VIEW: 18-28: After OK Primary Thoughts

VIEW FROM HERE
By Bob McDowell (Born Neil Carson)
Number 18-28
AFTER OK PRIMARY THOUGHTS Week of 2018/07/09
Now that the Oklahoma primary elections are over and, except for a
few
races, we enter into the 'run-off ' era ending in August we hopefully will
be
relieved of the barrage of , often nasty, radio, TV, and trash mail request
for out
vote or usually false claims against one of the contestants. My memory of
elections
dating back to the election of 1932 when Governor of New York managed to
oust
an incumbent President, named Hoover, has seen not one so filled with false
claims
and nastiness, including photo shopped pictures to falsely depict a
candidate.
Most of those were put forth by the so-called 'dark money committees'
supporting another candidate. Usually these candidates are political
unknowns
recruited by special interest groups such as the OEA and NEA (teachers
unions) or
individuals with a personal grudge against another office holder. It is a
relief to me to
be free of those plus the multitude of 'robo-calls' for the same purpose and
mostly
on my cell phone, but also serving to interrupt my positive efforts.
Turning from objections, there should be some suggestions. It seems
to me
that the "Ethics Commission" should establish rules, and then enforce them
with
real penalties, requiring that ALL political advertisements clearly disclose
the entity
putting them out together with a person's name, address, and electronic
means of
contact. Some of the most onerous post cards carried no visible disclosure,
as is
supposedly required by law or regulations. If such regulations are already
established, then the commission is not meeting the responsibility and staff
should
be replaced with ones that will. Indeed, there should be severe penalties
for any
false statement advertising. Personally, it is my policy to not vote for
candidates
whose campaign resorts to such tactics. Also, it should be required that the
"campaign consultant", if one is retained, should be identified, possibly
stated with
the finance reports.
On a more pleasant note, especially for the citizens, was the
announcement a
couple of days after the election that the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in a
case,
5 to 4, that no government employee may be required to join a union as a
condition
of employment, nor should the government withhold union dues for any such.
And
the decision included public schools in the requirement. It is my
understanding that
the decision also rejected the withholding of dues, and forwarding to
unions, of dues
amounts for non-members. That this was being done extensively against non-
members was surprising to me and is, in my opinion, reprehensible. This
seems to
me to be a great boon for employees. Many believe the unions then use this
"windfall" source of funds to finance campaigns and obtain favors with
Democrats
but proof has not been available to me.
Secondly, a news announcement arrived that Mr. Justice Kennedy of
the
Supreme Court announced his retirement effective the end of July. Thus it
will
enable PRESDT-45 to nominate another replacement. The nomination does not
guarantee that the Senate will act promptly to investigate and vote on
approving
the candidate. Democrat leadership has already stated intention to stall the
vote
until at least after the November election, hoping to gain some seats in the
Senate
to prevent whoever is nominated. Dirty politics!!
Also a State Question was passed labeled "Medical Marihuana" which
actually will allow "recreational" use of the plant. Reports are surfacing
that there
were a least 40,000 more votes cast on this than on the rest of the ballot,
and that
many young voters would not even take the 'yellow' ballot containing the
office
candidates.
One of my children living in Colorado has told me that the problem
of "hit
and run" incidents has increased substantially there since the plants use
for
'recreational use was permitted. Also that a large percentage of those
involved in
these are here illegally. And many Democrat leaders supported this change as
well as a few misguided with an "R" behind their name. All this puts the
rest of us
in increased danger. There are derivatives of the plant that have no habit
forming
properties and have some very beneficial properties for certain conditions.
Fortunately, this was passed as a "statute" and so can be amended by the
Legislature. It might be noted that all this is in violation of Federal law
and could
put some State funding in jeopardy, should the DOJ decide to enforce it!!
In my opinion, this was a badly and hurriedly written proposal, perhaps
deliberately, and catered to those mostly in younger generations. Time will
tell
just how bad it will be.
END
Composed June 29, 2018
Robert W. McDowell, Jr. 841
Lynwood Lane
918-451-1051 Broken Arrow OK
74011-8608
Email: abdmcfpi@localnet.com