YOUR VIEWS
Time for a change?
I watched an interesting program highlighting the waste of millions of dollars at the University of Oklahoma, recently identified by a businessman who’s the new university president. Interesting the past president, who was a previous career politician, didn’t seem to have an interest or capability to ferret out this waste during his tenure; perhaps his past political experience only taught him to raise taxes (tuition) rather than manage resources appropriately. This may explain why he so quickly endorsed his political buddy, Drew Edmondson, for governor. This could be due to their good ol’ boys economic management skills being similarly poor. Perhaps it’s time to elect a businessman as governor and allow him to also begin identifying and correcting the excessive waste and inefficiency in Oklahoma’s massive bureaucracy.
Brian McAlpin, Edmond
A candidate who’s ready
In retirement, I’m asked what my favorite job was. The answer is easy: any of the jobs I held working for Oklahoma Sen. and Gov. Henry Bellmon. Bellmon’s terms were always directed by the questions what’s best for the people and what’s the right thing to do? My secondfavorite job was as one of the state’s assistant attorneys general under Drew Edmondson. Like Bellmon, Edmondson was concerned with doing the right thing. When I heard employees suggest a course of action because it would bear the most political fruit, I heard Edmondson reply politics was not the issue. What’s the law say, what’s the right thing to do? he would ask.
Bellmon and Edmondson grew up with Oklahoma values, the greatest of these being do what’s right no matter what. Bellmon served in the Marines during World War II. Edmondson served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Such service drives home the fragility of life and the need to make one’s life count for something. It provides courage to move ahead when others fear political consequences. Bellmon was no political neophyte; he knew how to operate the machinery of government. Edmondson, from his time as a prosecutor and attorney general, also learned which levers to pull. Oklahoma is not in good enough shape to allow the governor on-the-job training. In Edmondson, we have a candidate who is ready for the job and a candidate with the courage to do what’s right.
Andrew Tevington, Oklahoma City
Traffic primer
Driving in Oklahoma is great most of
the time, but many of us don’t understand how to turn left into oncoming traffic when at a four-way stop or at a light without a left turn signal. According to the Oklahoma State Statute 47-611-501, it is pretty simple. You may enter the intersection and wait for the oncoming traffic to allow the left turn to be performed safely. In simple terms, pull out into the left-hand lane and wait for the oncoming traffic to clear then proceed safely. It isn’t necessary to wait behind the walkway until the lane is clear. This allows for left turns to be made when the light is green or yellow, but you may not enter the intersection on a yellow light.
When at a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive has right of way. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right has the right of way. The vehicle turning left should enter the intersection and wait for the oncoming traffic to clear. I hope it makes a difference and the people in front of me read this!
Ron Goade, Edmond
Give me a reason
All the candidates say our schools and teachers need more funding. How? Approving horse racing and betting didn’t help. Approving the lottery, supported by Democrat Gov. Brad Henry, didn’t help. What other sin tax are the governors going to proclaim as the answer to school funding? So far, not one candidate for governor has given the voters a response on how he proposes to fund schools. I for one want to know! Every one of the ads for governor give only lip service to the problems of our state. I’m now of the opinion that anyone running for or in public office is lying when his or her lips are moving.
Give me a reason for wasting my time going to the polls.
Gerald Sawyer, Oklahoma City
Way past its prime
Once again, at this year’s OklahomaTexas game, the men’s restroom in Section 1-2 was flooded and one had to wade through a large puddle of water to use the restroom. The Cotton Bowl is so past its prime it is ridiculous. It is also a safety hazard as far as egress out of the stadium. The outdated design of the main walkway beneath the stands would never pass safety concerns today because it’s too narrow to accommodate fan capacity. I enjoy the atmosphere and fair as much as anyone, but the Cotton Bowl has jumped the shark and is actually a hazard. Shame on the officials who continue to look the other way.