lo and behold, when the legislature went back to work today, they immediately announced that a budget deal has been reached - by increasing taxes on... you guessed it - middle income Oklahomans (6 cents a gallon increase on fuel and $1.50 tax increase on a pack of cigs.
While it's a safe bet that Oklahoma Corporate taxes, like the Gross Production tax on oil and gas won't increase, sales tax on goods and services that we all buy will increase. The reason corporations and wealthy Oklahomans have been spared tax increases is simple. Many corporate state lawmakers signed the Grover Norquist pledge "I will never vote to raise taxes", but the pledge was a 'contract' to never raise corporate taxes, so no "breach of corporate contract" is evident as lawmakers vote to increase taxes on the working poor and middle class individuals. If state lawmakers actually did vote to raise corporate taxes, those who contracted with corporations to never raise taxes could face a corporate lawsuit. Corporations would also undoubtedly discontinue campaign donations (pay cut) to their corporate employee lawmakers. Remember... money talks to corporate lawmakers..
While it's a safe bet that Oklahoma Corporate taxes, like the Gross Production tax on oil and gas won't increase, sales tax on goods and services that we all buy will increase. The reason corporations and wealthy Oklahomans have been spared tax increases is simple. Many corporate state lawmakers signed the Grover Norquist pledge "I will never vote to raise taxes", but the pledge was a 'contract' to never raise corporate taxes, so no "breach of corporate contract" is evident as lawmakers vote to increase taxes on the working poor and middle class individuals. If state lawmakers actually did vote to raise corporate taxes, those who contracted with corporations to never raise taxes could face a corporate lawsuit. Corporations would also undoubtedly discontinue campaign donations (pay cut) to their corporate employee lawmakers. Remember... money talks to corporate lawmakers..
Sunday, October 22, 2017
The Rise of Corporativism for Our Public Schools
A friend and fellow rancher, James Albert Campbell, from Hugo recently wrote the following:
"All my life I have heard 'You get the government you deserve', and I get that. If my fellow ranchers and farmers ignore JFK's warning and 'vote not only against himself, but against the welfare of every farmer and every farm' in the Country, then I guess that is our own fault. If everyone of us that comes from a family that lost fortunes and/or nearly starved to death during the Great Depression forget the admonitions of our Fathers and Grandfathers, then I guess we have no one to blame but ourselves.
If our municipal and county leaders choose to side with the forces that gut our REAP funds and continue to shift more and more tax burden upon local governments, then they do so at their own peril.
If our commissioners stand by while the CIRB is raided every year, then it's them that have to take the cussing when our county roads and bridges fall to pieces.
If the many men and women that depend on an ODOT salary continue to back a regime that uses our roads funds like a piggybank, eventually all the projects will be cut and the only thing left to be cut will be their jobs.
If small local business men think they are wealthy enough to demand respect from the Party of the Rich, they will learn their fortunes are directly with that of their poor neighbors.
If our educators and state employees still cannot realize 'who's hitting them over the heads', then they are in store for a world of hurt.
If each of us that claim to be pro-life froth at the mouth over the unborn child, yet continue to elect politicians that don't give a damn about that child outside the womb, then God have mercy on our souls for we truly know not what we do.
So, all of us adult Oklahomans may deserve the utterly incompetent ruling regime we have.
But, please tell me - what in the hell has our foster children, public school students, and disabled Oklahomans done to deserve the GOP?
I agree with everything James says, except for one thing - it's the Corporatist Party, not the GOP per say or the Democrats who've screwed our most vulnerable. James is an avowed Democrat, but not a Liberal Democrat but a "Conservative" in its most traditional definition - Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes retaining traditional social institutions such as our public schools and our family farms/ranches. It's a philosophy that "gets votes" for Corporatist legislators across America, and they know "to lie" about being farmers and ranchers will always ensure victory at the ballot box.
President John F. Kennedy (JFK) was probably the last "Conservative" Democrat to hold the White House and said "The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways". James Campbell can identify with JFK, and so can I. I didn't vote for JFK in the 1960 Presidential Election and I'm sure James didn't either, because we were too young, but certainly would have - as Dick Nixon, a Corporatist Republican, was the alternative. (Remember the Dick Nixon scandals, much like the state Corporatist scandals of Oklahoma today.) But I digress (ramble) once again...
Abraham Lincoln, a Conservative Republican President, penned a letter to Col. William F. Elkins on November 21, 1864, and wrote "I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed." Lincoln evidently foresaw the rise of today's Corporatists in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress.
