SANDERS IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM- BUT HAS THE WRONG SOLUTION!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

ROBIN WAS A THIEF!

by Steve Fair

 

Democratic Socialism is a political and economic system that combines a democratic secular government with a worker-owned economy.  Those who subscribe to Democratic Socialism want to replace America's capitalism economic system with a system based on human need rather than private profit.  Democratic Socialism is just  a half click away from communism. 

Both system critique capitalism and seek economic equality, but they differ fundamentally on governance and methods. Democratic socialism combines a socially oriented economy with multi-party, political democracy and civil liberties. Communism, is historically rooted in Marxism/Leninism.  Communism envisions a classless, stateless society where all property and the means of production are commonly owned and run by a single party. 

Prominent self-identified Democrat Socialists currently in Congress include House Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib, (D-MI) alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, (D-VT) in the Senate.  All three members caucus with the Democrats. 

In recent Democrat primaries, Democratic Socialist and left-wing candidates have secured notable primary victories by defeating long-serving incumbents in safe Democratic congressional and state legislative districts.   Socialism is now mainstream inside the Democratic Party.  According to a recent Washington Post poll, 75% of registered Democrats said they would be open to a Democrat Socialist for president.  The same poll showed 55% of all voters wouldn't.  A Fox News poll found 52% of Democrats view socialism favorably.  Among young adults (ages 18-34), nearly half hold a favorable view of socialism.  That is mainly driven by economic pessimism, high living costs, and a rejection of traditional establishment politics.  Three observations:

First, Uncle Bernie Sanders correctly identified the problem.  U.S. income and wealth inequality is at historic highs.  Federal Reserve data shows the top 1% of the population in America control 31% of the nation's wealth.  That top 1% has more wealth than the bottom 90% combined.  A Pew Research poll revealed the percentage of adults in 'middle-income households' fell from 61% in 1971 to less than 50% last year.  America's middle class is shrinking. A large portion of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. But while Bernie got the diagnosis right, his treatment is way off. 

Second, government is not the solution.  Sanders and the liberals seek to take from the rich and give to the poor.  They want government to regulate more by forcing private businesses to pay higher wages to their employees, force landlords to lower rent, and cap profits for businesses.  Excessive government regulation, or red tape will lower productivity by forcing businesses to divert time, money, and labor away from core output and innovation toward mandatory compliance tasks.  Government deregulation is the solution.  Removing roadblocks will spur growth and personal incentive. 

Third, Republicans are losing the battle for the minds of America's youth.  Historically the GOP championed the philosophy of limited government, lower taxes, and reduced federal intervention in the economy.  But Republicans have deficit spent and over regulated just like the Democrats.  Young people see little to no difference between a capitalist and a socialist.  They don't understand that nothing is free and that someone is always paying the bill.  That's the result of overregulation and government overreach- ignorance and cynicism.  Who can blame the youth when people act only out of self-interest?  The logical conclusion is pessimism and distrust of those in control. 

Robin Hood stole from the rich and gave to the poor.  Robin justified his actions as righting what he perceived as wrongs.  He once said, "Rob? That's a naughty word, we never rob!  We just sort of... borrow a bit from those who can afford it."  

That is the goal of socialism- take hard working people's money to give to those who will not work.  But no matter how he spun it- Robin was still a thief!

SIRLOIN STOCKADE MURDERER UP FOR PAROLE!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

DENY PAROLE TO STAFFORD!

by Steve Fair

On July 16, 1978, three teenagers and two male adults were murdered at a Sirloin Stockade restaurant in south Oklahoma City.  The victims ranged in age from 15-56 years old.  Six days after the murders Harold Stafford died in a motorcycle wreck in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Harold's sister-in-law, Verna Stafford went to view his body in Chicago and police arrested her as a suspect in the Sirloin Stockade killings.  She implicated her husband Roger Dale Stafford in those murders and a total of 29 other killings in seven different states.

On October 17, 1979, Roger Dale Stafford was convicted of nine murders, and sentenced to death.  His wife Verna was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and given two life sentences.  Verna testified against her husband, and later divorced him while he was on death row. Roger Dale Stafford was executed by lethal injection July 1, 1995.  Stafford never acknowledged his guilt.

In an eerie twist, two weeks later, the AG's office received a $5 Sirloin Stockade gift certificate, purchased in El Reno, with the message "Hey, you got away with it. I am murdered and you helped do it! I am innocent and you know it" written on the back and signed "Roger Dale Stafford 103767". Investigators determined it had been mailed from McAlester, Oklahoma (where Stafford was imprisoned), on July 3, two days after Stafford's execution. 

This week, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board said Verna Stafford, who is now 73, has passed stage one of the parole process in June, meaning she could be one step closer to getting out on parole.  Verna will go to a second round of parole hearings next week.

