IGNORING AMERICA'S NATIONAL DEBT IS NON-PARTISIAN!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

by Steve Fair

 

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. While the actual vote to separate from Great Britain took place two days prior on July 2, approving the text on July 4 established the official birthdate of America.  It wasn't until August 2, 1776 the Declaration was signed. On that day, 56 of the 65 delegates signed the handwritten parchment copy.  Seven outright refused to sign the Declaration.  Two were absent due to illness.

On Saturday July 4, 2026, America celebrated the 250th anniversary of declaring independence from Great Britain.  Parades, rallies, fireworks, and feasts marked the occasion.  Americans love a party, even when they don't know what they are celebrating.  According to a Cato Institute poll, 46% of Americans had no clue what the holiday actually commemorated.  A whopping 61% of Generation Z (ages 14-29) were clueless about Independence Day. 

Sadly, the youth in America know nothing about how and why the United States was founded.  The principle each individual possesses unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, is foreign to them.  To them, one system of government is as good as the next.  That is why socialism/secularism is on the rise in the U.S.  As America celebrates the Semiquincentennial, here are three observations:

First, America has failed to educate the next generation.  As evidenced by the Cato poll, the youth of America have little knowledge of the United States system of government.  Relying on public education to instill the story of how America came to be hasn't worked well.  Parents haven't taken any equity in passing along why a representative democratic republic is a superior form of government.  The lack of participation by parents in America's self-government system has reaped extreme apathy in their offspring.

Second, America has failed to keep the dream alive.  Since the country's inception, those who came to America believed regardless of background, one could prosper, achieve happiness and financial success through hard work, determination, and initiative.  But that dream has been damaged by government mismanagement and irresponsibility.   

The U.S. national debt has grown from $75 million in 1776 to over $39 trillion in 2026. Deficit spending by government has put massive tax burdens on taxpayers, so consumers do the same and spend more than they make.  Individual credit card balances in the United States are over $1.25 trillion.  Until citizen and government discipline themselves to live within their means, the American dream will be a nightmare.

Third, America is ruled by a permanent political class.  Those 56 signers of the Declaration envisioned "citizen-statesmen" those who would serve for a limited time and then return to their private lives.  The founders were largely unpaid or offered minimal per-diem wages. They feared a permanent political class would lead to corruption and elitism, ie elected officials who listen only to special interests and ignore their constituents.  Sound familiar?  Increasingly in America, the only people who can afford to run for office are rich people.  The average person can't win because it takes big money to run a political race.  So long as the 'grassroots' operate like a circular firing squad and refuse to collaborate with anyone who doesn't 100% agree with their views, expect the wealthy to win and rule.

In 2012, Senator Tom Coburn wrote, "The Debt Bomb."  The book warned America's threat to survival wasn't from foreign governments, but from Washington politicians who were spending America into bankruptcy.  "Everyone from both the right and left must sacrifice to fix America's mounting debt problems," the late doctor said.  Coburn predicted America's debt problem will be its demise. 

Meanwhile, America has become Wayne's World; Party on America- Party on!

THREE THINGS THE NEXT GUV NEEDS TO COMMIT TO!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

WATCHDOG OR LAPDOG?

by Steve Fair

 

Republicans gained a majority of Oklahoma state House seats in 2004, but with a Democrat governor (Brad Henry), and a Democrat controlled Senate, they were limited in what they could get done.   Republicans actually took control of the Oklahoma legislature in 2006 with the election of Sen. Anthony Sykes, (R-Moore).  Voters had sent 25 Rs and 23 Ds to serve in the Senate, but GOP Sen. Nancy "Cryly' Riley, (R/D, Ada) flipped from Republican to Democrat after she finished third in a three-person Lt. Governor 2006 primary.  Riley's childish selfish actions gave control of the Senate to the Democrats for an additional two years.  In 2008, voters sent 26 Rs and 22Ds to represent them and Republicans controlled both chambers of the legislature.  It would be another three years of a Democrat governor (Brad Henry), before the GOP would have total control of Oklahoma state government, but after 2011, Republicans have never looked back.  During their rise to supper majorities and total control of Oklahoma government, GOP candidates promised to (1) identify waste, fraud, and corruption in state government, (2) curb state spending, (3) reduce government's footprint. 

Every push card, TV commercial, and campaign speech by GOP candidates parroted the same theme.  Only the photo changed.  Fed up with being taxed too much and earning too little, Oklahomans gave Rs control of the legislature and elected two Republican governors who each served two terms (8 years).  It's a near certainty the next governor will be a Republican.  Two are in a primary runoff.  Three thoughts on what the next governor needs to do: 

First, the next governor must have the courage to order performance audits on every agency and entity that gets a dime of taxpayer money.  It's easy to promise to be a watchdog on the campaign trail, but the last two GOP governors have turned out to be lapdogs.  Using the constitutional office of State Auditor should be utilized more.  Limited scope and politically driven audits should cease.  Finding waste, fraud and corruption and exposing and then eliminating it should be priority one. 

