Letter To The Editor Responds To NewsOK Voter ID Editorial

In a letter to the editor, NewsOK reader Connor Bannon of Edmond responds to the recent editorial trying to defend Oklahoma’s Voter ID law using a North Carolina study. In this letter, Connor uses the evidence, or lack thereof, that Texas used in trying to justify its Voter ID law. Here is that letter in full:

Regarding “Overblown: N.C. study rebuts voter ID claims” (Our Views, July 25): Voter ID laws serve as clear examples of government solutions in search of nonexistent problems. Granted, the new laws don’t, as many on the left suggest, present an insurmountable challenge to individual voters. However, they do place an unnecessary burden upon many of our fellow citizens.

Voter fraud isn’t a problem that plagues any state. Consider the “prevalence” of voter fraud in Texas, a state that passed voter ID legislation similar to North Carolina’s. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot found that from 2002 to 2012, there were just 100 federal prosecutions and 50 state convictions for voter fraud. That would mean an average of 15 prosecutions and convictions per year. To put the number into context, Texas has a population of approximately 26 million and cast 7,962,799 votes in the 2012 election. This means voter fraud is committed, as a percentage of Texas votes, at a rate of 0.000188 percent, and as a percentage of the Texas population, 0.0000576 percent. The percentage of Americans struck by lightning annually is 0.000143 percent — greater than the occurrence of voter fraud as a percentage of Texans.

Once again, keep the letters rolling. We love reading them and love seeing them published.

Revolving Door Of Politics Hits Oklahoma As Coffee Leaves To Head Pro-business Lobby

Glenn CoffeeThe revolving door of politics is the phenomenon that sees people elected to public office leave those positions at some point to become key lobbyists of some of the largest lobbying organizations in the US. This phenomenon shows that there is a clear divide between what the electorate thinks politics should be about and what elected officials think it is about. But such revolving doors are not the sole domain of the Federal Government. It happens on a state level as well.

NewsOK is reporting that former Senate Leader and Secretary of State Glenn Coffee has been appointed to head the State Chamber of Oklahoma, the largest pro-business lobbying organization in Oklahoma. The organization cites his business and legislative experience in appointing him to this position. What this means is that because he knows a lot of people in the legislature and in the capital, he will be able to convince more people to vote for legislation desired by the organization and its members.

While such changes of employment are not illegal, it does show the buddy buddy relationship between the legislature and special interests. While there are many in the state legislature who want to weaken that relationship for the better, the majority, and especially the leadership in the Legislature, refuse to make those necessary changes. Even a simple rule allowing for official recognition of a “no gift” list, a list of legislators who refuse lobbyists’ gifts, cannot even make it to a floor vote. Why would any legislator want to make that change when the greatest lobbyist’s gift is that of a cushy job upon retirement from elected office?

Founding Fathers Would Be Disappointed In U.S., Say Proud Americans

It was only last month that we highlighted a Gallup poll which showed that only 10% of the US population are pleased with Congress. In that article, we lamented the fact that despite a history of low voter approval, Congresspersons often enjoy a 90+% reelection rate. But that disapproval rate is not the only thing working against Congress at this point.

A new Gallup poll shows that a record low number of US citizens believe the Founding Fathers would be displeased with the state of the US today. Only 27% of people polled believe that the Founding Fathers would approve of how the US is operating today. This is down significantly from the 2001 high of 54%.

Poll showing that 71% of US Citizens beleive the Founding Fatehrs would be disappointed in the US Continue reading

Remember What Independence Day Is Really About

Declaration of Independence

As we gather with friends and family this coming July 4th, Independence Day, we need to remember what this holiday is truly about. It isn’t about barbecue, fireworks, beer, or even about a day off from work. It isn’t just some day in which we are allowed to handle and set off low density explosives around other people. It is a day in which our forefathers chose to become traitors and wanted men in order to free their fellow men, their families and friends, from the shackles of tyranny.

As we sit in our lawn chairs, around picnic tables, eating hot dogs and hamburgers, as we watch the beautiful and colorful display of mortars and rockets, let us remember the sacrifice and danger that those men took upon themselves so that we may be free to do so. We are not able to celebrate because our oppressors took pity on us and freed us willingly. No. We are here because a brave selection of our forefathers risked everything to take our freedom back and give it to us. Why did they do this? Because it was in their hearts and souls to do so.

As we sit around with friends and family, let us remember these brave men and those who fought along side them to bring us the freedoms we enjoy. But let us not forget that this fight from tyranny and oppression is never over. Continue reading

Will Record Low Congressional Approval Reflect In The Voting Booth?

Congressional Approval Rating At All Time Low Of 10 PercentWith all the controversies in D.C. going on, is it really surprising to find out that Congress’s approval rating is at an all time low? According to a new Gallup poll, that rating has fallen to a mere 10%. That rank places it last among 16 institutions that Gallup listed. People have lower confidence in Congress than they do banks, the criminal justice system and the police. Even HMOs rank higher than Congress.

The percentage of Americans expressing a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in Congress is the lowest for a trend that dates back to 1973. The high point for Congress, 42%, came in that year.

Confidence in Congress has been at its lowest points for several years, while it was higher in the mid-1980s and in the early 2000s.

And this rating shows across all political ideologies. Continue reading