November 25, 2007

On The Cover

Thanksgiving: Our Superb Aerospace Industry

By Frosty Troy

What better time than Thanksgiving for Oklahomans to be thankful for the aerospace industry and what it means to the state.

What’s Inside

Frosty’s Notebook: Bob Kerr

By Frosty Troy

I was mildly disappointed in the documentary on the life of the late, great U.S. Sen. Robert S. Kerr that premiered on the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.

Carpetbaggers Are On Parade In OKC – The GOP Tax Gospel

By Frosty Troy

Out of state shills told state lawmakers at a Capitol hearing what they wanted to hear – additional tax cuts must be approved if Oklahoma is to remain competitive with other states. It’s a lie.

Your Welfare Dollar Is Being Well Spent

By Howard H. Hendrick

Success comes from our resolution to succeed. The families who enter our many Oklahoma Department of Human Services Centers need mostly the resolve to succeed. They need more than resolve. But they need resolve.

A Simple Route To Better Highways

By Charles Chastain

If you want to drive on Oklahoma roads, you better own an SUV. City, county and state roads more closely resemble the surface of the moon than modern thoroughfares.

Blackwell Laments Sheriffs’ Dilemma

The Legislature has got to quit ducking the funding crisis in corrections and start doing something about it. That’s the word from state House Speaker Pro Tempore Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell.

Books

Book It! These Are Real Holiday Pleasers

By Mike Nobles

Well, it’s that time of year to again recommend to the reader what I believe to be first-rate books worthy of your time. As usual, it is an eclectic list not necessarily on the so-called best-seller list but one I suspect will please and stimulate the discerning reader. There are university press books and a few others, some from major publishers and some from smaller ones. I recommend them all as wonderful gifts – for you or a friend.

Public Forum

Edwards’ Proposal Empowers Public

By James Stovall

Recently, presidential candidate and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards proposed an idea that would bring together millions of citizens in a series of town hall meetings and on-line forums as part of his “One Democracy Initiative.”

Observations

Bravo!

Three cheers for State Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, who will file legislation to crack down on fraudulent practices plaguing Oklahoma’s initiative petition process.

Kids Today

Are America’s teenagers and 20-somethings “self-absorbed narcissists” who have to be praised every 10 minutes, lest they burst into tears?

Change The Law

Let’s say you build a thriving business or a beautiful estate by the sea. After you die, the government tells your children and grandchildren: Your family has owned this long enough. We’re now handing it over to the public.

What Peaceniks?

Oklahoma and America’s manufacturing industries may be dying out but there’s one industry that still has plenty of customers throughout the globe – U.S. weapons manufacturers.

Rich Gesture

With President Bush calling for fuel conservation perhaps the captains of industry would consider mothballing their jets.

Hyper Living

If you had a choice between a higher salary and more vacation time, which would you choose?