Second, the next governor must require state agencies to justify every penny of taxpayer money they are allocated.  They should implement zero based budgeting (ZBB).  Unlike traditional "incremental" budgeting, which adjusts the previous year's funding, ZBB starts from a "zero base," meaning no program or expense is automatically continued.  Traditional "incremental" budgeting, which adjusts the previous year's funding, just lets state agencies grade their own tests. 

Third, the next governor must be committed to letting Oklahomans keep more of their income.  Every candidate has promised to cut taxes, but specifics on what services will be impacted is not discussed.  The current governor never fails to mention how much Oklahoma has socked away in rainy day funds, but those huge balances mean taxpayers overpaid their bill and didn't get a refund. 

Rainy-Day government accounts are created to insure government doesn't suffer financially when times get tough for taxpayers.  The next governor should be more concerned with helping taxpayers get through tough times than government.

Since Republicans took control of state government in 2011, the Oklahoma state budget has grown 45%.  That's not fiscal conservative.  Talking fiscal conservatism is easier than taking on the bloated state bureaucracy.  Choose wisely on August 25th.  Oklahoma needs a watchdog, not a lapdog.    

DON'T KNOW & DON'T CARE!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

IGNORANCE & APATHY

by Steve Fair

 

639,488 Oklahomans went to the polls on Tuesday the 16th.  That is 26% of the registered voters in Oklahoma.  31.4% of Republicans voted, 28.2% of Democrats.  63% of the people who voted were aged 65 or older.  Less than 20% of those undeer 35.  Oklahoma is among the three lowest states in voter turnout.  Arkansas, Hawaii and the Sooner state are at the bottom of the states in voting.   

Here are three reasons why Oklahoma registered voters stay home and don't vote:

First, citizens believe their vote doesn't matter.  Because Oklahoma is so Republican, many stay home and let others determine who will lead the state.  After all- it's only one vote.  Can one vote really make a difference?  Studies show many key elections come down to just a handful of votes.  From 1976 to 2021, more than 85 U.S. Senate elections were decided by less than 3 percent of all votes cast. In the 2000 presidential election, George W. Bush's election was determined by less than one vote per precinct.  Local races are often even closer.    

Second, citizens are uninformed.  According to a recent study, 20% of America's youth do not feel they know enough about candidates and issues to vote.  When coupled with indoctrination and the lack of critical thinking skills being taught to the next generation, it's no wonder young voters are cynical and suspicious.  But ignorance is no excuse.  In a self-governing system of government, citizens have a responsibility to educate themselves. 

Third, citizens believe politics is corrupt.  There is plenty of evidence to support that view.  Candidates pander to big donors and special interests and ignore the average Oklahoman.  The actual track record of the elected official doesn't square with their campaign promises.  You can't tell the difference between the political Parties.  The often-heard cry- 'they are all alike,' has become an undisputed fact. 

Thomas Jefferson said, "the government you elect is the government you deserve." 

Dark money donors/groups cloud the process by funding sensational/provocative material that ignores factual accuracy and objectivity.  Who are voters to believe?  Who can you trust?  The truth is not all politicians are crooks and the political process isn't as shady as many believe.  Ironically some who condemn the tactics of dark money groups employ the same maneuver to further their viewpoint.

A major cause of political apathy in Oklahoma is the lack of political education. Sooners don't know the issues/policies and political Parties and campaigns don't spend the time and money to honestly educate the electorate.  It's easier to inculcate/brain-wash voters than to take time to explain issues.  Elected officials preach transparency and then conceal/obscure important legislation. Honest debate is non-existent.  Tolerance for a differing viewpoint is considered weakness.  Both sides intentionally caricature, distort and exaggerate the other's view.  Situational ethics are practiced with impunity.  Politics has become bad theatre.  

There are four runoff races on the GOP side to determine the Party nominee.  The primary runoff election is August 25th.  Voter turnout is always low for primary runoffs.  The 'hard core' voter shows up for those elections.  Political consultants earn big bucks IDing those voters and making sure they get 'their voters' to the polls.  If Oklahomans stunned the political establishment and went to the polls in mass August 25th, that would strike fear in the hearts of the political elite.

Unfortunately, it will likely not happen because Oklahomans are a great example of not knowing the difference between ignorance and apathy?  They don't know and they don't care!

AVERTING GAZE OR TURNING A BLIND EYE?

