Archive for Issues
SQ 744 Funding and Democrat Trickery
Posted by: | CommentsThe Democrats in this state are trying to rally support for SQ 744. If you are unsure of what SQ 744 is, it is a state question concerning education funding. A ‘Yes’ vote means that our public education system will be required to equal the amounts of state funding for education in the neighboring states.
This seems like a good plan, a good way to ensure our children receive quality education, but there is just a tiny little question we should be asking ourselves as we consider SQ 744: Where does the money come from?
There is no, I repeat there is NO, language in the bill that concerns where the funds would come from. As we were all told as children, money doesn’t just grow on trees. It is foolish to support a bill without first knowing how it will be funded, just as foolish as the Democrats in the House and Senate voting for Obamacare without knowing what was in that bill. At least the former provided from where the funding will come. SQ 744 just leaves the question unanswered, hoping we are blinded by ads about how our children will fall farther behind without passing SQ 744.
This is what those across the aisle are hoping. They are hoping that we will be blinded by ads making us feel guilty about the possibility of voting no.
But that’s not all.
The Democrats are also planning to take advantage of the Yes on 744 campaign for their own political and financial advantage. In a recent email sent out to registered Democrats, the author stated:
“I think you will agree, we need every available resource to win our races on Election Day. The Yes on 744 campaign, the coalition of groups working to pass SQ 744, has the resources to run a powerful statewide campaign. I have already seen them in my neighborhood knocking on doors. You might have also noticed that they are already on TV with a commercial. “
Doesn’t that stir feelings of reproach inside you? It certainly does for me. They want to use a group that is not connected to them for their own desires. There does not seem to be any hesitation or remorse in that, just use a group to ensure that your candidates are elected and I mean use as in how the Democrats use fear tactics concerning Social Security to get votes.
So, when you see a Democrat candidate running campaigns ads, wonder where that money came from? Who did they take advantage of this time? Show this to your Democrat friends as an example of why they should become Republicans and kick the Dems out.
Also wonder, if SQ 744 is passed, where exactly will the money come from? It cannot come from nothing, so it must come from somewhere. That somewhere may be raising our taxes to a rate that forces some to move to neighboring states.
Republicans must own the green movement
Posted by: | CommentsBy Joe Fairbanks
Now is the time for Republicans to reclaim the “Green” mantle from Democrats.
Broken Bow Lake in Oklahoma
The fact is we all need to breathe cleaner air, drink cleaner water, and substantially reduce the use of energy sources that fund terrorism and Middle Eastern dictators. The disagreement comes in how we can best achieve that goal. By relying too much on the coercive power of government and overzealous social engineers, Democratic policies are incongruent with American ideals and the practical world. They seem to believe economic growth must be restrained in order to arrest environmental decline.
On the other hand, Republican policies are friendlier to both the environment and the taxpayer. They know that a cleaner environment and a prosperous economy need not be mutually exclusive.
We are now witnessing this policy dichotomy in Washington, where Democrats have unwisely attached themselves to a program known as Cap and Trade. If enacted, Cap and Trade would represent an enormous tax increase on all Americans who use electricity. According to a recent MIT study, the Cap and Trade scheme would cost the average American household more than $3,100 per year — a tax increase few can afford.
There are also reasons to doubt the program’s efficacy. Europe enacted a similar cap and trade proposal and is now scrambling to fix their trading scheme after emissions rose by nearly 2 percent during the first phase of the program and the price of emitting a ton of carbon collapsed from $30 to $1. Furthermore, European laborers who worked for energy-intensive industries suffered as their jobs were shipped overseas to countries that don’t have to meet restrictive energy guidelines. In other words, the Cap and Trade proposal will be all pain and no gain.
On the other hand, Republicans have offered green alternatives that would be more effective in reducing pollution and our dependency on foreign sources of energy. The policies are more desirable not only because they would be more effective, but because they would preserve the potential for economic prosperity.
In Oklahoma, Republicans have led the way to increase alternative energy use. They have provided for tax credits for businesses and homeowners to install solar energy equipment and wind turbines for clean wind power. Currently awaiting a vote in the House are Republican bills to provide tax incentives for the construction of energy efficient homes and to require public agencies to adopt energy efficient programs. These are all small steps that will have a significant, long-term friendly impact on the environment and the economy.
But it’s not enough. We must take advantage of our wind resources to create large-scale wind farms and push for greater use of clean-burning natural gas in homes and vehicles. Unfortunately, the boldest measure to provide clean nuclear energy was shot down in the Senate by senators stuck in the 1960s. This measure must be revived next session.
Lastly, Republicans must lead the way in updating the Oklahoma energy grid. Much of our energy is wasted in transmission because it is dilapidated and inefficient. Once enacted, the benefits of these policies would be realized immediately and provide an economic boost.
Politically, ceding environmental issues to Democrats makes no sense. Younger voters, of which the GOP is in dire need, consistently name the environment and energy independence as their top issues. These are votes the GOP has likely lost before voting even begins. We can change that. By aggressively promoting our green solutions for energy independence and preserving the environment, we can win over a large portion of voters and perform a public service.
After all, good policy is good politics.
Joe Fairbanks is chairman of the Cleveland County Young Republicans. This editorial was published by SpliceToday, The Oklahoman and the Tulsa World.
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