Yesterday marked yet another sad day, in a long line of sad days in Oklahoma.
I was in the room and saw it with my own eyes as 10 of our state Senators voted against Randy Brogden’s bill to reform Oklahoma’s horridly undemocratic ballot access laws. I’m going to email the Senate Rules Committee Staff and Chair to make sure I got the votes correct, but as soon as I get confirmation I’ll post the names of those who deserve shame for voting against democracy and those who deserve praise for taking a stand for equality and fairness.
For now though, I must say I have tremendous gratitude for Republican Randy Brogden bringing the bill to the floor. I was very struck by his eloquence in arguing on behalf of the bill. I was also struck by the silence of the opponents of the bill. Most didn’t want to go on the record as opposing democracy so instead they just were silent during debate and then let their votes hit. (the only comments I recalled was one guy cracking a joke about whether Randy would support his bill, and another person who was worried if the ballot access retention standards were based on the state or federal vote count)
I was stunned and outraged at this point and decided to speak my mind (even if I was disruptive), and told the committee, quite loudly as I was storming out of the room, “It’s good to see that Oklahoma isn’t a democracy.” — Not my most eloquent moment for sure, but I had to say something. I wanted the “Gang of 10” to know what they had done.
The fight isn’t over though. I don’t know what it will take, but somehow these laws have to change, as I frankly don’t see the point in voting anymore as long as you don’t get to vote for people of other political parties.
For more information on this issue, please check out the good folks at OBAR (Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform)
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Makes me sick…wish I could have been there.
Brogden sponsored a number of bills, some of which I find abhorrent. Makes me wonder what his real agenda is with this one, but that’s a moot point now, I guess.
Just learned the full-scope of Brogon’s stance on other issues thanks to Okiefunk ( http://okiefunk.com/node/532 ), pretty scary for sure.
That said, I think he really supports ballot access for the reasons of fairness. His statement on behalf of the bill seemed to heart-felt to be contrived.
I also think it is interesting that pretty much all of the Democrats are against ballot access because of the supposed “Nader spoiler effect,” yet McCain got his highest vote count in Oklahoma, where there were only two choices for President.
At least this year, most Greens I knew were voting for Obama, while I know a lot of RonPaul-Republicans who would have voted for Bob Barr if given the opportunity. And over the next decade at least, I think the Libertarians are poised to gain a lot of traction with old school conservatives tired of Bush-style tax and spend policies (and who are terrified of Obama’s supposed “socialist” policies), so if the D’s are smart they would back ballot access.
But, that should only be a secondary concern. Even if it hurts your vote count, you should support ballot access. The issue here is fundamental fairness. Either you believe in democracy or you don’t. To me this is a very clear cut issue.
Also, I just found out about the stupid 10 Commandments monument bill ( http://www.grindstonejournal.com/2-18-09republic.html )… yikes!
I oppose this of course from a constitutional/political standpoint, but I also oppose it on theological grounds. State-mandated religion is not religion at all.
The Jewish context is complicated (since the 10 Commandments were part of the legal code of a temporal state, as well as a religious document), but the Christian context to me is very simple. Christianity is a faith of free will. Jesus’ example makes it very clear that choosing to follow him is a choice, and is not something that can or should be mandated.
A 10 Commandments monument certainly has a coercive nature to it, and as such disrespects the very religion it is supposedly erected to support.
Here’s a thought to the so-called Christian zealots out there… why don’t you try LIVING the 10 commandments out in your lives and in teaching them to others and inviting them to do the same? Or if you feel the need to make a monument to commemorate them, then put them on your church property. Heck, you can buy a giant billboard and display them if you want. This is a free country you know.
But don’t ask the state to endorse your religious teachings, because that is wrong.