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

AVERT GAZE

by Steve Fair

President Donald Trump turned 80 on Sunday.  He celebrated his milestone birthday by holding "UFC Freedom 250," a mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn of the White House.  4,000 spectators attended the invitation only event.  On Friday, a federal judge rejected an attempt to block the event by Public Integrity Project (PIP).  PIP filed a lawsuit arguing the event was 'deeply corrupt,' and gave the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 'unfettered access' to Washington, DC's taxpayer funded landmarks.  PIP claimed UFC Freedom 250 turned America's landmarks into billboards.

Trump's Justice Department told critics to simply, 'avert their gaze,' for the weekend and not try to impose their thoughts on the general public.  The DOJ pointed out the Obama and Biden administrations hosted high profile concerts by Beyonce and Elton John on the South Lawn, and there was little concern about those events.  Three observations:

First, taxpayers are not out a dime for the production costs.  The estimated staging cost of $60 million is being shouldered by UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings.  They are expected to lose money on the event, but are deficit spending to market their brand.  Government will provide security for the event, so taxpayers will pay for that.

Second, UFC Freedom 250 is a risky move by Trump.  The event could backfire politically.  Many Americans are struggling with rising costs and strained household budgets. By celebrating his birthday in such a grandiose way, Trump runs the risk mid-term voters might be offended at the elaborate staging.  With Republicans holding a slim margin in the U.S. House and the looming midterms, Trump needs to fire up the base.  That appears to be the strategy for staging the UFC event.h

Third, averting your eyes isn't the same thing as turning a blind eye.  Avert your eyes means to look away or avoid looking at something. It is used to prevent someone from seeing something unpleasant, private, graphic, or overly bright. 

Turning a blind eye is when you deliberately ignore or pretend not to notice something you know is wrong, harmful or out of line.  People often 'turn a blind eye' to avoid confrontation, dodge responsibility, or skip dealing with an uncomfortable situation. 

In midterm elections, keeping voters enthused is key.  Whoever turns out their voter base usually wins.  Swing voters don't usually participate in the midterms.  Heading into the 2026 midterms, Democrats hold an 8-point enthusiasm gap according to lpsos.  It's not uncommon for the Party in power to not have as much excitement than the Party out of power, especially for the midterms.  What is concerning is a recent Washington Post- ABC News poll showed 73% of Democrats thought the 2026 midterms were more important than past midterms.  Only 52% of Republicans thought that.  It appears many GOP voters are turning a blind eye and ignoring the very real possibility Democrats could gain control of the House.  John Pilpot Curran said, "The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance." Republicans better remember that come November.

Oklahoma voters have no excuse for not voting.!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

Eeny Meeny Miny Moe

by Steve Fair 

On Thursday, Oklahoma voters can start voting in the primary election.  In person absentee balloting is available at the election board on Thursday, Friday from 8am-6pm, and Saturday from 8am-2pm.  Precinct voting will be on Tuesday June 16th from 7am-7pm.  Voters are required to show a valid ID to vote.  With nine statewide races on the ballot, plus congressional, state legislative, and local races, voters should expect to have a double-sided ballot.  One state question is also on the ballot- SQ#832, which proposes to raise the minimum wage in Oklahoma. 

In the last ten days, mailboxes and airwaves have been dominated by politics.  Candidate's policy positions are caricatured and exaggerated by dark money groups, who do not have to disclose their donors.  These 'special interest' groups are often from out of state and engage in destructive politics to win races.  These outlandish ads and mail pieces grab voter's attention and confound many.  What is to be believed?  What is true and what is a lie?  Three tips on how to sift or filter through the havoc. 

First, ignore dark money mailers and ads.  They are generally funded by nonprofits and super PACs that hide their donor base.  They focus on sensationalized attack driven tactics.  Dark money groups are barred from coordinating with a candidate, so their mailers are largely useless for finding out a candidate's official position on an issue.

Second, all candidates have a track record.  It may be their voting record in a legislative body.  It could be their employment history or their education background.  It takes some effort to check how a person voted or what experience a candidate has, but the measure of what a person will do is what they have done. 

Third, listen to those you trust.  Seeking counsel from someone who pays attention to politics is wise.  Bear in mind that having someone tell you who to vote for is a little like letting someone do your homework, but it's better than blindly going into a voting booth and playing eeny meeny miny moe.  Now if your mother is knowledgeable about politics, add "My mother told me to pick the very best one, and you—are—it!".

Oklahoma voters should vote no on SQ#832!  Up until 1937, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled that government lacked the authority to set wages for private business. 

During the Great Depression, the political pressure caused the SCOTUS to cave and a minimum wage was established.  Setting wages is not a legitimate function of government. 

In Oklahoma, if a candidate doesn't get 50% of the vote, plus one vote (majority of the vote), they face the candidate who finished second in a runoff.  it's a safe bet that some of the statewide races will have runoffs.   The primary runoff election will be held August 25th.  The winners in the primary runoff then advances to the General Election on November 3rd.  Voters haven't seen the last of political mail- 5 more long months of propaganda.

