I often call election season the silly season. This office and social media get inundated with negative information about various candidates and situations in the state and the county. As we get later in the year, it will become all about national politics.
But I like to think we are better than that. If the best thing that can be said about a candidate is that his or her opponent is a fink, what does that say about the first candidate? Is there nothing good to say or point out about their ability to lead and admirably fulfill the duties of the office they seek? Is that what we have come to? Vote for me because I’m not as bad as the other guy? I surely hope not.
But here’s the thing. If you don’t vote, you forfeit your right to complain. The information necessary to change political parties in time to vote in this election was out there, printed in this very newspaper. More than once. If you haven’t registered, the process to do so has also been printed in this newspaper more than once. The election office would be glad to help you get registered. It is their job after all.
Voting is a privilege as a citizen, that’s true. But it is also something of an obligation as a citizen to take part in determining the course set for our government. So whether it is absentee, early or in person on election day, make sure you vote.
On the ballot is a choice for corporation commission. Maybe that doesn’t seem important to you. But here’s what makes it important. The corporation commission is the body that approves or denies the requests from power companies to change their rates. That carries a tremendous amount of weight. Essentially, the commission decides which ones get in our pockets and how deeply.
I have long contended that since we live in Oklahoma where so much energy is produced, we should have some of the lowest rates in the nation. But we don’t. I have relatives in Florida, Kansas and Wyoming who all have lower rates than Oklahoma. The one in Florida heats and cools a home the same size and R value as mine for about $100 less per month. I don’t blame the City of Watonga. They don’t jack up my rate. I blame the company that sells the energy to the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority. The authority only adds its costs to what it pays for the power.
But the power companies are at the corporation commission regularly, hands out, explaining why they need to charge us more than before. It’s shameful.
So, we need to check out the candidates for the commission seat. Find out their backgrounds and how likely they are to tell the power companies to go fly a kite and live within their means just like the citizens must.
I’m not so naïve as to think any of them would do that, but a voter can hope, can’t she?