OCPAC Weekly Newsletter Published Monday, April 27, 2020
Table of Contents
BOB LINN Dependence on the State not an American Value
STEVE ANDERSON Recovering Oklahoma's Economy Our Natural Advantage DR. DANIEL ERICKSON & DR. ARTIN MASSIAH Convincing interview on ABC affiliate Time to re-open America
THE PASSING OF AN OKLAHOMA GREAT Ralph Bullard is with his Lord & Savior
RALLIES AT CAPITOL CONTINUE
CHARLIE MEADOWS Charlie's Reflections
STEVE ANDERSON Newly Published Book The First Level of Reality
| BOB LINN Dependence on the State not an American Value | In his inaugural address to the nation, Ronald Reagan reminded us of his campaign slogan, “Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.”
Thinking otherwise has become America’s national sin.
The abrupt shutdown of America is unprecedented. We have been swept up into the most comprehensive world-wide power grab since Nimrod. | This is a bit of a puzzle. Surveys indicate the least trusted institution in America today is Congress. | The office of President, much higher on the ladder, is still not well trusted by most. Second from the bottom is television news, the driving force behind the COVID hysteria.
We’ve just watched the majority of Americans trust both government and media to the point of bankrupting the nation. The media has generated national panic because we fear the possibility of death more than we fear God.
The great sin of 21st Century America is to look first to the state for answers. | America’s foundation is not the state. The American foundation is in the God of the pastors who ignited America’s torch of freedom. They preached a Gospel needing to be rekindled in our pulpits today.
This means preaching election day sermons and strong Biblical texts. America needs sermons which speak to every sphere of culture. | On May 29, 1765, Patrick Henry stood before the Virginia House of Burgesses to present the seven resolutions which made him known throughout the colonies as “the man who gave the first impulse to the ball of revolution.” | Ten years later, on March 23, 1775, he would utter those famous words, “Give me liberty or give me death!” The thing is, he really meant it. Would that we would think that way. | It was on that same day in 1765 that Rev. Andrew Eliot of the New North Church in Boston preached the annual election sermon before the Governor and the General Court.
He laid the foundations for American independence when he told the Governor that submission to tyrannical perversion of power was a crime. He called it an offense against the state, against mankind, and against God.
~Alice M. Baldwin The New England Clergy and the American Revolution P90 | America’s grand sin is to elevate the state above family, church, and other societal spheres. | We and our children have gone to government schools. These schools have produced a society of Hegelians, though we don’t even know what that means.
Hegel, one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century, wrote much about the state and was a major influence on the thinking of Karl Marx and his communist ideology. Hegel stated:
“The Universal is to be found in the State…The State is the Divine Idea as it exists on earth…We must therefore worship the state as the manifestation of the Divine on the earth…the State is the march of God through the world…”
~Found in a compilation of Hegel by Karl R Popper The Open Society and Its Enemies, 4th Ed, 2 volumes Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1963, Vol 2, P 31 | While the worlds most devout men came to American shores to establish a Biblically-based form of government, Europe was busy producing a thinker whose offspring would infiltrate our schools and seminaries and erode our very foundation. | And, with this latest version of governmental problem solving, we substantiate the claim of Dr. Angelo Codevilla when he said... | “The world is ablaze with governmental schemes to remedy the ravages of government”
~Dr. Angelo M. Codevilla The Character of Nations, P 35 | The solution to recovery from the devastating impact of governmental response to the COVID-19 is not more government. Is to be set free to use the liberties our forefathers provided and the talents God has bestowed.
In his comments below, Steve Anderson has some thoughts which will enable Oklahoma to find its moment of recovery through enabling private enterprise to function freely. The key here is that government is only a solution when it secures a platform from which the citizen may act with freedom and pursue the tasks God has gifted him to do.
Regarding the government over-reach of the past few months … may America's preachers lead us by saying: “Never Again!” | STEVE ANDERSON Recovering Oklahoma's Economy Our Natural Advantage | With oil prices having gone into the negative last week, Oklahoma cannot afford to be shut down any longer. | It will be years before the oil patch recovers. Don't kill the rest of the Oklahoma economy! |
The oil producing states will face a great recession of their own.
However, before you green energy people think that will work to your advantage, you should know that it will be a good decade before America can justify your costs.
| Traditional energy will be CHEAP going forward. Alternative energy won't be able to compete. | The fear mongers have done their damage with the inflated projected fatality counts.
If you have been one of those you can be proud that your fear of death will drive suicides as people go bankrupt or lose homes and marriages collapse under the fiscal pressure. ___________________
Now, for my thoughts on recovery... | OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNOR Fuel for A quick Recovery | There is opportunity for Oklahoma's Governor in the midst of the current economic devastation. | Cheap energy should be the mantra the Governor pushes. Cheap energy is strategic to the bottom line of every industry.
