GOP MUST BECOME RELEVENT ALL THE TIME- AT EVERY LEVEL!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

10 LESSONS FROM THE ELECTION

by Steve Fair

     It appears last week’s presidential election results didn’t turn out like most Oklahomans wanted.  President Trump appears to have lost to former Vice President Biden, but in Oklahoma two thirds of the voters choose Trump.  Ten lessons from the 2020 presidential election:

(1)    Democrats have a history of cheating.  Starting with the 1960 presidential election(Kennedy vs. Nixon), Democrats seem to wait until the election results are almost in and then ‘discover’ more ballots for their candidate.  It always happens in large urban areas under Democrat control.   This year, it was Philadelphia, Detroit and Atlanta.  In 1960, it was Chicago.  The U.S. Constitution says STATES conduct their election for president and report their results to Congress.  It is past time for STANDARDIZED rules across all 50 states for the presidential race.  When Oklahoma- and most other states- can report their results in 2 hours and it takes some states 2 weeks, it’s clear some shenanigans are going on.

(2)    Trump should have let Biden talk at the first debate.  If the strategy was to rattle the former VP at the first debate, it didn’t work.   Biden is not a strong public speaker.  He gets confused and he makes mistakes.  Think of the material that could have been gleaned from Biden’s own words on a radical agenda if he would have been allowed to talk?  Trump missed an opportunity.

(3)    Conservative principles and ‘the cause’ are bigger than one person.  Trump is a cult of personality and his policies did advance many conservative causes, but the movement should be more than one person.  Time will tell if Trump supports believe in the cause?  Ron Paul was a cult of personality and some of his followers have stayed ‘hooked up,’ but the vast majority gave up political involvement.  In our ‘instant gratification’ culture, most will not stay with politics.  The payoff isn’t quick enough.

(4)    Confidence in the integrity of an election is fundamental.  Without honesty and integrity in the election process, we don’t have a country.  This is probably the single most disturbing lesson from the election.  When a major Party will send out unsolicited ballots and not verify who is sending them back in, then how can you trust anything they say or do?  The Democrats have advocated for same day registration.  They oppose voter ID.  Why?  Because they know that many of their voter base are illegal and not eligible to vote.

(5)    President Trump’s re-election strategy was wrong.  Those large rallies fired up his troops, but it also fired up the opposition.  Voters were voting for Trump or against Trump.  Few were rabid Biden fans.  A stealth campaign targeting voters wouldn’t have awakened the anti-Trump crowd.  Pappy O’Daniel’s  ‘mass communicating’ didn’t work.  It would have been difficult with a pandemic underway, but local Republican candidates did it.

(6)    Lack of faithful engagement in the political process by the vast majority is why we are where we are.  The vast majority of voters in America are low information voters.  That has to change if America is to be changed.  People have to pay attention all the time- even on off election years.  Putting a Trump flag on your car or truck and participating in a Trump Train shows support, but staying engaged in the political process- particularly at the local level- will result in a longer lasting impact.  

(7)    Allow those who invested in the campaign time to mourn.  Monday morning arm chair political observers who have never put up a political sign or knocked a door telling longtime political activists to accept the results is irritating.    It’s inappropriate.  These so-called experts now tell people who have invested time, talent and treasure in a cause are supposed to simply accept the results with a smile?  Few can do that, even if they do believe God sets up kings and is in control.

(8)    The Republican Party needs a reboot.  President Trump is not a traditional candidate or president.    Many of his supporters are Trumpers first and Republicans second.  It remains to be seen who will take up that mantel?  The GOP could be more divided than ever.  Those who want leaders who are more traditional and those who like the Trump style.  Bear in mind that under President Trump the national debt increased to 27 trillion dollars.  He didn’t reduce the size of government.  That is an important issue to most traditional Republicans  The Republican Party- at all levels-needs to find a way to be relevant ALL THE TIME, not just on election years.  That requires hard work and dedication that few are willing to take up.  We should be engaged in school board and city council races and policy, not just statewide and federal races.  That takes leaders who are willing to do more than take selfies with elected officials and make speeches.  It takes leaders who will get in the trenches with the troops and lead by example. 

(9)    Democrats will move the U.S. further left?  Biden has already said he would rescind Trump’s executive orders on immigration and the Keystone pipeline.  Get ready to pay higher taxes and higher gasoline prices.  Socialism is on the move.  If you don’t believe it, read Biden’s acceptance speech.  If the Democrats get both chambers of Congress, they will push through a radical agenda on the environment that will make Obama Care look like child’s play.

