Turner's 'Conservative View': A Dollar Store Calculator

A DOLLAR STORE CALCULATOR

I have found that one of the handiest things a person can own is a thing that many of us take for granted; a simple hand held calculator can prevent anyone from making a mistake on one’s checkbook when deducting the amounts when we pay our bills. I can remember when calculators first came out they were very expensive, years ago a simple one would set you back $50.00 or more. Now you can go to the local Dollar Tree store and buy a very good one for one dollar. With all of the talk about the special session of the legislature, I think it would be a good idea for all of our legislators and our governor to make a trip to the local Dollar Tree and purchase one. For less than $200.00 each lawmaker could have his or her very own calculator to check the math on the bills they will be voting on. I recently read an article about a fee that will be placed on child support payments in our state, in the next paragraph I will share what has been told to the citizens and I will use my little one dollar calculator to check their math.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is ready to begin assessing a 3 percent fee on child support payments, which they say is expected to generate about $1 million to balance its budget. These collections are handled by Child Support Services, a division of DHS. According to the article the fee will begin October 1st and be capped at $10 per month; this fee is in addition to an annual $25 fee once $500 in support is collected and issued to the custodial person. For example, if a custodial person receives $300 a month, after the fee that person now will receive $291 a month.  It needs to be noted that Gov. Mary Fallin approved the new fee at the end of the latest legislative session. According to the agency the money goes toward offsetting the cost of the collection program. It is also claimed that projections show that the average cost will be $4.31 per month and 78,000 cases are subject to the fee. While that all sounds good, get your calculators out and check the math.

We are told that $1 Million will be raised to support the program. If 78,000 cases are subject to the fee multiply 78,000 by $4.31 average cost by 12 months. The answer is $4,034,160 in my book that is just a little over the $1 million we were told it would generate. If it is a $10 fee then 78,000 X $10 X 12 = $9,360,000. The people of Oklahoma are being led to believe that the cost will only be 1 million dollars; in reality at least 4 million dollars will come out of the economy.  This is just one example how government grows into the monster it has become. Once any agency has a revenue stream it will never go down and they will scream to the high heavens to maintain it. During the last session of the legislature far too many of our elected officials spent all of their time coming up with schemes to raise more money. The passing of fees in our state has become nothing short of a plague upon society. It has gotten to the point where I just hate to see the legislature convene, for I know all of us who pay taxes are going to be hit. Instead of just rubber stamping fees like the one I just illustrated, those little Dollar Tree calculators might be a good thing to have in the future.

Russell Turner is a businessman, farmer, and conservative Republican activist from Adair County, where he served one term as county commissioner. Russell has written his weekly column, 'The Conservative View', for many years. If you wish to contact him or subscribe to his weekly email list, he can be reached at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

Russell Turner: The Hard Choice

THE HARD CHOICE

Last week I wrote a column that was very critical of our Governor Mary Fallin; while I do not want to be accused of beating a dead horse, the issue of the state budget needs to be of concern to every citizen of Oklahoma. In a recent article Governor Fallin threatened to veto any budget that that contains deep cuts to state agencies. At a Capitol news conference surrounded by state employees, heath care providers, agency heads and others, she made the comment that she has had to make some hard votes because the citizens of this state are demanding that no agencies or core services will have devastating cuts. I have noticed that politicians such as Fallin like to surround themselves with doomsday prophets that, for the most part, feed at the public trough. I have also found that making hard choices with someone else’s money is a whole lot easier than making hard choices with one’s own money. Making hard choices is definitely not limited to the government class; I would like to share the kind of hard choices we in the private sector have to make every day.