The more energy an industry requires, the more important it is to locate where energy costs are diminished. | I never understood why the steel industry was in the upper Midwest when one of the big costs was energy. Metal industries account for 78% of total industrial energy use of industry in the US. | The paper industry consumes energy. We have a large forestry industry in SE Oklahoma. | It is in Energy that Oklahoma is Missing Opportunity...
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is not processed until you hit one of the seaports. Then, it is transported by pipeline.
Oklahoma has a seaport at Catoosa! The pipeline costs for us are unnecessary.
We should be processing LNG in Oklahoma.
Another market segment we are missing is high value crops. I have always thought that the Midwest’s natural gas fields were part and parcel of producing high value crops. | High value crops are one of the multi-state compacts I always thought the state should have entered into some years ago. While working on this for the Governor in Kansas, we could never get then-Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin to return our calls.
And of course, the refineries that we can only build on tribal land brings the byproduct of plastics, fertilizer etc. In addition to all this, the cotton market is now coming back in SW Oklahoma. It brings with it a great opportunity to develop the textile industry, another big user of energy. | Manufacturing plants and agricultural processing plants that might be thinking about relocating would have strong incentive to consider a state with inexpensive energy.
A special pitch towards those industries that might be coming back from overseas would be a good place to start.
Oklahoma has abundant natural gas supplies. This should have been top priority for Oklahoma’s economic development strategy even without the Covid debacle. However, because of the impact of the Covid shutdown, it is critical to our recovery. | Natural gas's pipeline cost makes delivery to any distance a limiting factor in its usage. The solution is a winner for all involved. It is to bring the industry to the location of the supply. Oklahoma has yet to capitalize on their price advantage.
We now have an additional advantage. Because of Covid, the idea of moving corporate headquarters and operations to a more "rural" setting may have an appeal to their workforce. The appeal may be even greater appeal than it did prior to the Covid.
A good place to start would be to work with the tribes to bring refineries and LNG plants to Oklahoma. The tribes can fast track refinery building. The last new refineries built have all been on tribal land. The end market opportunities are huge. Port of Catoosa as a shipping point for a strategically located LNG plant on tribal land. | It would be HUGE for the gas industry. A jet fuel refinery could be a win for OKC and Tulsa airports.
All of this would help soften the Governor’s image with the tribes.
Let us see if he can capitalize on the opportunity.
~ by Steve Anderson edited by Bob Linn | California Medical Doctors Speak Out on ABC News Affiliate | Dr. Daniel W. Erickson of Bakersfield, California, is a former emergency-room physician who co-owns, with his partner Dr. Artin Massih, Accelerated Urgent Care in Bakersfield. | They are experienced medical professionals who have 40 years of hands-on experience in dealing with viruses and respiratory infections.
Having tested over 5,000 people, they have obtained data which shows the COVID is no more deadly than the flu. Their data, like the data now coming from medical professionals all over the U.S., completely contradict the now debunked "model" Dr. Fauci is working very hard to preserve. | If you are a pastor or hold a political office, their 3-minute news conference with a California ABC affiliate is a must-see. | Their 12-minute Q&A is also exceptionally revealing, as they answer questions about New York, discuss the ventilator over-hype, and other stories the media has trumpeted.
The Doctors point out:
"Typically, you quarantine the sick. When someone has measles, you quarantine them. We’ve never seen a quarantine of the healthy. There is something else going on. We now have overwhelming data to show there is no reason to continue to stay in our homes. Because we continue with the shut-down, 'Safe' is sounding like 'control'."
See written article from the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) here. | THE PASSING OF AN OKLAHOMA GREAT Ralph Bullard is with his Lord and Savior | One of Oklahoma's most beloved men went to be with his Lord and Savior last week. He died on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. As his family said so well, Jesus came and took him home.
Ralph Bullard was a frequent guest at the Wednesday meetings of OCPAC. His last time to be our featured speaker was on Wednesday, January 30, 2019. It was then that his health began to fail.
His impact on Oklahoma has been profound. It was Ralph Bullard who guided Christian Heritage academy from its infancy. He became its headmaster in its second year in existence (1972) and served in that capacity until 2006.
Then, from 2006 to 2019, he served very effectively and passionately as CHA's Ambassador. Thousands of Oklahoma's youth have seen their lives transformed through the education they receive at CHA.
In order to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Ralph Bullard, the family has asked that donations be given to the Ralph Bullard Memorial Fund.
The goal of the fund is to send two or three CHA faculty members on the Senior Boston trip every year in order to inspire and educate them as Mr. Bullard was inspired on his first trip to Boston and Plymouth in 1973.
A fitting legacy to leave for him! Your gift will continue to benefit CHA teachers, and consequently students, for years to come.
| The vision of Christian Heritage Academy To train American Christian leaders for every sphere of society. | On a personal note...
