EDMOND —
Super Tuesday offers Oklahomans the chance to give their input in the presidential primaries, but the question is how much input do we really have these days?
The primary season in the GOP races has been a strange odyssey for both the candidates and the public. Many voters are already citing fatigue with the candidates, which is sad when you stop to think that they were never too excited with any of them.
Part of the fatigue stems from the elongated cycle now experienced by whichever party is currently not occupying the White House. For the incumbent it’s a one-year campaign trail, but the opponents are dragged into a two-year or longer cycle. It’s all about raising money, paying political consultants and staff and these are not small operations by any means.
If Americans really want to turn the primary system back to the people, they should shorten the election cycle to be more like municipal elections. If we really want change, we could take that idea a step further and put primaries in every state on the same day. It forces national candidates to show what and where their priorities lie.
Another concern is the switch to Political Action Committees taking over campaign messages for candidates. Oklahoma voters in the past two weeks were more likely to have heard PAC messages than actual messages from the candidates themselves. It makes one wonder who’s really in charge of our national electoral process these days.
What we do today is not campaigning. It’s nothing but a publicity contest.
But until we can implement true change, the best way to participate in our democracy remains in the simple act of exercising your vote. Turn out and cast your ballot any time between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday and make an informed choice. Our nation is counting on you.
Our View
OUR VIEW: Super campaigns need a revamp
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Be Edmond needs your help
BMX star and local legend Mat Hoffman knows what’s it like to fall from great heights and find yourself at one of the worst low points in life. He also knows how to climb back up and tackle life’s problems head on.
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OUR VIEW: Be Edmond needs your help
BMX star and local legend Mat Hoffman knows what’s it like to fall from great heights and find yourself at one of the worst low points in life. He also knows how to climb back up and tackle life’s problems head on.
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OUR VIEW: OKPOP — great idea, bad timing
The Route 66 museum in Clinton has been such a success that Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said the turnaround project proves that popular culture is a best-seller when it comes to museum projects. It also proved that when a community gets behind a project and raises the funds to launch it, they all can reap the rewards of the increased tourism and recognition.
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OUR VIEW: Choice is clear
This Tuesday, Edmond residents are asked to go to the polls to choose between incumbent Mayor Charles Lamb and Richard Prawdzienski for the office of mayor. Voters citywide also will be asked to consider whether to retain Nick Massey as its Ward 4 councilmember or select newcomer Shilpa Abbitt, an engineer employed by Devon Energy in Oklahoma City.
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OUR VIEW: Line-item budgets should return
Some may have made fun of the nickname — the Doomsday deal — but the thought behind new Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon’s move to name a House committee specifically to monitor federal dollars coming into Oklahoma was right on target.
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OUR VIEW: Economic development plan deserves consideration
An economist recently told the Edmond City Council that the entire Oklahoma City metropolitan area has the potential to boom with economic growth in the next decade. Edmond officials are making plans now to be ready for that potential growth to ensure the city gets its fair share of the economic pie.
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OUR VIEW: Doing the right thing
On Wednesday, the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Senate swore in their newly elected and re-elected members in preparation of the 2013 legislative session. It was a moment for those elected to public office to savor their success, share their victory with family and friends who came to watch the ceremonies and be cordial with their new colleagues.
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OUR VIEW: Lankford, Jolley, McDaniel get our vote
Few times in American history have we seen people divided so politically as we have during this election cycle. The partisan gridlock of Congress and the relentless sniping of presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle are more than just fodder for late-night comedy.
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OUR VIEW: Say yes to SQ 766
State Question 766 poses one of the most drastic questions for voters to consider in state history. The language of this state question requires voters to say either yes, they don’t want a tax increase, or no, they do want one.
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