(10)God wasn’t taken by surprise at the election results.  He sets up kings and brings them down.  All authority comes from Him.  Believers need to recognize He will give us what we need- even if it’s a good starving.   If a lesson is to learned from this election, it is that no matter how hard you work, sometimes God doesn’t give you what you want.  The good news is what He gives us works out for our good.  Jeremy Fair (my son) preached a sermon on Sunday November 8^th every American believer should listen to.  The link is for the whole service.  Jeremy’s sermon starts at 30:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bo8Me_z4lM&t=1818s

Four Examples from Scripture of positions on politics!

 WHAT SHOULD A CHRISTIAN'S POSITION BE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA?

Last week, Jeremy Fair(full disclosure- he is my son), pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma delivered a sermon that every American Christian should listen to.  The link below is of the entire Sunday morning service.  If you want to listen to just the sermon, go the the 32 minute mark.

Steve

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsYLvG-Acdk

Misbehavior of believers in political arena not a good testimony!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

THEY’LL KNOW BY YOUR FACEBOOK POST

by Steve Fair

 

    Last week, John Piper, a prominent evangelic pastor and author of Desiring God, wrote that he couldn’t vote for President Trump or Vice President Joe Biden.  Piper wrote Trump’s “Flagrant boastfulness, vulgarity, immorality and factiousness are not only self-incriminating; they are nation-corrupting.” Piper wrote he could not support Vice President Biden because of his support of, “baby killing, sex-switching, and socialistic overreach, so it appears he will not vote this election.  Several Christian leaders disagreed with Piper including his longtime friend, Wayne Grudem.  Grudem wrote Biden and the Democrats would pass laws that infringe on religious liberty and the sanctity of life.  He said millions of Americans agree Trump’s behavior is sometimes over the top, but have chosen not to imitate it.  “Piper’s argument fails to recognize that people can decide not to imitate the sins of a leader, but they cannot do that with laws,” Grudem wrote. “Laws require obedience.”   

    Another long time Piper friend, best-selling author and OKC pastor Sam Storms, says sin is most often hidden and discerning character is not always easy.  “Bad character, destructive character, does not always manifest itself in bombastic speech and overt arrogance,” Storms wrote.  “A person can be soft-spoken, courteous, and guarded in their speech while at the same time be as wicked and dangerous as the loud-mouthed jerk.”  Three points:

     First, sitting an election out is a cop-out.  That’s not leadership.  Until Jesus Christ is on the ballot, voters are always be choosing between two flawed candidates.  Piper has a right to not participate in the political process, but that attitude by prominent Christian leaders is not being ‘salt and light’ to a lost and dying world.  It is a reason America is in the shape it is in.  Piper is an effective gospel preacher who has not historically engaged in the political arena.  In 2008, when the GOP national convention was in Minneapolis, my wife and I attended Bethlehem Baptist on Saturday and listened to Piper preach.  I spoke with him after the services and he wished me well, but said politics was of little interest to him.  Perhaps Piper should have paid more attention and encouraged his congregates to participate more in the political process.   

        Second, no matter who wins this week, God will still be in control.  He was in control in eternity past and He has eternity future firmly in hand.  The scripture says a sovereign God ‘ordains’ civil authorities.  Sometimes we don’t like His choices, but believers can’t lose, no matter who wins.  That doesn’t relieve believers of their responsibility to be good citizens, be involved in the process, and stand for God’s principles.  Believers keeping politics at arm’s length has gotten us to the place we are.  God uses human instrumentality and conceding the political arena by believers was and is a mistake.

     Third, believers in the political arena should behave like believers.  Many quote scripture and spout church lingo, but lie, cheat and steal to win an election.  They post insulting remarks and engage in name calling on social media.  They justify the misbehavior by saying the other side does it.  Two wrongs don’t make a right.  The inconsistency in their lives makes you wonder about their spiritual condition.  There is no love toward their fellow man.

     In 1962, Peter Scholtes wrote a well known hymn titled, ”They’ll know we are Christians by our Love.”  Scholtes was inspired by Christ’s words in John 13:35.  In today’s America, they’ll know whether you are a Christian-or not- by your Facebook or Twitter post.    