We in the private sector experience budget shortfalls every day; things can be going on just fine then a piece of essential equipment in the operation can break down and we are forced to resolve the problem in short order. In my case I have a farm tractor that developed some serious problems, with the hay season coming up it was imperative that I ether purchase another one or repair the one I have. Like the state of Oklahoma I did not have the funds to purchase a new tractor, so that option was ruled out. Taking the tractor to a repair shop would have been another option, but because the labor cost was prohibitive, another option was gone. Finally I decided to roll up my sleeves and do the work myself. While other people are better tractor mechanics than I am, I was able to get the tractor back in operation with a lot of hard, greasy work and several scratched knuckles.

I, like many other small business owners and farmers, have to make these kinds of hard decisions on a daily basis. It seems to me that many people in government cannot comprehend the hard choices we in the private sector have to make. We simply don’t have the money to do all of the things and purchase the nice new equipment that we would like to. Mary Fallin has been throwing a fit for the legislature to impose massive taxes on the hard working people of this state, I am sure that if she graduated from Tractor University like I recently did, their ideas and policies would get more down to earth. I want to make the point very clear, the private sector farmers and small businessmen do not have the financial reserves to absorb additional taxes. I have some more equipment that needs to be worked on, if any of our elected officials have the belief that everything is just fine out here in the real world come to my shop and I will help you gain the perspective that so many in office are lacking.

Russell Turner is a businessman, farmer, and conservative Republican activist from Adair County, where he served one term as county commissioner.

Russell Turner: Don't bite Fallin's "bait"

A LITTLE MINNOW 

It has been quite a while since I have had the time to go fishing, but fishing is like riding a bicycle, once you have done it you always know how. I can remember going crappie fishing on Lake Tenkiller; the most effective way to catch the big one was to put a minnow on your hook and wait for mister slab to come along. From my perspective going fishing has a lot in common with today’s politics.

A couple of days ago our Oklahoma Governor gave her State of the State Address. While her speech had the usual feel good line, there were several items in the speech that I have some serious concerns about. In her speech she proposed to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries; she made the claim that removing the state sales tax would save the average family something over 300 dollars per year. While many people may think that is a good thing, there are other parts of the speech that will have some very serious ramifications. She proposed increasing several existing taxes on cigarettes, gasoline and diesel while also creating new taxes on other items. While she was a little vague on the idea of taxing services, she did make the comment that she wanted to revamp our tax system because our system, in her words, is shifting to a service economy. There are proposals before the legislature that would impose taxes on services that all Oklahomans use such as barbers, auto mechanics and nearly everything we all use on a daily basis.

Governor Fallin and I are both republicans, but I am going to be very blunt on the reasons why I cannot support her proposals. I am a conservative, to me that is more than just something that is printed on some slick, colored brochure. Conservatism is the belief of less government and personal freedom; I also believe that the more money we can keep in the private sector the more our economy will flourish. Her plan to remove the state sales tax on groceries is nothing more that bait. Her and her kind are planning on the uninformed citizen to bite at that hook while ignoring the massive tax increases that all of us will be facing. I can guarantee you that if the tax on services passes we will all be paying far more than any saving we may get from not having to pay state sales tax on groceries. Throughout all parts of our state there are individuals we all rely upon who work on our autos repair our houses, and cut our hair; these individuals would be forced to start collecting a sales tax on their labor. Many of them will simply go out of business because they don’t want the headache of dealing with the paperwork. I have known several people that started their businesses out of their garage; not all, but some of them, eventually grew into a full time business. It seems every year or so this same ill-conceived idea rolls around, the government in its insatiable desire for more money is discouraging the very people that eventually will build our economy. I can also guarantee you that when the oil and gas industry thrives again none of these new taxes will ever be repealed.

Before we Oklahomans bite into the bait of the cheaper groceries, we need to remember what happens to the old slab crappie that bites the little minnow.      

Russell Turner is a businessman, farmer, and conservative activist from Adair County, where he served one term as county commissioner.

Update: Read more stories about Fallin's tax hike

Russell Turner: vote yes on SQ777

THE CONSERVATIVE VIEW

by Russell Turner

COWABUNGA

With the general election getting closer I have been watching the debates on the upcoming state questions that will be on the Oklahoma ballot. One of particular interest to me is SQ 777, more commonly known as the right to farm bill. Having lived my entire life on the farm I feel that I have a perspective on the issue that many people do not.

