Is Oklahoma Green? Nope!

coalIt is this sort of attitude that made me glad to leave Oklahoma, and precludes me from ever returning.

“Oklahoma residents who produce their own energy through solar panels or small wind turbines on their property will now be charged an additional fee, the result of a new bill passed by the state legislature and expected to be signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin (R).”1

We should be doing everything we can to promote green energy.  I suppose someone convinced the folks who pass for legislators in Oklahoma that it was “bad for business” to have folks doing this.  That perhaps it was cutting into the electric suppliers’ business.

In making the above statement I wondered how Oklahoma generated most of its electricity.  Turns out most of it comes from six coal-fired power plants (27% of states capacity3 ). Continue reading “Is Oklahoma Green? Nope!”

America – The Dysfunctional Family: Time for Some Tough Love

Most of us have a family member who is dysfunctional either from drugs, alcohol, mental illness, or any number of other possible things.  They seem to take up more of the family’s time, resources and energy than is their due.  We all have been in a situation where a family member, friend, coworker, or stranger thought they should get more than their fair share of… you name it.  Neither is right.

The analogy I wish to draw is this.  The NRA(National Rifle Association),  The Tea Party, the Anti-Choicers ,  the Religious Right, Rush Limbaugh, Ted Nugent and many others groups are not in sync with the majority of the American population.  Yet they seem to be setting the agenda for many things as they are funding politicians and can mobilize a block of voters.  Poll after poll has demonstrated that their beliefs and goals are not really that of mainstream, middle of the road Americans.

The other analogy that I want to make is that the corporations and excessively wealthy are taking seconds, thirds, fourths… before the platter even gets around the table to little Bobby.

We need to stop acting like a dysfunctional family.  We need to stop letting the bullies take our school lunch money.  It is time to practice some Tough Love.

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This survey compared Tea Party members to “mainstream conservatives.  There is a huge gap there.  Can you imagine what it would be if they compared the Tea Party to middle of the political spectrum Americans. Read about survey

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A while after I posted this little piece this slightly more polished article came out:  Has America Become Entirely Dysfunctional?