   WIN OR LOSE ON TUESDAY!  GET ENGAGED AND STAY ENGAGED IN THE POLITICAL ARENA!

BIDEN TELLS SOME TALL TALES AT DEBATE!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

CHUMPS FOR TRUMP!

by Steve Fair

     "I represent all of you, whether you voted for me or against me. And I'm going to make sure you're represented," former Vice President Biden said when asked during the presidential debate on Thursday what he would say during his inaugural address to Americans who did not vote for him.  That’s the way it should be.  Elected officials should work to represent all their constituents, not just those who voted for them or those who donated to their campaign.  Biden’s answer to the question was statesmanlike, but he clearly didn’t mean it. 

     On Saturday during a drive-in rally in Pennsylvania, the former VP said, “We don’t do things like those ‘chumps’ out there with the microphones, those Trump guys.”  He was referring to a large group of Trump supporters who were in a nearby parking lot flying ‘Trump’ flags and honking their horns to attempt to disrupt Biden’s rally.  Chump is defined as a person who is easily tricked: a stupid or foolish person.  Biden calling Trump supporters, ‘chumps,’ continues a long line of derogatory names Democrats have given their opponent’s backers.  In 2016, Hillary Clinton called Trump supporters ‘a basket of deplorables.’  In 2008, President Obama said voters(conservative Democrats) in old industrial towns decimated by job losses were ‘bitter, and cling to guns and religion.’

     Biden’s statement of representing all Americans when elected was disingenuous.  It was one of several false statements he made at the debate.  Let’s look at three others:

     Falsehood #1: “I never said I oppose fracking,” Biden said.  But he did.  At several of the Democratic primary debates he said that very thing.  “We would make sure it’s(fracking) eliminated and no more subsidies for any fossil fuel,” Biden said.  Fracking is the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks, boreholes, etc. so as to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas.  It has allowed oil and gas companies to dramatically increase production and resulted in the United States becoming energy independent.  Critics claim fracking can destroy drinking water supplies, pollute the air, contribute to the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, and trigger earthquakes.  Biden’s environmental policy statements on his website clearly oppose fracking.  He knows taking a public stand will cost him votes. 

     Falsehood #2: “They did not lose their insurance unless they chose [that] they wanted to go to something else,” Biden said.  But that’s not true.  4.7 million Americans immediately lost their insurance when the Affordable Care Act became law because their carrier discontinued their health plan.  The discontinued plans were not allowed under the ACA because they didn’t meet the minimum coverage.  They had no choice in the matter.  They lost their coverage. 

     Falsehood #3: “There is no evidence that when you raise the minimum wage, businesses go out of business. That is simply not true,” Biden said. But it is true.  A Harvard business study examined the impact of a one dollar increase in the federal minimum wage and found it would lead to a 14% increase in the likelihood a local restaurant closing.  The study found it hurt small businesses much more than larger chain operations.  Biden is a career politician and doesn’t understand simple economics.  Any expense incurred by a business is ultimately passed on to the consumer.  Taxes and mandated wage increases result in price increases.  Businesses don’t pay taxes and wages- consumers do. 

     When asked at the debate what he would say during his second inaugural address to Americans who did not vote for him, President Trump said, “Success is going to bring us together. We are on the road to success."  Sounds a little like, ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ 

Who was responsible for holding Epic accountable?

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

EPIC IS AN EPIC FAILURE!

by Steve Fair

     The largest public-school system in Oklahoma is an on-line virtual school model.  Epic Charter Schools is fully accredited by the state of Oklahoma.  According to their website: “Epic Charter Schools combines the convenience of online learning with the support of one-on-one instruction from an Oklahoma certified teacher. This blended learning model allows students and families to set their own pace with the guidance and instruction from an Epic Charter Schools teacher who meets with them face-to-face as needed.”  Epic reportedly has over 40,00 students across Oklahoma and a staff of over 2,000.  Epic is a for profit school management company that does business across the nation running charter schools.  Epic receives about $90 million annually from Oklahoma taxpayers to provide education for the students enrolled in the charter school.  It is governed by a five(5) member board of education that conduct monthly meetings. 

     The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation(OSBI) began an investigation after it was reported Epic was using taxpayer’s dollars to pay for students’ extracurricular expenses and reporting them to the state as ‘instructional.’  In July, Governor Kevin Stitt ordered Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd to conduct a forensic audit of Epic.  Byrd found that about 1 in 4 taxpayer dollars Epic received as a public school went to the co-founder’s for-profit company.  She also found Epic exceeded the 5% maximum for administrative fees for school districts and used some Oklahoma taxpayer monies for a school in California.  Byrd estimated Epic owes the state $11 million dollars. 

