Weekly Opinion Editorial
PUT UP OR SHUT UP!by Steve Fair
On Monday February 6th, Oklahoma Republicans will hold precinct meetings across the state. Precinct meetings start the process for the selection of delegates to the various Republican conventions this year-county, district, state, and national. At the precinct meetings, participants will vote on how their delegation will be seated at their county convention- either as an open or closed. They will also discuss how they can build their precinct organization, get out the vote in elections and submit platform resolutions to be considered at the county convention.
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The purpose of the County GOP Convention is to determine how the county delegation will be seated at the 4th district GOP convention on April 21st in Pauls Valley and at the State GOP convention May 12th in Norman. Delegates to the county convention will consider platform resolutions from the precinct meetings and select representatives for the Rules and Credentials committees for the district and state conventions. Delegates will also select two representatives to serve on the state Platform committee for the state convention. The Republican Party considers a State & National Platform every four years.
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The state and national Republican platforms start with resolutions passed at the precinct level. In the past eight years, several resolutions from Stephens County have made it into the state GOP platform and two have made it into the national Republican platform.
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The purpose of the district convention is to elect three national delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Oklahoma has 43 national delegates in 2012. Fifteen will be chosen at district level and twenty five additional delegates will be elected at the state convention. The three members of the Republican National Committee are automatically national delegates.
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These are busy times we live in, but it’s critical that more people start paying attention to what is going on in their government. Here are three reasons registered Republicans in Oklahoma should attend their precinct meetings/county conventions in 2012:
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First, it’s time to put up or shut up! I realize that sounds harsh, but this is your wake up call. There are a lot of people who want to complain about what is wrong with politics and our government, but are unwilling to make the long term commitment to changing America. If they don’t engage this year, it may be too late next year. With our economy in shambles and the two major parties solution to the problems completely opposite, it’s time to stop talking and get involved. If conservatives want change, they better take it to the next level by not just voting, but by becoming educated on the political process and the issues. That means spending some time at political events and becoming engaged in the process.
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Second, lasting change always comes from the grassroots. The reason America is in this mess is because Americans for years have based their voting decisions on some talking head’s opinion or a slick TV ad and not on the facts. Until Americans start taking equity in their government all the time, we will get what we deserve. If people paid attention to what is going on all the time, the effectiveness of misleading ads and spin doctors would be negated. Wide-spread involvement would take money out of the political process. It will force an elected official to pay more attention to their local constituency and less attention to special interests.
*****
Third, getting engaged in your government is not an option for citizens- it is mandatory! If we are to expect America to survive, you can’t just show up and vote- you have to educate yourselves on what the vote is about. You have to vote with your head and not your heart. You have to study the issues and find out where candidates stand on those issues. You have to hold elected officials accountable when they veer off the reservation.
*****
The process starts at the local level. Everyone is aware of who is running for President, but few pay attention to municipal and school board races? Those local elected officials make decisions that impact your everyday life often more than the President, yet few people participate in the local process.
*****
A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. The precinct meetings are the first step on your changing America journey. If you will not get involved for yourself, do it for your kids and grandkids
*****
The purpose of the County GOP Convention is to determine how the county delegation will be seated at the 4th district GOP convention on April 21st in Pauls Valley and at the State GOP convention May 12th in Norman. Delegates to the county convention will consider platform resolutions from the precinct meetings and select representatives for the Rules and Credentials committees for the district and state conventions. Delegates will also select two representatives to serve on the state Platform committee for the state convention. The Republican Party considers a State & National Platform every four years.
*****
The state and national Republican platforms start with resolutions passed at the precinct level. In the past eight years, several resolutions from Stephens County have made it into the state GOP platform and two have made it into the national Republican platform.
*****
The purpose of the district convention is to elect three national delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Oklahoma has 43 national delegates in 2012. Fifteen will be chosen at district level and twenty five additional delegates will be elected at the state convention. The three members of the Republican National Committee are automatically national delegates.
*****
These are busy times we live in, but it’s critical that more people start paying attention to what is going on in their government. Here are three reasons registered Republicans in Oklahoma should attend their precinct meetings/county conventions in 2012:
*****
First, it’s time to put up or shut up! I realize that sounds harsh, but this is your wake up call. There are a lot of people who want to complain about what is wrong with politics and our government, but are unwilling to make the long term commitment to changing America. If they don’t engage this year, it may be too late next year. With our economy in shambles and the two major parties solution to the problems completely opposite, it’s time to stop talking and get involved. If conservatives want change, they better take it to the next level by not just voting, but by becoming educated on the political process and the issues. That means spending some time at political events and becoming engaged in the process.
*****
Second, lasting change always comes from the grassroots. The reason America is in this mess is because Americans for years have based their voting decisions on some talking head’s opinion or a slick TV ad and not on the facts. Until Americans start taking equity in their government all the time, we will get what we deserve. If people paid attention to what is going on all the time, the effectiveness of misleading ads and spin doctors would be negated. Wide-spread involvement would take money out of the political process. It will force an elected official to pay more attention to their local constituency and less attention to special interests.
*****
Third, getting engaged in your government is not an option for citizens- it is mandatory! If we are to expect America to survive, you can’t just show up and vote- you have to educate yourselves on what the vote is about. You have to vote with your head and not your heart. You have to study the issues and find out where candidates stand on those issues. You have to hold elected officials accountable when they veer off the reservation.
*****
The process starts at the local level. Everyone is aware of who is running for President, but few pay attention to municipal and school board races? Those local elected officials make decisions that impact your everyday life often more than the President, yet few people participate in the local process.
*****
A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. The precinct meetings are the first step on your changing America journey. If you will not get involved for yourself, do it for your kids and grandkids
*****
In many rural counties across the state, the precinct meetings and county conventions are combined for convenience. That is the case in Stephens County. On Monday February 6th, the Stephens County GOP will meet in the Stephens County Fairgrounds Territory Room at 7pm. After a brief opening, precinct meetings will convene. After the precinct business is conducted, there will be a short break and then we will reconvene for our County Convention.
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For information on the location of your precinct meetings and county conventions to go http://www.okgop.com/ or call 405.528.3501.
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