An array of wishes to bring in new year
HOPE springs eternal and with a new year upon us, our thoughts turn to our aspirations for Oklahoma and the nation in 2019. Today, we share a few of those thoughts.
A successful Stitt administration
The 2018 election saw businessman Kevin Stitt, previously a political unknown, surprise many pundits by winning the Republican gubernatorial nomination in a field that included several well-funded, competent opponents, and then win the general election over a well-known Democratic opponent.
Stitt says his focus will be on making Oklahoma a “top 10” state and reforming government in the process. We hope he succeeds on both fronts, and hope Stitt understands those goals require more than technocratic change. A better-run government that produces the same results — such as low educational achievement and high rates of addiction — is not a success. We hope Stitt will work to enact changes that improve outcomes first and foremost.
Legislative focus
In this space one year ago, we hoped to see the Legislature become less important since that would mean the private sector was growing again and politics could naturally become less high-profile. Oklahoma’s private-sector leaders did their part as they led the state’s economic recovery, but the Legislature remained a constant source of bad publicity. Last year’s session ended with lawmakers patting themselves on the back even though little of real substance was achieved. All the problems highlighted at the beginning of the 2018 session remain, unchanged or growing worse, as the start of the 2019 session nears. Last year, lawmakers acted as though higher volume offset the lack of substance in legislative debates. This year, we hope to see the opposite.
Additional corrections reform
There have been gradual changes made to Oklahoma’s corrections system over the last several years and we hope this trend continues in 2019. Policymakers must find new ways to deal with certain crimes that drive down recidivism and also reduce taxpayer costs. Otherwise, the current trajectory of prison incarceration will require spending hundreds of millions on new prisons in the near future. Lawmakers can’t kick this can down the road forever.
Mental health gains
The high rates of addiction and mental illness in Oklahoma are well-known. Breaking that long-running cycle is no easy task. In 2019, we hope policymakers support efforts that improve treatment options in Oklahoma and provide more citizens with a new lease on life.
Education gains
Outside of improved teacher pay, lawmakers in 2018 declined to tackle most major education challenges in Oklahoma. That was a mistake and a missed opportunity. The state’s school system needs higher standards and expectations. Spending should be linked to improved outcomes. Students should be given greater opportunity through school choice policies, particularly children from low-income families. The status quo in Oklahoma education is that the state is ranked among the bottom 10 states in educational outcomes, and student achievement has declined in recent years. This is not acceptable. Lawmakers must work to reverse those trends, and that requires substantive policy changes along with strategic spending decisions.
Stability in Oklahoma’s energy sector
A dramatic decline in oil prices played a substantial role in state government’s fiscal problems over the last two years and cost thousands of Oklahomans good-paying jobs. The industry’s trajectory improved markedly in 2018, but prices in recent months have been trending down. Citizens of all backgrounds should hope energy prices stabilize and that Oklahoma’s many energy companies enjoy sustainable investment returns. When that doesn’t happen, things get very ugly, very fast, across the state.
An improved tone from Trump
To the surprise of many citizens, including some conservatives, President Trump has been a solid executive leader when it comes to policy decisions and the resulting outcomes. The president had been responsible for much-needed deregulation, significant tax cut-and-reform legislation, appointment of conservative jurists to the bench, corrections reform, and more. Gross domestic product growth has already exceeded 3 percent under Trump, something his predecessor failed to achieve in any single year during eight years in office. The unemployment rate has fallen to a low not seen since 1969. Average hourly wages are increasing at the fastest rate since 1999. Median household income is at all-time highs, and consumer confidence reached an 18-year high before declining slightly in recent months.
These are all major achievements whose improving trajectory all Americans should hope will be sustained in 2019. Where Trump needs to make the greatest adjustment is not on policy, but in the tone of his communication. The Twitter-ization of debate has not served society well, and it’s been as much a negative as a positive for the president. We hope Trump drops the caustic, social-media vibe of many of his public comments in favor of a more upbeat tone.
Continued progress and growth for OKC
Oklahoma City’s renaissance continued in 2018 with the completion of several major projects, including a streetcar system and the transition to a new mayor. We hope the city continues its positive momentum in 2019 and that city leaders demonstrate vision and true leadership when they consider the next potential stage of the MAPS programs that have helped transform the city.
A deep playoff run
This is a perennial wish for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and for good reason. The success of the Thunder has been a boost to Oklahoma City’s visibility and national reputation. Plus, what’s not to like about great basketball played by some of the best athletes on the planet? We hope, once again, for a deep playoff run and lots of great sports memories for both the players and the fans who support the team.
Most of all, to our readers, thank you for your continued support. We wish you all a happier, more prosperous, safer and healthier new year.