I told his son, Josh, that his father belonged in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Aside from his many formal recognitions, he lived to see develop one of the largest and godliest families in the state. He and his wife, Starley, raised 10 children who have them 58 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. By the way, Starley is doing well.
A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER
| Boston Joe has Organized a Rally Send a Message to Government
Never Again! | Boston Joe Shepherd will be on the Capitol Steps Wednesday, April 29 10:00 A.M.
He will be joined by like minded folks who want to communicate to Oklahoma's political leaders that it was not OK to shut the economy down then nor will it ever be in the future.
This is not an OCPAC event, but we invite you to join these men who are consistent constitutional conservatives.
BOSTON JOE SAYS:
Please join us with your signs! THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29 10 A.M. on the Capitol steps Contact: Boston Joe Shepard (405) 371-0265 | Thanks to all who joined the past rallies. Government is getting your message. | As our long-time OCPAC members know, Charlie Meadows is the founder of OCPAC and continues at President Emeritus. Over the years, thousands of Oklahomans have based their ballot box markings on Charlie's picks. He has always made clear that his opinion is not always that of OCPAC.
The following is Charlie's recent submission to the Oklahoma Constitution. In it, he relays his thoughts on recent events at Oklahoma's Capitol. ____________________ | CHARLIE MEADOWS Reflections on Oklahoma Politics | BACKGROUND
My article for the Winter issue evaluated Governor Stitt's performance after a year in office. This column will evaluate his performance along with that of the legislature during the "panic pandemic" brought on by the Communist Chinese Coronavirus and the fast-approaching deep recession heading our way. The coming recession is not because of the virus, but because of how we have responded to the virus. In addition, I will have some commentary on the vote to expand Medicaid. The most dangerous state question in my lifetime. | CONRONAVIRUS
Shortly after session started the Coronavirus panic began to unfold. The Governor issued an order for all non-essential businesses to shut down in counties with reported infections but left open those businesses in counties with no reported infections. That was reasonable at that time (as of today, April 25 we still have 8 or so counties with no infections). | STITT STOOD HIS GROUND
Without discussing motives, let me state clearly, Democrats, progressives, socialists etc., aided by their fellow travelers in the press, have pressured the Governor to take such an extreme approach to the panic as to surely damage our economy. They have even pressured the Governor to order a statewide "shelter in place" decree. While the Governor eventually caved to the pressure and ordered a statewide closure for non-essential businesses, to his credit he has refused to issue a statewide "shelter in place" order, even in the face of pressure from the national media. | OKLAHOMA’S HOUSE CHAMBER LEFT OF THE SENATE THIS YEAR
The legislature got to work on its agenda. As a close observer, it is clear to me that for the first time in my 35 years as a political activist the state house is the more liberal chamber of our legislature. Another disturbing trend in the house is for the huge freshmen class to vote together like a school of fish. Only occasionally will one of them vote different from the pack. | COLA
Under what I consider house leadership that is very weak on conservatism, for the second year in a row they passed legislation to give a COLA (cost of living adjustment) to retired teachers and firefighters when neither of their retirement funds were considered sufficiently solvent to give COLA raises. Thankfully the Senate stopped such a foolish effort last year and I am optimistic they will do so again this year. | MONEY WITH NO REFORMS
Truth is, since the strike of 2018, led by the union bosses and radical teachers mostly affiliated with the NEA/OEA, the state has given them almost everything they have wanted without getting a single reform in return. | TWO RETIREMENT PLANS
My state rep is a professional investment advisor and says he agrees with me very strongly that it is imperative going forward that all newly hired teachers must hire in under a defined contribution retirement plan rather than the defined benefit retirement plan current teachers are in. Yet, when it came time to vote, he was one of the irresponsible 99 to vote in favor of increasing COLA raises for teachers and firemen when their retirement funds are not solvent.
While this simple reform would be better for the teacher's retirements and do more to retain good teachers than anything currently being discussed at the legislature, the union bosses and radical teachers will oppose such a move.
Therefore, the only leverage the legislature has to achieve this valuable reform is to withhold any COLAs until the reform is agreed to. When current State Treasurer Randy McDaniels was in the legislature, he successfully got this reform passed for state employees. Older state employee's defined benefit retirements are protected and newly hired state employees, including lawmakers, are on the better defined contribution plan which is basically a 401K retirement plan. | GROSS PRODUCTION TAX
It was Monday March 9th when I realized just how much trouble we are in for and I immediately started sounding an alarm. I started calling lawmakers. With the oil production war between Russia and Saudis Arabia, an obvious attempt to do major harm to America's shale oil boom, and our economy damaging reaction to the Chinese Coronavirus, the already declining stock market took a plunge off the cliff.
