FAIR AND BIASED: RECALL!

Monday, February 17, 2014

RECALL!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

RECALL!

by Steve Fair

Last week, the Oklahoma Senate passed the National Popular Vote bill by a vote of 28-18. All eighteen (18) Senators who voted against the bill were Republican, but 16(sixteen) of their fellow Republican Senators voted for the bill. That’s right- I said 16 Rs voted for the National Popular Vote. If this proposal would have been law in 2000, Al Gore would have been elected.

I have written extensively about the dangers of moving to a popular vote to elect the President, so I will not repeat myself. If you want to see those editorials, go to my blog- stevefair.blogspot.com and search National Popular Vote.

What is so disappointing about last week’s vote is that none of the leadership of the State Republican Party was asked their opinion on NPV by Senate leadership. Few, if any, local political activists in the state were asked their opinion on the NPV. The very folks that got these elected officials elected. The engaged and informed were not consulted. In a poll conducted last week by the OKGOP, over 75% of Republican primary voters oppose the National Popular Vote. Why wasn’t the grassroots consulted? Why did this bill get fast tracked in the Senate?

I have some questions for those Republican Senators who voted for the bill.

First, did you know the Republican platform- both state and national- have planks in them opposing the election of president by popular vote? Did you bother to research and find out what the official Party position was on NPV? If you did and disagree with the platform, why do you disagree? Did you talk with the State Party Chair or the RNC members? The reason the RNC and OKGOP oppose NPV is because how we elect the president defines what type of government we have- a Republic. The NPV will move America to a European model.

Second, what influenced you to vote for the bill? Was it because you mistakenly believe Oklahoma is irrelevant in the presidential election process? That is hogwash. Every Republican candidate for President campaigned in Oklahoma in 2012. If you think this proposal will give Oklahoma more influence, you’re wrong there as well. It will dilute Oklahoma’s influence and move the decision making to ten (10) major metropolitan areas (which are predominately liberal) in the country.

Third, did you consider states rights? The heart of this debate goes back to our system of government. This proposal moves us closer to federalism- to reducing state’s rights and making the federal government larger and more powerful.

The bill- SB#906- authored by Senator Rob Johnson, (R-Kingfisher), and Representative Don Armes, (R-Faxon) now moves to the House. Please call your state representative and tell them to oppose passage of this bill. To find your state representative, go to http://www.okhouse.gov/FindMyLegislature.aspx
Now I want to turn to another subject- one this vote revealed. Oklahoma has a weakness in our system of government.

A number of the Senators who voted for the proposal are term-limited, meaning they are in their last term. They will not face the voters in Oklahoma again-unless they run for another office. Currently the only recourse Oklahoma citizens have to get wayward elected officials attention is at the ballot box. I think it is perhaps time for Oklahoma initiative a Recall process.

A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before their term has ended. Nineteen states have recall in some form or fashion. We do not have it in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, state legislators can serve twelve years and statewide elected officials eight years. Without recall, a term limited lame duck elected official in Oklahoma- legislator or statewide- who does something their constituents are upset about has zero accountability to the citizens because they will never be on the ballot again. But with recall, they could be called into account and have to face the voters. To get Recall on the ballot in the state will likely require an initiative petition. It’s highly unlikely the legislature will pass a JR and let the folks vote on it and to be honest it’s an uphill battle if citizens do it. 155,000 signatures are needed to get Recall on the ballot, but I think it’s time for Oklahoma to have recall! When lobbyists and out of state special interest groups can come in and influence our elected officials more than the people who got them elected, we need to have the ability to call them into account. Currently we are stuck with them until they complete their term. Now we only need 154,999 more signatures to get it on the ballot.

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

Monday, February 17, 2014

RECALL!

You can reach Steve by email at okgop@aol.com or call him at 580.252.6284.

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TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!

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

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