Benito Mussolini, Italy's dictator before and during World War II, once said "Fascism should be more properly called Corporatism, since it is the merger of state and corporate power." As the Allies swept through Italy concluding WWII, Mussolini was "hanged" upside down in the town square as he tried to flee. (My uncle, Warren Beckham, earned an Army Silver Star in Italy, helping to defeat the Nazi/Fascists.)
The bottom line today is to defeat Corporativism at the ballot box, not by "hanging" or running them out of the country. The real problem for Oklahomans is to distinguish the Corporatist Candidates from the true Conservative Republicans or Democrats. It's easy though, if a voter knows where to look. Just go to the website followthemoney.org, type in the name of the office holder or candidate - and become enlightened. The information provided gives the out-of-state and international corporations, including "dark money groups", which have paid-off candidates to do their bidding. If you don't want to know that "your local legislator" is a Corporatist, then I advise you not to look, but remember that "knowledge is power"...
"All my life I have heard 'You get the government you deserve', and I get that. If my fellow ranchers and farmers ignore JFK's warning and 'vote not only against himself, but against the welfare of every farmer and every farm' in the Country, then I guess that is our own fault. If everyone of us that comes from a family that lost fortunes and/or nearly starved to death during the Great Depression forget the admonitions of our Fathers and Grandfathers, then I guess we have no one to blame but ourselves.
If our municipal and county leaders choose to side with the forces that gut our REAP funds and continue to shift more and more tax burden upon local governments, then they do so at their own peril.
If our commissioners stand by while the CIRB is raided every year, then it's them that have to take the cussing when our county roads and bridges fall to pieces.
If the many men and women that depend on an ODOT salary continue to back a regime that uses our roads funds like a piggybank, eventually all the projects will be cut and the only thing left to be cut will be their jobs.
If small local business men think they are wealthy enough to demand respect from the Party of the Rich, they will learn their fortunes are directly with that of their poor neighbors.
If our educators and state employees still cannot realize 'who's hitting them over the heads', then they are in store for a world of hurt.
If each of us that claim to be pro-life froth at the mouth over the unborn child, yet continue to elect politicians that don't give a damn about that child outside the womb, then God have mercy on our souls for we truly know not what we do.
So, all of us adult Oklahomans may deserve the utterly incompetent ruling regime we have.
But, please tell me - what in the hell has our foster children, public school students, and disabled Oklahomans done to deserve the GOP?
I agree with everything James says, except for one thing - it's the Corporatist Party, not the GOP per say or the Democrats who've screwed our most vulnerable. James is an avowed Democrat, but not a Liberal Democrat but a "Conservative" in its most traditional definition - Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes retaining traditional social institutions such as our public schools and our family farms/ranches. It's a philosophy that "gets votes" for Corporatist legislators across America, and they know "to lie" about being farmers and ranchers will always ensure victory at the ballot box.
President John F. Kennedy (JFK) was probably the last "Conservative" Democrat to hold the White House and said "The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways". James Campbell can identify with JFK, and so can I. I didn't vote for JFK in the 1960 Presidential Election and I'm sure James didn't either, because we were too young, but certainly would have - as Dick Nixon, a Corporatist Republican, was the alternative. (Remember the Dick Nixon scandals, much like the state Corporatist scandals of Oklahoma today.) But I digress (ramble) once again...
Abraham Lincoln, a Conservative Republican President, penned a letter to Col. William F. Elkins on November 21, 1864, and wrote "I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed." Lincoln evidently foresaw the rise of today's Corporatists in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress.
Benito Mussolini, Italy's dictator before and during World War II, once said "Fascism should be more properly called Corporatism, since it is the merger of state and corporate power." As the Allies swept through Italy concluding WWII, Mussolini was "hanged" upside down in the town square as he tried to flee. (My uncle, Warren Beckham, earned an Army Silver Star in Italy, helping to defeat the Nazi/Fascists.)
The bottom line today is to defeat Corporativism at the ballot box, not by "hanging" or running them out of the country. The real problem for Oklahomans is to distinguish the Corporatist Candidates from the true Conservative Republicans or Democrats. It's easy though, if a voter knows where to look. Just go to the website followthemoney.org, type in the name of the office holder or candidate - and become enlightened. The information provided gives the out-of-state and international corporations, including "dark money groups", which have paid-off candidates to do their bidding. If you don't want to know that "your local legislator" is a Corporatist, then I advise you not to look, but remember that "knowledge is power"...
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