Creative solutions needed

That Oklahoma has fallen on hard times isn’t news. With a projected $1.3 billion loss in revenues, something must be done. It seems our governor and Legislature are woefully short on creative solutions. Here are mine:

Don’t cut assistance to the poorest Oklahomans. Instead, raise the tax rate on income over $250,000. This would affect fewer than 3 percent of the population, but would allow the Legislature to protect earned income credits and other subsidies that help the working poor. The current election cycle should persuade our local politicians that protecting the wealthy from paying a little extra is no longer popular.

Take a lesson from our neighbor to the north. Colorado is trying to figure out what to do with the budget surplus legalized marijuana has given them. The tax revenue from this source might even allow us to deal with our failing school system.

Low oil prices got us into this hole, so let’s let low gas prices help dig us out. Why not add a dime’s worth of tax to the price of every gallon? You can always build in a schedule to phase this out when oil revenues bounce back.

There are other things that could be done, but if our legislators stay stuck in the raise-no-taxes rut, we can only expect our economy to continue to languish.

WILLING TO PAY MORE

Regarding the letter by Greg McElvaney (Your Views, Feb. 13): Raising taxes is a necessary “evil” in a civilized nation or state and this is why: We demand good roads and highways, public safety, public education, health services, security for the elderly, and courts to settle criminal and civil disputes. These services cost a certain amount and must be paid for by public funds. All of these services also have expenses for operating, and materials for doing the job. Expenses rise, therefore revenue must rise. Many agree that expenses must be cut to help cover the rising costs. Not many agree that raising taxes must be accomplished also. These taxes must be used to fund only the necessary functions of government.

I don’t mind paying my fair share of tax as long as I get fair treatment and responsible use of those monies.

LIP SERVICE

The Wall Street Journal reported the United Arab Emirates, as OPEC members, are interested in oil production cuts in order to shore up severely depressed prices. This means every producer, everywhere in the world, wants to cut production except for Saudi Arabia. It has steadfastly refused to cut production as it continues to produce and export at record levels, thus driving prices to depression levels. Even Saudi Arabia is not immune to the damage it’s inflicting. The country has issued bonds versus raiding the treasury for cash flow shortfalls. Why is Saudi Arabia doing something that is obviously hurting everyone, including itself? In reality, it knows that as soon as oil regains a realistic price point, the horizontal drillers will quickly jump right back into the game. It now appears more likely there is a political alliance between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. governmnt to artificially maintain prices so low it rips apart our very energy infrastructure.

President Obama has proven he’s no friend of domestic energy producers. Why are our elected members of Congress sitting idly by and allowing our energy independence to be dictated by foreign nations whose motives are suspect at best? All we hear is lip service about a national energy policy. There isn’t one. Remember this next time you vote.