Among the groups that are the most anti SQ777 are the environmental enthusiasts. It is a noble thing to want to protect the environment, we farmers and ranchers also care for the environment, sadly most of the radical environmentalists have set their collective sights on the rural farmers and ranchers. We farmers and ranchers are under constant financial pressures that few people understand. Over the past several months there has been a constant barrage of stories on the news media about the low pay of Oklahoma teachers; while their salary may be considered low, many farmers would think they were in Hog Heaven if they were able to net what an Oklahoma teacher is paid. In this country society has developed an attitude that the farmer should be content to wear old patched clothes and just barely get by. Anytime more regulations are passed it puts more pressure on the farming class, on the other hand all of these people screaming to the top of their lungs don’t have a tired dime involved.

Just recently a law was passed in California (SB 1383) that requires the state to cut methane emissions from dairy cows and other animals by 40% by 2030. While their Moon Beam governor Jerry Brown thinks this law is a good thing, there is no known method for achieving the type of reduction sought by SB 1383. Compliance with the bill will likely require California dairies to install “methane digesters” that convert the organic matter in manure into methane. These methane digesters are expensive, and with California producing 20% of the country’s milk the legislature of California has just passed another massive “food tax” on the entire country.

I have come to the conclusion that if the radical environmentalists had their way there would be very little food grown in this country. All they can suggest is for the farmer to become more efficient, but I want to give all of you a revelation - there is only so much efficiency that can be achieved on a limited budget. If all of the environmentalists are so devoted to the cause maybe they would not mind paying more for their vegetables and meats. I would lay odds that the environmentalists would be the first to complain when their milk and egg prices go up. The farmers of this state and nation deserve to make a decent wage and be able to set aside some funds for their retirement years and also make enough to pay for healthcare. Don’t take my word on this issue; just ask some of the local farmers in your area, they will all tell you the same thing. 

SQ 777 is simply a way to prevent the demise of the farming industry in Oklahoma. The real problem stems back to the people that we have been electing to represent us in the state legislature. Very few legislators have any connection with the land, nor have they had to sweat and toil for the small amount of money that the small farmer actually makes.  I for one will vote yes on SQ777.  

'The Conservative View': Pizza and Politics

This week's Conservative View, by former Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner.

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Pizza and Politics

We Americans have had things so easy for so long that we expect all of our problems to be solved in about the time it would take to cook a pizza. All of us at one time or another have ordered a pizza, usually in about 10 minutes we can pick up our meal and avoid starvation. We have lived in a fast paced society for so long that we think that all of our problems should be solved in a short period of time; sadly that is seldom the case.

Just a little over a week ago we Americans made history by giving the liberals a stinging defeat. While it is reassuring to see that the American people remembered their conservative roots, we need to come to the realization that electing conservative leaders is merely the first step. The problems in our country didn’t come about over night and the solution to our country’s problems will not happen overnight. We Americans have become too comfortable with all of the government programs that our citizens take advantage of at an ever increasing rate. We Americans said with a loud voice that we want more fiscal responsibility and smaller government, but it will be interesting to see if that mentality holds true when the tough decisions have to be made.