Oklahoma State Senate President pro tempore Lonnie Paxton, (R-Tuttle) opposes Verna receiving parole.  In a letter sent to the state Pardon and Parole Board Paxton wrote: "There are no conditions, circumstances or arguments that can justify recommending her release. The Pardon and Parole Board should remember the victims, remember their families and vote accordingly.”   Sen. Paxton is right- Verna Stafford should remain in jail and here is why:

First, the heinous nature of the crime.  Even 48 years after the murders were committed, Oklahomans remember the cruel, senseless nature of the crime.  Verna's participation- active or passive- is undisputed.  Justice is not served when criminals get released.  The victim's families have been deprived of their loved ones for almost half a century.  They deserve justice. 

Second, there is no guarantee Verna is not a danger to society.  Criminals can be rehabilitated, but success depends on dealing with the root cause of bad behavior.  The secular approach is to deal with their substance abuse, mental illness, lack of education, and job skills.  Ignoring the real root cause- man's inherit sin nature- results in secular solutions to spiritual problems.  Until God does a work of grace in a heart, rehabilitation is nothing more than behavior modification. 

Third, there are consequences for actions.  Verna was captured in January 1979 and has been continuously incarcerated since March 1980- 46 years.  She was sentenced to two life sentences.  Has Verna paid her debt to society?  The answer is NO!  She should complete her original sentence.  Every choice a person makes sets off a chain reaction, creating results that can be good or bad, fast or slow. What Verna did shaped her future.  It affected others and she should be held responsible for the outcome.

Contact the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board at (405) 521-6600 or email them at Boardmembers@ppb.ok.gov.  Urge them to deny parole for Verna Stafford.

"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls." Al Gore

 Weekly Opinion Editorial 

by Steve Fair

 

On August 25th, Oklahoma Republican voters will choose the Party's nominee in four races: Governor, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Labor Commissioner and Insurance Commissioner.  Last week, we looked at the races for Governor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction.  This week, we will look at the other two races- Labor Commissioner and Insurance Commissioner. 

Labor Commissioner.  Only four states elect a Labor Commissioner through a statewide vote.  Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon and Oklahoma.  In the other 46 states, it is a gubernatorial appointment.  There has been a movement for the Oklahoma governor to appoint, but that would require a vote of the people to amend the State Constitution.    

Oklahoma's Labor Commissioner is responsible for supervising the administration of all state laws relating to labor and workplace safety and gathers and publishes information about the workforce of Oklahoma.

Four candidates ran for the GOP nomination for Labor Commissioner.  No candidate received a majority of the vote in the June primary, so the top two advanced to the August runoff.  Rep. Kevin West has represented House District 54 (south OKC/Moore) since 2016.  West received 41.8% of the vote in the primary.  His opponent is Rep. John Pfeiffer who has represented House District 38 (Grant, Garfield, Kay, Logan and Noble counties) since 2014.  He received 35.3% of the vote.

The two candidates have similar backgrounds- both served in the State House (the legislature, not prison) at the same time.  This race has been mostly civil, but recent mailers have the candidates accusing the other of being a 'radical,' (whatever that means). 

In this race, voters have a unique opportunity:  They can simply compare how the two candidates voted on key legislation and then vote for the one who aligns with their views/values. 

Insurance Commissioner.  Eleven states elect an insurance commissioner.  In the other 39 states, the position is a gubernational appointment.  Like the Labor Commissioner, to make the Insurance Commissioner an appointed position would require a vote of the people. 

The Insurance Commissioner enforces state insurance laws, regulates thousands of insurance companies, licenses insurance professionals, and protects consumers by investigating complaints and ensuring market fairness.  The agency has an annual budget of $35 million and has 12 divisions, and about 120 employees.

Four candidates ran for the GOP nomination for Insurance Commissioner.  No candidate received a majority of the vote in the primary, so the top two advanced to the runoff. 

Bob Sullivan received 37.4% of the vote in the primary, with former State Senator Marty Quinn got 27.7%.  Sullivan, from Inola, has been an independent insurance agent for twenty years.  Quinn has spent 40 years in the insurance agency, in addition to serving in the state legislature for 16 years, representing Rogers County. 

The two candidates agree Oklahomans are paying too much for insurance, but disagree on how to handle it.  Sullivan agrees with AG Drummond's lawsuit against State Farm and Allstate.  At a candidate forum, Sullivan suggested jail time for insurance executives.  Quinn said that wasn't the answer and those who suggested it were sensationalizing the issue.  He pointed out insurance companies pass on lawsuit costs to their customers in the form of rate hikes. 

The incoming Insurance Commissioner will wield more power over rate hikes than their predecessor.  House Bill 3781 was passed by the legislature this year and takes effect July 1, 2027.  It will empower the next insurance commissioner to challenge excessive rates.

Quinn recognizes the balance needed for insurance providers to make a profit in the state and for Oklahomans to not get fleeced by the insurance companies.  Trying to force business to lose money by suing them will result in their abandoning the market, resulting in less options for Oklahoma consumers.  In this race, Marty Quinn is the clear choice.

Primary runoffs are notoriously famous for low voter turnout.  Former Vice President All Gore was right when he said: "A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."  Don't be that guy!  Do your homework and vote in the primary runoff August 25th!