3 Topics Are Especially Challenging - Of the several questions put before the voters, this November, conservatives are finding themselves torn on a few issues.
The 3 most controversial topics dividing conservatives are about:
www.SoonerPolitics.org is devoting front page coverage to the 3 topics getting the most attention and debate. We are posting the media links to the grassroots organizations on both sides of these 3 state questions. |  Find out the latest on the state questions, on the front page of the SoonerPolitics.org website. |
The Tulsa Area Republican Assembly held a forum on the state questions just this past Tuesday night. The proponents were vigorously and politely advocating several measures from many perspectives. This journalist was a part of t hat debate, and I am sure my bias is evident in this review. I want to say that I fully respect the integrity of every position and I believe the full group was especially well informed.
State Question 777 - 'Right To Farm'The proponents of this measure are failing to address the metro area concerns effectively. Chiefest of the concerns is safe drinking water. The language of state question 777 may not even remotely refer to water rights, but it is so prevalent of a worry that the measure will not safely pass unless these concerns are addressed. In the past 20 years, both OKC and Tulsa have had to take aggressive action to secure the purity of the water they draw from rural Oklahoma sources. State Question 780 & 781 - Nonviolent Sentencing Reform It's so easy for a politician to get demagogued as "weak on crime", and we have the exploding prison populations to prove that point. But just as our other state & federal agencies make adjustments for inflation, so should the judiciary branch. In 1975, stealing $500 dollars worth of goods might not get you more than a misdeanor & a few months of time at the local jail. But with inflated money over a 40 year span, that same $500 worth of goods may have a market value of over $2000. And that would kick in mandatory minimum sentences and a felony record. You may not get out of prison for years. The biggest snag in this measure seems to be the impact on drug possession charges. The Teetotalers of Oklahoma have an affinity for prohibition. Many of them secretly desire a return to mass banning of all intoxicating substances. And law enforcement also likes the tougher laws which inflation has accrued. They feel justified in sending petty users to prison. And they generally want their job security. Liberty advocates, especially the younger voters want a policy change to end the 'nanny state' policy passing laws to protect you from yourself, for your own good. | State Question 792 - Liquor Reform This is where the 1980s Jerry Falwell Republican finds himself at odds with most 2012 Ron Paul Republicans. But many Oklahomans who ordinarily have had no problems with legislating morality, have retreated to a less invasive policy of telling the government they have no constitutional right to set moral-based restrictions on private citizens. Oklahoma has a few "blue Laws" and is also one of only 5 states still strictly limiting naturally brewed beer. This state question would free up retailers to sell regular-strength beer instead of "non-intoxicating" 3.2% alcohol products. It also allows wine sales to be less restricted. If you believe liquor is of the devil and you want to run it out of the state, then you likely oppose others being able to access it. If you believe that others should decide for themselves, then you may favor the state question for the positive economic benefit.  |
