FAIR AND BIASED

Thursday, June 12, 2008

PREPARE FOR DISAPPOINTMENT IVAN!

Ivan Holmes, the State Chairman of the Dems responded to the Oklahoman's editorial today with the dribble below. Ivan says if the Dems got control of the State House and treated "R"s like they have been treated in the past 4 years, he would be THE MOST DISAPPOINTED DEMOCRAT IN OKLAHOMA. Ivan concedes that Democrats in the past treated "R"s like they have been treated since the Republican took control of the House. Welcome to politics Ivan- if you are in the majority, your agenda and your issues take precedence over the minority's issues and agenda. The Dems controlled our state government for almost 100 years and their lack of leadership got us to 47th in the country in per capita income. One of the reasons the Dems lost control of the state house was their unwillingness to deal with the issues and agenda the "R"s had proposed for years. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Ivan says WE HAVE CHANGED- WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR STATE. FAT CHANCE! Democrats just want to be back in power. If Ivan believes the Dems have changed he is a hoot- drunker than a hoot owl smoking a cigar! Steve

In the Tuesday, June 10th editorial in the Daily Oklahoman titled, "Ivan the Funny" it stated the "Democrat party boss is a hoot."
I might agree with you that I am "a hoot." However, I don't believe I am a hoot because I believe there has been a lack of democracy in the House leadership on hearing bills during the current session.
The editorial said that the Democratic campaign theme that our party will run on this year will be the lack of democracy in the Republican controlled House. The editorial said I "didn't like Democrats having done to them what Democrats did to Republicans when the GOP was the minority party."
Gary Jones, Oklahoma Republican Party Chair, has said on numerous occasions that similar complaints were made when Democrats controlled the House.
It is my opinion that two wrongs don't make a right. I cannot go along with the philosophy that because Democrats did something wrong in the past it is alright for Republicans to do something THEY KNOW IS WRONG now. So Ivan concedes that in the past Dems treated "R"s bad?
This "pay back" philosophy has caused Oklahoma voters to lose faith in our political system.
Last week I met with a number of the Democratic House leaders and during the meeting I told them that if we are able to take back the House leadership in November I hoped they would not do to the Republicans what the current Republican leadership has done to them for the last two years. They assured me that they will open up the House to include Republican input if Democrats re-gain control of the House. Their word means nothing. They promised to hear right-to-work for years but stonewalled it and never got it to the floor.
If Democrats do take back the House in November and don't allow Republicans to have the right to hear and debate their bills I will be the most disappointed Democrat in Oklahoma. Prepare for disappointment Ivan- you will lose at least 3 seats in the State House and control of the State Senate for the very reason you cite above- Democrats are unwilling to work with "R"s on issues that matter. You had the first 100 years- we'll take the next 100.

Ivan Holmes

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Why FAIR & BIASED?

FAIR- because that's my name and BIASED because the truth is we are all biased- either for something or against it. What's important is that our bias(opinions) are based on right- on absolute truth and not on changing values. What's right cannot change based on a change in circumstances. That is the basis for situational ethics.

Situation Ethics is a theory that is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end, as opposed to an action being intrinsically wrong. In the case of situation ethics, the end can justify the means. There are no absolutes. Your actions are guided only by your conscience.

A person's view of right can be subjective. But there is a way mankind can definitely know what's right and that is revealed in God's Word- the Bible. As His creatures, we should be biased toward things our Creator is for and biased against those things He is against. May God grant us the grace and understanding to know the difference.

PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they “support the man, not the Party.” But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they “support the man.”
Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.
From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.
Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.
First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation “defines” you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.
Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for “the man,” not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.
Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.
The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.
Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.
Party affiliation is important. Washington’s prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower “unprincipled men,” on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.

FAIR AND BIASED

Thursday, June 12, 2008

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PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

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