For this country to get its financial house in order, there will have to be a major change of attitude across the entire country. It is a fact that whenever some program has to be cut we all want it to be someone else’s program and not ours. Our government budget has become so large that merely trimming the fat will not be sufficient. Over the years our elected leaders have been so concerned with getting re-elected that they would create programs and spend money that we didn’t have to garner votes for the next election cycle. While we like to blame the politicians for all of the problems of our country, we the citizens bear a large part of the blame ourselves. Whenever we adopt the attitude of asking the politicians “what can you do for me today” the simple politician will come up with some scheme to satisfy the voters for a day, whereas the true statesman is looking for a solution for the future and will not play the instant gratification game. Wanting a pizza in 10 minutes may not be inappropriate, but we Americans must be ready for the long haul if we are able to correct the excesses of the past. We are just like a person starting a diet; the decision has been made, now the work begins.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: Role Models

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Role Models

We Americans have become a nation of whiners and complainers. All anyone has to do is to visit the local coffee shop and set down and listen for a while, invariably someone will bring up the subject of politics and start to complain about the way our government is run. I have often thought that if our people were really serious about having good government, none of us would have to put up bad government for more than four years. Most of our elected officials are on a two or four year term of office. If an elected official mismanages funds or is corrupt, he or she can be voted out in the next election cycle. Sadly I have noticed that far too many of our citizens are more concerned about what is good for them and not what it good for our country.

For our government to be efficient and fair we citizens must also be fair and efficient. When our country was founded James Madison, the Father of the US Constitution and the 4th US President, made an observation that all of us need to reflect upon. He said, "But I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom. Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks--no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea. If there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them."

I know that it is human nature for all of us to take care of our needs first, but we also need to realize that our country was founded by men that believed all men are equal and deserve equal protection and representation. Anytime bad spending legislation is passed there is someone somewhere that will benefit from it. When any of us ask for special favors from government that are not available to everyone it is nothing short of corruption. It is easy for us to demand that our elected officials be role models to the citizens, but I believe that it is us, the average citizen, that should be the role model to the ones we elect.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.   

The Conservative View: A Rising Tide and Barriers

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

A Rising Tide and Barriers

I have noticed that many Americans do not understand the concepts of a free market system of economics. Whether it is from a lack of education or being indoctrinated by the main stream press that has very left leaning philosophies, our people fail to see the benefits of the capitalistic system our country once enjoyed. Far too many people have gotten into a system of class envy, they think that just because someone has more than they do it should be the duty of the government to confiscate part of that wealth and redistribute it to someone else.

While some think of money like a small pool of water on a beach, they look at it like there is no other water anywhere and if someone has more water than the other they have the flawed assumption that they have taken it from someone else. Our people have forgotten that freedom allows us to grow our wealth. I believe that like an ocean if the tide is allowed to flow naturally the tide will bring forth more water and the supply will be greater for everyone. There is an old saying that says, “A rising tide floats all boats”. The system works well until someone erects a barrier that restricts the flow of the water. We need to recognize the barriers that our well intentioned leaders place upon our economic system.

I recently heard that the congress will not act upon the Bush Tax Cuts until after the election. If the Bush Tax Cuts are not renewed many people will be facing major increases in the taxes they will have to pay. We need to understand that for the most part the people that have businesses and create jobs want to make a profit. If the government makes the tax burden so punitive that the business owner cannot turn a profit, he will not start the new businesses and not create the jobs that our country needs. We have forgotten that you or I may have been employed at that new business. I have heard people complain about companies moving operations outside of this country, and out of the same breath they complain about the high price of the necessities they need. To stay competitive the business owner has no other choice but to move to another location in order to survive. Until our citizens start to understand the concept of removing barriers placed upon our business owners, a rising tide cannot float all boats.  

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.  

The Conservative View: What Can I Do For You Today?

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

 The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

What Can I Do For You Today?

In a short period of time we Americans will decide who will run the affairs of our country and our government. We Americans have gotten into a bad habit of asking politicians what can they do for us today. It was Ronald Reagan who once said that politics is the world’s second oldest profession and it bears a striking resemblance to the first.

History is full of instances where people have elected the wrong people to run governments across the world; just because a person may have a charismatic personality doesn’t insure that they will be a good leader. I have found that there are two kinds of politicians, one type will tell you what you need to hear and the other will tell you what you want to hear. In my opinion the second type is no better than a common conman. Our country is facing many problems and there is no quick fix, many of the problems that we are facing are of our own making. For far too long we have been electing leaders that promise to go to the public treasury and bring home the bacon, when you look at democracies across history that is the one common factor in their demise.