Revenues to the state were already declining, especially gross production taxes. In 2018, the legislature foolishly increased gross production taxes thus making Oklahoma more dependent upon the most unstable revenue stream we have. I have been appealing to lawmakers to immediately exempt oil and gas companies from gross production taxes until the prices of those products again return to profitability. | CONFLICTS IN LEADERSHIP We are facing over a $400 million revenue shortfall for the current fiscal year which ends on June 30th. Governor Stitt, acting as the adult in the room, called a special session and asked the legislature to require a 1 to 2 percent reduction in agency budgets.
Acting like spoiled children the legislature basically told the Governor, no, no and hell no then passed 3 pieces of legislation to use $500 million of our $1.16 billion in reserves to make sure state agencies don't have to share in the sacrifices the people they are supposedly serving are having to deal with as many of them are losing their businesses and their jobs.
The Governor seemed to cave on the request for the very modest agency cuts and foolishly got into a public squabble over a few shekels to fully fund a digital transformation effort he wants done. | GOVERNOR SEEING CLEARLY
In the meantime, as the picture for future revenues is looking very grim the Governor is strongly warning agency cuts will have to be deep to terrifyingly deep over the unknown future of time. I believe he knows our remaining reserves are likely to be vaporized and still inadequate for next year's budget with possibly one or more additional years of need beyond. | LEGISLATURE SEEING NOT SO WELL
It would really be good to see lawmakers get their heads out of the sand and start making some right decisions on some very hard issues. There is only one state government expenditure already scheduled for a dramatic increase in funding starting with the swearing of lawmakers following the November elections. | ASK YOUR LEGISLATOR TO STAND AGAINST PAY HIKE
Lawmakers are to get a raise from about $35,000 a year to about $48,000 a year. While a commission determines when they can get a raise and how much, lawmakers can and should in this case pass legislation to overturn the commission's ruling. Every voter should contact their personal Representative and Senator to ask them if they have sponsored or cosponsored such legislation! Any lawmakers not willing to do so does not deserve your vote. I believe the legislature is setting us up for another massive tax increase like what was passed in 2018. | STITT STUMBLES
I believe it was Thursday, April 16th that President Trump announced plans to reopen our economy. He made it crystal clear, not all the states were the same. Governor Stitt's first reaction was disappointing where he blathered, we are preparing for a surge. I don't know why, his advisors along with those at the federal level have been so wrong on many of their predictions. He was talking in terms of reopening considerations starting May first. | STITT RECOVERS VERY WELL
Fortunately, he has allowed better judgement to start sooner with a phased in approach starting April 24th. Good for the Governor as he has done so in the face of criticism from the Democrats, socialists or those ruled by irrational fear. That process needs to proceed forward as quickly as possible. We should expect some increases in hospitalizations and deaths in the short term. Those increases if any need to be kept at moderate levels. | THE STATE QUESTION TO EXPAND MEDICAID
The advocates of expansion are Democrats, socialists, bleeding heart liberals and RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). To her credit, Governor Fallin and the Republican controlled legislature would not expand Medicaid beyond our current obligations like so many other more conservative states refused to do.
Therefore, the socialists with big money backing, have gone into these states with petition drives. In every state where these petitions have led to a vote it has passed. Just remember, during our working lives we have been forced to pay into Social Security and Medicare, but not so with Medicaid. Every penny of federal Medicaid funds are pure welfare tax dollars from the general fund. The states are required to match these expenditures, which in recent years have been the largest item of state budget growth for most states.
Women and children are already covered under our current level of obligation. This petition will include mostly lower income working men. The advocate's primary claim is "we need to bring our tax dollars back to Oklahoma" as other states are using our money. If true it would be concerning.
However, Oklahoma as are most states, is what is known as a beneficiary state, not a donor state. Meaning we already receive far more dollars from Washington than we send in. There are no tax dollars from Oklahoma in Washington to come back. Any expansion in federal Medicaid dollars coming to Oklahoma will be newly printed dollars which will simply add to the already more than $1 Trillion dollars in deficit spending this year. That will also be added to the national debt that stood at $23.5 Trillion until Congress and the President went on a spending spree never before seen in America.
Unlike the Federal government, Oklahoma can't print money. Therefore, our matching funds, expected to be in the neighborhood of an additional $150 million per year to start, will have to come by cutting other state agencies or by tax increases.
The reason this state question is so dangerous, beyond its socialist concept, if passed it will put this in our state Constitution. Meaning its funding will take precedence going forward.
With our state facing at least 2 to 3 years of very difficult finances it will surely require massive tax increases when we can least afford it. We must vote this state question down.
Any person voting for this Medicaid expansion, if it passes, should get up each morning, look into the mirror and say; I and others of my ilk are largely responsible for our deficit spending and our growing national debt. | Charlie Meadows charliemeadows7@gmail.com | |
