State Question 723...

An advertisement, an appeal, or any request that is made with an emotional slant to it always makes me suspicious. Maybe it’s from all of my years of being a mom. When you tug and pull at people’s emotions there is a tendency to make an emotional decision. Kids know that. Politicians know that too. Case in point is the advertising campaign in favor of State Question 723. This type of advertising makes me ask a few questions:

1. What are the “actual” facts and is this information slighted?
2. Why do they not want me to see this issue rationally?
3. What are the motives and who will this benefit?
4. Does this benefit me or the advertiser?
5. And how do these people know how many gallons of gas I use in a month?

Do you realize that it is the ‘poor’ people who will pay more than anyone else at the pump? Why is that you ask. Well, people of lower incomes usually drive older cars that use more gasoline. Lower income people do not get as good gas mileage as the people who drive the newer more efficient cars. Everyone is probably only thinking about the ‘poor’ SUV drivers though and how this tax will dramatically affect them.

If someone or a group of “someones” are paying for these huge advertising bills, I am sure they aren’t doing it for my benefit. Somebody somewhere is standing with an empty bucket waiting to fill it up. I just don’t know who it is.

You do know that the federal government gives all 50 states money to spend on their roads and highways. I would like to know where all of Oklahoma’s apportioned money has been going. Here are some 2001 numbers to think about:

In 2001, Oklahoma was one of only six states that received funds for “Special Projects”. That year Oklahoma received $15 million dollars.

Oklahoma also receives money for bridge replacement and rehabilitation from the federal government. In 2001, Oklahoma received almost $6.7 million.

Oklahoma is apportioned money for interstate maintenance and the national highway system. In 2001, the total funds that were received by Oklahoma, for its transportation system and its bridges, were almost $46 million. (That’s including the ‘Special Project’ money for that year.)

Now I know that roads and bridges aren’t cheap, but the State of Oklahoma isn’t footing the entire bill here. And let’s not forget that Oklahomans are already paying for the toll roads. That’s another group in and of itself… The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. How did that happen? Must be another one of those “lockbox” thingies.

later…

State Question 723 Ballot