SQ#832 would hurt the very ones it claims it would help!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial 

by Steve Fair

A group called Raise the Wage Oklahoma (RWO) gathered enough signatures to get State Question #832 (SQ#832) on the June 16th primary election ballot.  If SQ#832 were approved by voters, the measure would increase the minimum wage in Oklahoma to $9 immediately and to $15 by 2029.  The current minimum wage in the Sooner state is the same as the federal rate- $7.25 hourly.  Thirty U.S. states have raised the minimum wage above the federal rate the past three years.   

The United States federal minimum wage, was established by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in 1938, during the Great Depression, at two bits ($.25) an hour.  The objective was to ensure workers got a fair wage that would stimulate economic recovery.  FLSA also instituted a 44-hour work week and protected children from prematurely entering the workforce.  The minimum wage has been increased 22 times since its inception- the last time in 2009.   

Legislation is regularly proposed regarding raising the federal minimum wage- the latest was introduced in 2023. Three observations: 

First, one size does not fit all.  All employees are not the same.  Some are more productive than others.  When employers are mandated/required to pay all workers a minimum wage, it hurts their most productive workers.  When 'slugs' have to paid the same as 'eager beavers,' it's not fair to hard workers, resulting in an unfair division of labor.  Conscientious and dedicated workers have options and when not treated fairly by employers will leave.  Cream rises to the top.      

Second, everyone works for themselves.  Even enter level employees drawing minimum wage are ultimately responsible for their own career development, skills acquisition, and income generation.  Each worker is a solo entrepreneur of their career.  Loyalty in today’s labor marketplace is virtually non-existent.  The most productive workers have options and often go the highest bidder.  Today's employers treat their employees as expendable, resulting in high turnover and poor morale.  Employees should remember they are "solo entrepreneurs" of their own lives and allegiance is not valued as much as in the past. 

Third, consumers, not businesses pay the higher rate.  Businesses will pass the higher labor cost on in the form of price increases.  A higher minimum wage is not absorbed by businesses, because businesses are not sponges.  If they don't pass on their costs, then they go broke. 

Studies show increases in the minimum wage hurt small business more than large business.  Faced with the choice of reducing staff, increasing prices or accepting less profit, many small entities simply can't survive. 

A minimum wage hurts those workers just entering the workplace.  Most businesses track their labor costs as a percent of revenue.  Labor costs can account for as much as 70% of total business costs according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor costs, like any other commodity, should be set by supply and demand.  Creating an artificial, government mandated price floor goes against America's capitalist economic system. 

Oklahoma voters should vote no on SQ#832.  It will hurt the very ones it claims it would help.

Who will be the 'placeholder' in the U.S. Senate?

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

MUSICAL CHAIRS!

by Steve Fair

 

U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., was nominated to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security this week after President Donald Trump removed Secretary Kristi Noem.   The move follows bipartisan criticism of Noem’s leadership, including contentious congressional hearings and scrutiny over departmental spending and media campaigns.

Mullin accepted the nomination shortly after the president’s formal offer and now awaits U.S. Senate confirmation.  “I am super excited about this opportunity. It came — not as a complete surprise — but it came at a little bit of a surprise for us,” Mullin said on the steps of the Capitol shortly after Trump announced Noem’s ouster Thursday afternoon.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has 30 days after receiving Mullin's resignation to appoint a registered Republican to temporarily fill the seat after the senator leaves his post, but the appointee must sign an affidavit pledging to not run for a full term in November.   Many believe the restriction to prevent the appointee from running for a full term is illegal and would never stand up in court.  Oilman Harold Hamm has supposedly asked to fill the placeholder seat.  It remains to be seen who Stitt will appoint.   Three observations:

First, Mullin will follow Trump's orders.  Secretary Noem's poor judgment in policy and her personal life became a major distraction to Homeland's mission.  Removing her from the cabinet was a wise move.  Senator Mullin agrees with Trump's immigration policy and will carry out his directives without a hitch.  Mullin faces a Senate confirmation hearing, but it appears there is no organized effort to derail the nomination.  Senator Lindsey Graham, (R-SC) said about Mullin's nomination: "President Trump could not have chosen a better candidate to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security than Senator Markwayne Mullin."  With the GOP in control of the Senate, he should sail through the confirmation.

