CONSTITUENTS SHOULD PROVIDE MEANINGFUL INPUT!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

SCHOOL THE IGNORANT!

by Steve Fair

     This week on the steps of the Oklahoma Capitol, Senator Shane Jett, (R-Shawnee) announced the formation of the Freedom Caucus (FC) in the Oklahoma state legislature.  The Sooner state is the 12^th state to form a Freedom Caucus in the legislature.  The concept mirrors the FC in the U.S. Congress.

     Jett said the purpose of the FC will be to ‘preserve freedom for families back home and to educate and provide meaningful input to our colleagues before they vote.’   Five fellow members of the legislature also members of the FC stood behind him.  Other members of the Oklahoma legislative FC were not identified because according to Jett members in other states of the FC have faced punishment from their legislature leadership for their participation in the caucus. Three observations:

     First, legislators should be listening primarily to those who elected them.  Constituents within their district are who they represent first and foremost, not a caucus.  If a lawmaker is too lazy or incompetent to read, research and study a bill before a vote, they should quit and go home.  An effective representative develops a network of trusted counselors within their district who advise them in their field of expertise and provide ‘meaningful input.’ It’s not the job of legislators to ‘school the ignorant’ among them.  Lawmakers are there to represent those who elect them.  They aren’t elected to form cliques, fraternities and hold theme parties.  

     Second, freedom and liberty promote independence, not interdependence.  A caucus is formed to promote and execute group think- vote as a bloc.  Group think promotes interdependence.  A legislator should never feel obligated to vote for a bill because a caucus tells them to.  That is the opposite of freedom.  The best elected official is an independent thinker, one not bound to lobbyists, donors, special interests or their fellow legislators.  Good ones collaborate, but don’t capitulate.  They participate, but don’t surrender.  They are independent thinkers who use their own judgment and perceptions to make decisions and solve problems.    

     Third, anonymity is for cowards. Jett said the full membership (other legislators) couldn’t be revealed because of fear of retribution. Jett didn’t identify who the executioner/boogie man in legislative leadership that was going to punish the unnamed for joining the FC.  If an elected official is a member of a caucus and plans to vote with them, then why hide?  If two agree, they walk together- not one hiding behind the other.

     Jett said anonymity was necessary because the focus of the caucus is to be on policy and not personality, but those can’t be separated?  Anonymity hides/shields/protects/shelters cowards.  The truly brave don’t fear retaliation.      

     The FC in the U.S. House has been a vehicle of disruption within the GOP majority and hasn’t truly advanced conservative policy.  They took down the Speaker of the House, stalled legislation they deemed not conservative enough, and attacked fellow Republicans in the media.  They steadfastly refuse to compromise, collaborate, or negotiate.  They are willing to get nothing if they can’t get everything, so most of the time they get nothing.  Many conservatives agree with their values, but not their zeal to get nothing done and continual attacking of the like-minded.  Hopefully the Oklahoma chapter of FC is willing to work and play well with others.  In the meantime, citizens should be helping to school the ignorant.