     Epic Charter Schools Superintendent Bart Banfield said, "It's no secret we dispute some of the findings and have requested through an open records request the Auditor’s work papers to review their calculations so we can go beyond our initial audit response to exercise our due process and debunk these calculations.”  Last Monday, the state board of Education met to discuss the audit and voted unanimously to demand Epic repay $11 million within 60 days. 

 

    The OSBI affidavit alleges Epic’s co-founders, Ben Harris and David Chaney, illegally pocketed $10 million over five years by enrolling so-called “ghost students.” They alleged recruited private school and home school students so Epic could receive the per-pupil funding each public school receives. Rather than participating in Epic classes, the “ghost students” continued with traditional homeschooling and private education and received little to no instruction from Epic. OSBI also claims teachers allegedly received bonuses for keeping “ghost students” enrolled. The warrant also says parents were incentivized by Epic’s Learning Fund, from which parents would receive between $800 and $1,000 per child to be used for extracurricular activities of their choice.

 

      Clearly, there should have been more accountability and oversight of Epic?  Board members at Epic- Oklahoma, Oklahoma state education board members, and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction must all shoulder some of the responsibility for Epic’s misconduct.  The largest school district in the state should not be able to misuse 25% of the tax money they receive and it not be detected.  Perhaps the lack of oversight is because the Epic co-owners are politically connected?  In the last eight years, Chaney and Harris have contributed over $250,000 to candidates in Oklahoma, most of them Republican.  Offering parents and students school choice other than their local public school is a good thing, but Epic has been an epic failure.     

 

IT AIN'T PERFECT, BUT IT PROVIDES A WAY TO FUND MEDICAID EXPANSION- VOTE YES ON SQ#814!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

VOTE YES ON SQ #814

by Steve Fair

     On November 3^rd, state question # 814 is on the ballot.   It was placed there by a Joint Resolution passed by the legislature.  It involves the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET).   In 1996, Oklahoma and 45 other states across the country sued tobacco companies for targeting youth. They ultimately settled with big tobacco for a combined $200 billion over 25 years.      

     In 2000, Oklahoma voters amended the state constitution and created TSET- the first state to protect their tobacco settlement money in a constitutional trust.  The trust is governed by a seven member board, each appointed by an elected official.  Currently 75% of the annual payment from the tobacco companies is deposited into the trust, the legislature gets 18.75% and the AG’s office gets 6.25% to handle enforcement of the agreement.  TSET only spends the annual ‘earnings’ from the trust each year.  In 2019, TSET earned $ $69,766,822, which was distributed as described above.  The trust balance as of June 2019 was $1.3 billion.  SQ#814 would change the percentages of distribution.  If approved, the legislature would receive 75% of the earnings from TSET, the trust 18.75% and the AG’s office’s share wouldn’t change. The legislature wouldn’t have free reign to use the monies, but it would be earmarked for Medicaid expansion.  Three observations:

     First, Oklahoma’s Medicaid expansion will place a heavy budget on the state budget.  After its passage June 30^th, SQ 802 expanded Medicaid in the state to cover eligible working age adults who live in poverty.  It mandated the coverage be done by next July.  The only problem is it didn’t provide a funding mechanism.  If SQ#814 passes, it will generate an estimated $60-70 million annually to help cover the costs of Medicaid expansion.  Estimates on how much the expansion will cost the state are estimated at $164 million annually.  Governor Kevin Stitt said, “ In my opinion, (SQ814) needs to pass.  We need to redirect some of those funds to the legislature so we can actually pay for Medicaid expansion.” 

     Second, there is not universal support for SQ#814.  While TSET(a state agency) doesn’t take an official position on the SQ, they released a statement warning that smaller payments into the trust will hurt future efforts to fund their primary mission to curb tobacco use among youth.  Thomas Larson, spokesman for TSET said, “With less money going into the endowment, the endowment is not going to grow as quickly, especially when we have a downturn in the economy. Not only would that affect our ability to stand up new programs or expand existing programs, a sharp economic downturn that lasts for a while could impact current programs."  TSET spends about 1/3 of their share of the earnings each year on advertising to reduce smoking in Oklahoma.  In a 2016 survey commissioned by TSET of six states, results showed substantial reduction of smokers and Oklahoma doing better than the other five.  There are those who fear future legislatures will attempt to circumvent the restrictions and use the money for something other than Medicaid. That would never happen in Oklahoma, right?