Second, the timeline for senate candidates is short.  Filing for federal, state and county offices is April 1-3.  The primary election is June 16th and the primary runoff August 25th.  Some claim a tight campaign schedule favors a grassroots candidate.  Others believe it favors a candidate who can self fund a high visibility advertising campaign.  Oklahoma 1st district Congressman Kevin Hern, (R-Tulsa) has indicated he is going to run for the full term.  Other potential candidates include Governor Kevin Stitt, Congressman Stephanie Brice, (R-OKC) and former State Senator and OKGOP Chair Nathan Dahm.  There is just 90 days until the primary.  Whomever decides to run will have to hit the ground running.  The race will be won in the GOP primary in June.  No Democrat has represented Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate in 30 plus years.

Third, Mullin's appointment creates a domino effect in Oklahoma.  If Congressman Hern or Brice run for the senate, a scramble to replace them in the House will draw multiple candidates.  Most likely state legislators would be among the aspirants for the Congressional seats, creating openings in their districts.  County elected officials would likely pitch their hat into the ring, creating openings for their offices. 

Musical chairs is a classic fast-paced game of elimination that tests reaction time and listening skills. Players march around a circle of chairs- numbering one less than the participants- while music plays.  When the music stops, everyone rushes to sit; the person left standing is eliminated, a chair is removed, and the game continues until one winner remains.  That is what is happening in Oklahoma politics. 

Cue The Laughing Policeman. 

ONLY THE DEAD HAVE SEEN THE END OF WAR!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

WAR!

by Steve Fair

 

The United States and Israel, launched a major, two-day military operation against Iran on Saturday February 28th.  The operation targeted nuclear and missile facilities.  Iran retaliated by launching missile attacks on U.S. military installations throughout the Middle East.  Three U.S. service members were reportedly killed and five others seriously wounded in the attacks.  Dubbed Operation Epic Fury by President Donald Trump , the stated objective is to eliminate remaining nuclear and missile capabilities.  The action comes after Iran has rejected several good-faith U.S. diplomatic negotiations and the regime's massacres of thousands of its own citizens during recent protests. 

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed in the attacks.  The Iranian government confirmed the supreme leader's death and announced 40 days of mourning.  Approximately 40 plus top Iranian leaders and officials were also killed.  During his 36-year rule, Khamenei was unwavering in his steadfast opposition to the U.S. and Israel and to any efforts to reform and bring Iran into the 21st century.  President Trump called Khamenei’s death “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country,” and urged Iranian citizens to seize the opportunity and take back their country.  Three observations:

First, the attacks are inconsistent with Trump's MAGA mantra.  Republicans largely rallied around the White House in the hours after the attack — insisting the time for debating U.S. intervention in Iran had passed and the GOP must unify behind the president. But many of the president’s “America First” allies questioned the wisdom of intervening in global conflicts.  One of the fundamental planks in Trump's campaign platform has been a non-interventionist stance against 'forever wars,' from previous administrations.  Some Trump supporters are criticizing for practicing what he pummels. 

Second, the strikes were launched without prior congressional authorization.  Article 1- Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war.  Throughout America's history, presidents have frequently circumvented the formal Article I by invoking their Article II authority as Commander in Chief to engage in military actions. While the Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to declare war, historical practice has shifted significant control over initiating armed conflict to the executive branch.  Following World War II, nearly all large-scale military conflicts—including Korea, Vietnam, and the second Iraq War—were conducted without a formal declaration of war.   

Top Congressional Democrats and Republicans that make up a group known as the Gang of Eight — party leaders from both chambers, as well as the Intelligence committees' leadership — were notified by Secretary of State Marco Rubio shortly before the attack.

Third, it remains to be seen if the attacks were a wise choice.  If the 92 million Iranian citizens embrace the opportunity and take control of their country, they could throw off the current political system and bring about reform.  But Iran's political system is built around the concept of a 'Marja al-Taqlid.'  That is a senior cleric who citizens turn to for religious guidance and legal rulings.  Until a replacement cleric is chosen, a 3-member council is in charge.  President Trump says that council is willing to talk with him.  Time will tell if they will dial down the extremism and allow for reform. 

U.S. consumers are already seeing the impact of the attacks at the pump.  Some predict gas prices could get to over $3 a gallon in the coming months.  Because of underinvestment and sanctions, Iran, which has 12% of the world's oil reserves, only accounts for 4% of global oil supply.  But it's not Iran's oil supply driving the price up- it's the instability in the Middle East.  Instability in the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world's oil travels through, is what could disrupt supply.

Since the 1930s, over half of the conflicts in the world have been disputes involving untapped oil reserves.  Oil-importing nations (the US is second behind China) tend to get involved to protect energy interests.  No matter the stated reason, countries go to war to protect their economic interests.

Philosopher George Santayana said, "Only the dead have seen the end of war."