We Americans have forgotten that our system of government is a Republic and not a Democracy. In a Republic we are ruled by law and not by the simple majority, in a democracy the citizens often degrade into nothing more than mob rule. In a pure democracy, if a majority of the people wants to make murder legal it will be legal; in a republic there are absolutes, even if a majority want to make murder legal it is still illegal.

I have noticed the movement in our county with the Tea Party people and others that are seeing the seriousness of the situation that our country is in. When I look at potential candidates and they start promising a chicken in every pot or some equally absurd promise, I am reminded that the primary function of our government is to protect our liberty and freedom. Distractions in our personal lives rob us of productivity and energy, only when we back up and focus our energy can we make progress. I know that it is human nature to want to get something for nothing, but we need to remember that the price we pay could be the very liberties that our county was founded upon.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net. 

The Conservative View: Handwriting on the Wall

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Handwriting on the Wall

I guess it is just a part of human nature for us when we are young to believe that we will never grow old and we will always be strong and energetic. I am reminded of an old story in the Bible about an ancient king being warned by a hand that appeared and wrote a message of warning to the king. As I see a little more grey hair each day, I also see the need to prepare for the day when I can no longer work yet still have the income to live a modest but comfortable life. As a conservative I believe in personal responsibility and the using of good fiscal sense, if we don’t see the handwriting on the wall we are all going to pay a huge price in our so-called golden years.

A lot of people have faith in some retirement system either from Social Security or some state retirement plan. Both of the systems are experiencing problems and I feel that the problems will only get worse. In the case of Social Security, the baby boomers are retiring and the number of those paying and those receiving are getting closer together every day. Another fact; the retiring baby boomers were paying more into Social Security because many of them were at their peak salary. In the case of many of the state retirement systems, the contributions were borrowed from by the lawmakers who were in charge of the system to fund other government projects or the funds were invested in a falling stock market.

Some states are already raising the retirement age to prolong the inevitable reductions of benefits. Social Security is also facing a train wreck, we have heard the warnings for years but very few politicians have the will power to do the things necessary to fix the problem. I do know that we Americans have gotten into the mentality that problems can be fixed in a year or two, but we are facing decades of sacrifice in order to correct the problem. I have noticed that many Americans are unwilling to make the sacrifices; far too many of us have the mentality of just let someone else take the hit and leave me alone. For those of us that can see the handwriting on the wall, we know that we need not rely upon the government but to rely upon our own abilities to provide for ourselves in our later years.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: Those Were The Good Ole Days

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Those Were The Good Ole Days

We humans like to look back to the events of our past and reflect on a simpler time in our lives. I have fond memories of the time I spent on my father’s farm and the old swimming hole where I spent many hours with other children in our community having a good time in our nature’s swimming pool. Over the past couple of years I have observed the events taking place in our nation’s capital with all of the reckless spending of money that we don’t have. We Americans had better get a grip on reality and come to the realization that somewhere, somehow, someone is going to have to pay the bills. Far too many people do not have a grasp of economics and good fiscal stewardship. During the Bush administration there were several tax cuts that were passed; the only thing bad about them were they weren’t permanent. On January 1, 2011, if not renewed, they will expire and the American people will experience tax hikes like the world has never seen.

There are many taxes that will hit the American people, but one of the most unfair taxes will again be a burden upon all Americans. The death tax, in my opinion, goes against the very essence of what America is all about. Without the right of private property we citizens become property of the state. When I earn money I must pay taxes upon my earnings, if I use good sense with the remainder of money that I have after taxes and save it, I feel that money should be mine to do with as I please. If I choose to save it and pass it on to my decedents, it should be theirs to do with as they please. Under the Bush tax cuts this year “2010” there will be no taxes upon that money, after January 1, 2011, your heirs will be facing a up to a 55% tax on their inheritance.