Oklahoma voters have no excuse for not voting.  With early voting available, every citizen should exercise their right to vote, even if they use a counting our rhyme to make their choice. 

President Reagan said, “Voting is a precious right that for two centuries Americans have fought and died to protect. Let's all honor that sacrifice this election day.” Amen!

DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ OR SEE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

SKELETON OR GHOST?

by Steve Fair

As it gets closer to June 16th, the date of the Republican primary, campaign literature has become creative and entertaining.  All of a sudden, candidates who pledged to run their campaign 'on the issues,' abandon that commitment and start slinging mud.  Mail pieces depicting candidates as crooks, desperados, bandits and idiots liter voter's mailboxes.  If a politico has a 'skeleton in the closet,' it is publicly revealed to damage their opponent's reputation.  The vast majority of voters claim they hate dirty campaigning, but like a train wreck, they can't look away. 

First, voters should beware of propaganda.  The reason campaigns throw out false allegations instead of focusing on legitimate policy debate is because sadly voters are lazy, ignorant, and irrational.  Since the goal is to win the election and integrity be damned, campaign pieces paint one candidate as divine and the other as the devil.  The Golden Rule is cast aside for the Law of the Jungle.  Voters need to be diligent.

Second, skeletons rarely stay in the closet.  Opposition research in politics has reached new heights and if a candidate believes their past misconduct will not be exposed, they are sadly mistaken.  Like the Bible says, 'your sin will find you out.'

Without any restraint in campaigns, candidates use old criminal records, DUIs, and past allegations of any type to gain support from voters.  Right here in the Sooner state, several bones fell out of the armoire.  A couple of revelations are concerning.  If the disclosures are true, these candidates has some explaining to do.  What is more concerning than a person having a skeleton is they are so stupid to think they could hide it.

Third, voters should pay attention to the source.  Mailers and TV ads paid for by dark money groups should be taken with a grain of salt.  Those special interest groups go to great lengths to caricature the opponent of their candidate's policy positions and values.  Because these dark money groups do not have to legally disclose donors, they enjoy anonymity candidates do not.    

Dark money needs accountability because secret election spending by wealthy special interests undermines voters' right to know who is trying to influence the elections. Without donor reporting, it is impossible to connect deep-pocketed donors to their political actions, leaving the political system vulnerable to corruption and foreign influence.

In the next two weeks, Oklahoma voters should do the following: (1) Vet the candidates.  Make sure their talk matches their walk.  It is not uncommon to uncover hypocrisy when voting records are checked.  For example: recent revelations in the governor's race have one GOP candidate who voted for the National Popular Vote while in the state Senate.  The NPV is a liberal scheme to undermine America.  That could be a deal breaker for many GOP voters.  (2) Know the difference between a skeleton and a ghost.  Just because a group broadcasts a salacious, scandalous secret from a candidate's past, it doesn't mean it is true.    

There are fifty plus Republicans on the primary ballot on June 16th- a record number.  Voters have their work cut out for them.  Vet the candidates!

Brevity shows respect for listener!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

by Steve Fair

Brevity is defined as the concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.  In Hamlet, William Shakespeare said, "Brevity is the soul of wit."  Getting straight to the point is not how most politicos communicate.  Three observations:

First, brevity and clarity show respect for the listener.  Having the ability to express profound or complex ideas using the fewest and most precise words ensures the main point remains the focal point.  Long-winded speakers over-explain, ramble, and cause listeners to lose focus and become frustrated.  Lacking situational awareness and not being able to pick up verbal or non-verbal cues, the verbose lose their audience and are often blind to how it happened.  Thomas Jefferson said, "Speeches measured by the hour die with the hour."

Second, concise is not the enemy of clarity.  Vagueness, complexity and insincerity are often the result of someone trying to bury what their views really are.  Cutting through the fluff so the core point stands out should be both a candidate and a voter's goal.  Voters shouldn't have to interrogate, quiz and cross examine a candidate to determine a position.

Third, politicians struggle with brevity.  Instead of preparing and having direct answers, candidates believe they must burn up every second of their allocated time.  They repeat themselves repeatedly, revealing a lack of preparedness.  True leaders will convey their policy positions honestly and clearly.  Voters shouldn't have to seek out a Code talker to translate what a candidate's stance is on issues.  Citizens should expect straight talk and not double-speak from true leaders.  In the next three weeks, candidates will be blitzing the electorate.  May they be brief, concise, and clear.

The model prayer is just 66 words.  Martin Luther said prayer should be 'short, but profound."  All of us should learn that example.

In the spirit of brevity, this week's column is about half the word count of normal.  Should practice what you preach.