By MIKE JONES Associate Editor on Jul 29, 2011, at 2:50 PM Updated on 7/29 at 2:50 PM
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My fellow Oklahomans, at least some of them, never fail to amaze and confound me.
I was driving into work Friday morning and happened to be following a new (it looked new to me) Mercedes Benz. It wasn’t one of those small ones, it was the big one. That’s not so unusual.
Then I noticed the sticker on the rear window. It read: “Do not participate in socialism. This is Oklahoma!”
If it weren’t so sad it would be funny. That’s right. For goodness sake, whatever happened to compassion in this country?
Do any of us really want the United States to wind up like Greece? Of course not. Do Democrats, or liberals or do-gooders whatever label they want to use (how about Christian?) really want to see this country turn into a socialist or communist state? Of course not. Well, maybe a few do, but not most.
The fact is, strong social and economic programs (call them socialist if you want) keep this country running and its people cared for. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security take care of our elderly and weak. What about the programs such VA loans for homes and schooling following World War II? What about funding public education (although I know that is anathema for some)? What about funding cancer research? Or making sure our food, air and water are safe? And on and on.
Where do some of these people think Oklahoma would be without any sort of social programs? Well, we can’t get much lower in most all categories, but the basement is still open.
Without government help (socialism in some eyes) the state might never have recovered from the Dust Bowl. Who would have subsidized wheat farmers during this current drought? Who helps pay for tornado damage?
Earlier this year, I was behind another car, a new Toyota Highlander. On its back window was the sticker: “Stop Obama’s socialism.” I pulled up next the car and the driver was an elderly woman, past 65 I’m sure and likely collecting both Medicare and Social Security.
Yes, we do hate socialism in Oklahoma. At least socialism that helps someone else.
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