     Third, Oklahoma’s health ranking is low.  The United Health Foundation (UHF) rankings are often cited.  They claim the Sooner state dropped from #43 to #47 in 2019 in overall health due to the high number of uninsured citizens.  UHF is a foundation funded by UnitedHealth Group, a health insurance carrier, so take their rankings with a grain of salt.  Determining the overall health of a state is difficult, but TSET’s own internal data shows our state to have high rates of cancer, heart disease and strokes compared to other states.    

     When voters approved SQ#802 expanding Medicaid and put it in the state constitution, the legislature is required to fund that expansion.  While not a perfect solution, SQ#814 does provide that funding mechanism.  Let’s hope future legislatures will also use it as directed.  Vote Yes on SQ #814.

A criminals past SHOULD be considered in sentencing! What a person has done is an indictation of what they will do!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

 VOTE NO SQ#805

by Steve Fair

      On November 3^rd, Oklahomans will go to the polls and vote on two State Questions.  SQ# 805 is on the ballot due to the efforts of Oklahomans for Sentencing Reform.(OSR).  If SQ# 805 is passed, it would amend the state constitution to prohibit the use of a person’s past non-violent felonies to be used to impose a greater sentence when convicted of a non-violent crime. 

     OSR claims Oklahoma is handing down cruel and unfair sentences for minor crimes and that has resulted in overcrowded prisons.  They cite statistics that claim Oklahomans serve 20% longer sentences for violent crime and 79% longer for drug related crimes.  “There is no good reason for Oklahoma lawmakers and prosecutors to treat Oklahoma citizens that much more harshly than other states, especially when research shows it does nothing to lower crime rates,” wrote Ryan Haynie from Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs(OCPA). 

     OCPA’s position on this issue resulted in former Governor Frank Keating’s resigning from the conservative think tank board.  “SQ#805 is the ultimate gift to a career criminal.  SQ #805 is a ‘stay out of jail’ card. It will result in more criminal activity and more victims. We must not add to the girth of our Constitution with this one-size-fits-all experiment. If 805 passes, it cannot be amended by any Legislature at anytime. It is terrible public policy,” Keating said in an editorial urging a ‘No’ vote on 805.   Three observations on State Question #805:

     First, Oklahoma does need sentence reform, but it should be done by the state legislature, not by amending the state constitution.  Amending the founding document to hamstring law enforcement doesn’t keep Oklahomans safe.  It is reckless and careless.  If OSR cares about Oklahoma citizens, they shouldn’t be protecting the criminals, but lobbying the legislature to reform sentencing guidelines.

     Second, decriminalizing or reclassifying crime doesn’t eliminate it or reduce it.   In 2016, Oklahoma voters approved SQ# 780.  Pushed by OSR, it reclassified drug possession, property crimes, and domestic abuse (that’s right- domestic abuse) from felonies to misdemeanors.  Two years after SQ 780, it had accomplished its goal.  Felony charges dropped in the state by -28.4%.  There was no indication those former felony crimes were not being committed- they were just not felonies anymore and didn’t result in jail time.  An estimated 1,500 criminals didn’t have to do the time, even though they did the crime. 

     Third, SQ #805 simply goes too far.  Even if you believe a criminals past behavior or offences shouldn’t be used against them in sentencing, SQ 805 is not the way to do it.  By amending the state constitution, it would take the legislature out of the picture.  The legislature is a representative body whose job it is to handle those issues.

     District Attorney Jason Hicks, (R-Duncan) is President of the Oklahoma DA’s Association.  He and the association oppose 805.  Hicks says, “SQ 805 would take away the ability to enhance sentences for repeat felons on a wide variety of crimes, many of which average Oklahomans would consider violent. SQ 805 would have a significant impact on public safety in Oklahoma as it would take away one of the most important tools law enforcement has to keep someone from escalating their behavior.”

     Vote no on State Question #805 for the following reasons: (1) Emptying Oklahoma jails will not make us safer.  (2) Decriminalizing and reclassifying crimes will not make them go away. (3) A criminals past should/must be considered in sentencing. (4) Amending the state constitution removes the legislature from the process.