Weekly Opinion/Editorial
THINGS COULD GET WORSE!by Steve Fair
Wednesday is the last day to file for elective office in Oklahoma. Over six hundred people statewide are expected to ‘throw their hat in the ring.’ Oklahomans will elect a U.S. Senator, Governor, Lt. Governor and seven other statewide officials. Party primaries will be held Tuesday July 27th. The general election will be Tuesday November 2nd. Five of the statewide offices are ‘open’ seats, meaning there is no incumbent, which creates a free for all in primaries. Currently Democrats hold eight of the eleven statewide offices. Just eight years ago, Republicans had eight of the eleven statewide offices, but voters took them away in 2004 & 2006 and gave them to the Dems. The GOP is expected to do well in November and pick up most of the statewide offices as well as seats in the legislature.
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The reason someone runs for office varies- from being committed to making a difference in their community to pure ego- but their path to election will be the same. All candidates have to face the voters and I know from experience, that is a humbling process. Voters are a fickle lot- they can love you one election and hate you the next.
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A candidate might have a more logical, common sense message, but his opponent has a better marketing campaign, and often, the more shallow campaign wins. Why? Because the average voter is not paying attention to the issues and base their decision on how they cast their vote solely on personality and fluff.
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Kenneth J. Levine, a professor at the University of Tennessee, says, “There are three influential factors in the voter decision-making process- personal identity, personal ethics, and personal benefit.” Levine is stating people vote for selfish reasons- to benefit themselves. That is probably accurate, but fundamentally, voters need to take their responsibility seriously in 2010.
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Voters should study the issues, know the candidates, attend debates, and meet and greets. They should ask candidates hard questions. Candidates unwilling to face the scrutiny or questions from voters shouldn’t be elected- no matter their party affiliation, personality or ethics. Candidates that ‘dodge’ the average voter and run big budget/detached campaigns financed by a few are sending the message they are selfish, self-centered, inaccessible elitists. As fellow blogger Mike McCarville http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/ says, “follow the money.” Any candidate who conducts their campaign in the above-described manner has either sold their soul or has the wrong motive for running and is not worthy to hold office.
*****
The reason someone runs for office varies- from being committed to making a difference in their community to pure ego- but their path to election will be the same. All candidates have to face the voters and I know from experience, that is a humbling process. Voters are a fickle lot- they can love you one election and hate you the next.
*****
A candidate might have a more logical, common sense message, but his opponent has a better marketing campaign, and often, the more shallow campaign wins. Why? Because the average voter is not paying attention to the issues and base their decision on how they cast their vote solely on personality and fluff.
*****
Kenneth J. Levine, a professor at the University of Tennessee, says, “There are three influential factors in the voter decision-making process- personal identity, personal ethics, and personal benefit.” Levine is stating people vote for selfish reasons- to benefit themselves. That is probably accurate, but fundamentally, voters need to take their responsibility seriously in 2010.
*****
Voters should study the issues, know the candidates, attend debates, and meet and greets. They should ask candidates hard questions. Candidates unwilling to face the scrutiny or questions from voters shouldn’t be elected- no matter their party affiliation, personality or ethics. Candidates that ‘dodge’ the average voter and run big budget/detached campaigns financed by a few are sending the message they are selfish, self-centered, inaccessible elitists. As fellow blogger Mike McCarville http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/ says, “follow the money.” Any candidate who conducts their campaign in the above-described manner has either sold their soul or has the wrong motive for running and is not worthy to hold office.
*****
Candidates should be educators- explaining to voters what the duties and responsibilities of the office and the issues they will face if elected. They should be transparent and accessible. They should be willing to explain why they are running as a Republican or Democrat. Is their party affiliation for convenience or conviction? Do they believe the tenets in their party platform and if not, then why are they running on that ticket? Those are fair questions and ones that deserve answers. Candidates- from both parties- should know the position their party takes on major issues and be prepared to face questions on whether they agree or disagree with that stance.
*****
When a local Democrat elected official in Oklahoma states, “I am a Democrat, but I don’t believe what the Democrats stand for,” then ask them ‘why are you a Democrat?’ It’s a fair question and one any honest candidate should be ready to answer.
*****
As we enter election season, voters should use the following criteria to evaluate candidates (1) Which candidate is best aligned with my personal values/views? This includes Party affiliation and personal political philosophy. (2) Which candidate will best fulfill the duties of the office? Often times, the best candidate is not the best ‘marketed’ candidate. (3) Which candidate best understands the issues/challenges facing the office and can effectively do the job? Some people can point out the problems, but can’t provide or execute solutions.
*****
Democrats have done a terrible job leading our nation/state. From Obamacare to out of control spending, America is in real trouble. The fundamental problem is that Democrats have attempted to make us all equal. Alexis de Tochqueville said in 1835, “ Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.” We can ill afford to continue moving in a direction that will make things worse than they are.
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Jeane (Duane) Jordan Kirkpatrick was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, the daughter of an oilman, Welcher Jordan and his wife Leona. She went to Emerson Elementary and then the family moved to Illinois. Kirkpatrick went on to become a member of President Reagan’s cabinet and the first woman to be United State Ambassador to the United Nations. Kirkpatrick once said, “Democrats can’t get elected unless things get worse-and things won’t get worse unless they get elected.”
Candidates should be educators- explaining to voters what the duties and responsibilities of the office and the issues they will face if elected. They should be transparent and accessible. They should be willing to explain why they are running as a Republican or Democrat. Is their party affiliation for convenience or conviction? Do they believe the tenets in their party platform and if not, then why are they running on that ticket? Those are fair questions and ones that deserve answers. Candidates- from both parties- should know the position their party takes on major issues and be prepared to face questions on whether they agree or disagree with that stance.
*****
When a local Democrat elected official in Oklahoma states, “I am a Democrat, but I don’t believe what the Democrats stand for,” then ask them ‘why are you a Democrat?’ It’s a fair question and one any honest candidate should be ready to answer.
*****
As we enter election season, voters should use the following criteria to evaluate candidates (1) Which candidate is best aligned with my personal values/views? This includes Party affiliation and personal political philosophy. (2) Which candidate will best fulfill the duties of the office? Often times, the best candidate is not the best ‘marketed’ candidate. (3) Which candidate best understands the issues/challenges facing the office and can effectively do the job? Some people can point out the problems, but can’t provide or execute solutions.
*****
Democrats have done a terrible job leading our nation/state. From Obamacare to out of control spending, America is in real trouble. The fundamental problem is that Democrats have attempted to make us all equal. Alexis de Tochqueville said in 1835, “ Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.” We can ill afford to continue moving in a direction that will make things worse than they are.
*****
Jeane (Duane) Jordan Kirkpatrick was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, the daughter of an oilman, Welcher Jordan and his wife Leona. She went to Emerson Elementary and then the family moved to Illinois. Kirkpatrick went on to become a member of President Reagan’s cabinet and the first woman to be United State Ambassador to the United Nations. Kirkpatrick once said, “Democrats can’t get elected unless things get worse-and things won’t get worse unless they get elected.”
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