YOUR VIEWS
Continuing a rich history
Refueling a plane in mid-air is not easy. I should know. I retired from the Air Force with 900 air-to-air refuelings to my name, mostly on the receiving end of the boom. I also flew dozens of times on KC-135 tankers, including the KC-10, and as a crew member on the EC-135H. Now Boeing is set to deliver the next generation of the tanker line — the KC-46 refueling tanker. After a nine-year career with Boeing, I know their workers will deliver a plane to the Air Force as soon as possible without cutting any corners in providing guaranteed, high-quality service for the brave men and women serving our country overseas. The KC-46 will provide far more advanced tools to detect, avoid, defeat and survive threats in battle. And it is set to begin replacing an aging tanker fleet that is in dire need of new and additional assets to get our servicemen and women home safely.
As an Oklahoma resident, I am proud of my role in our state’s aerospace history and we can add to that proud history when Boeing delivers the first all-new KC-46 refueling tanker to the Air Force.
Pete Karjanis, Oklahoma City
In for a surprise?
Please, along with the teachers’ demands, post on every newscast the cost of living in every other state. The cost of living is higher in every state except Arkansas and Mississippi, where it is essentially the same. Teachers leaving for another state may be in for a real surprise.
Don and Margarete Watson, Bethany
More taxes not the only answer
I agree our teachers need increased salaries, but I am concerned that the answer to this need is always increased taxes. Cutting costs in the education system never seems to come up as part of the solution. The education system is a black hole. We have been throwing tax money at this department through casinos, the lottery and “sin” taxes and it is never enough. Our state has over 500 school districts of which 425 are independent districts that offer first- through 12th-grade classes. Why is no one talking about consolidating these districts? This would eliminate much overhead and save the state money and I’m confident people in the know could come up with other cost-saving measures. Let’s pay our teachers better but not by just increasing taxes.
Derry Myers, Edmond
It’s a new week and the teacher walkout continues. It will stop when our elected officials fund education. This has been an issue for decades. It’s time to make it stop being an issue and become a priority. One of the best ways to prevent future criminal acts is to provide a good foundation of education to young people to help them better themselves and start out with more opportunities ahead of them than when they started. Education is a win-win for everyone; we just need to invest in our children.
Jennifer Jones, Mustang