The inheritance tax is only one of many. It seems to me that many people are obsessed with getting free health care and the Bush tax cuts expiring are of little interest to them. If we think that we have it bad now, it is nothing to what we will be facing if we don’t get a congress that believes in allowing people to have the right of private property. Maybe George Bush wasn’t perfect, but those were the good ole days.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.  


[MP note] At his recent town hall meeting in Muskogee, U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-Muskogee), when asked about the Bush tax cuts, had this to say: "They're not Bush's tax cuts - they're your tax cuts!"

The Conservative View: Word Games and Your Money

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Word Games and Your Money

I have heard it said that nothing will get your attention faster than someone getting into your pocketbook. In the case of our state legislature, any time that they start funding more programs it is of special interest to me. Our citizens who are on the receiving end of those programs fail to understand that the money our legislators are spending can only come from one source, that source is the taxpayers of the state of Oklahoma. Several years ago the voters of Oklahoma voted yes on State Question 640, it was meant to slow down the ever increasing taxes that could be imposed upon the citizens of Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Constitution states that revenue-raising measures cannot be passed in the final five days of the legislative session and that tax increases must receive three-fourths support in both the House and Senate or be sent to a vote of the people. Since the passage of SQ 640, the State Legislature has routinely passed user fees instead of taxes upon the citizens to supposedly get around SQ 640. In the final days of the last legislative session, HB 2347 was passed which would have levied a 1-percent tax on insurance payments, increasing the cost of health care for working families by $78 million per year. Fortunately the bill was challenged in court saying it was enacted unconstitutionally. House Bill 2437 was approved in the final week of session and did not receive the support of a supermajority in either chamber of the Legislature. The Supreme Court’s decision ruled that the provider fee is in fact a tax and issued an order blocking enforcement of the health care tax. State Rep. Mike Ritze, one of only two doctors serving in the Oklahoma Legislature, was quoted as saying, “House Bill 2437 would have added to the already heavy tax burden facing Oklahoma citizens, we need to reduce taxes on Oklahomans, not increase them, and calling a tax a ‘fee’ does not make it easier for the taxpayers.”

Anyone who tells you that getting involved in politics does no good needs to take a good look at the effects that SQ 640 had on our state. I, and people from all parts of the state, took of our time and carried petitions to get SQ 640 on the ballot in the first place; one percent doesn’t seem like much, but without SQ 640 Oklahomans would have had 78 million dollars less every year and that is one word game we all can understand. 

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net. 

The Conservative View: Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

All of us, at one time or another, has heard the nursery rhyme about the woman who looked into the magic mirror and asked who was the fairest of them all. We Americans have gotten into a bad habit of patting ourselves on the back and have cultured the belief that we can forget our founding principles and still expect to be the most prosperous nation that the world has ever seen. We Americans love to gripe and moan about how corrupt our government has become, but we fail to link our behavior to those of our elected officials.

How blind we are to the fact that our elected officials and our government are merely a reflection of how we the citizens conduct ourselves. Our forefathers were people who had pride in their ability to be self reliant and self sufficient. Today we have a host of politicians who promise anything and everything to bribe the voters to elect them into office. I can remember a time when it was an insult to someone if there was a suggestion that they should ask for a government handout. Today too many people are only concerned that they get their share. We Americans have been infected by a disease called entitlement. Even those who contribute nothing to our society have been conditioned to believe that they should get their “fair share” and they don’t care that someone else has done the work necessary to earn the things they want a part of.

We have allowed ourselves to be manipulated into believing that someone is greedy who wants to keep what they have earned. We have allowed ourselves to believe in class envy and to covet the possessions of the ones who worked for them. Whether we want to admit it or not, we have been trained like a dog performing for its supper. Far too many Americans look at the political candidates and ask what they can do for them today. We sit back like a puppy waiting for the next doggy treat. It is a fact that we all have to survive, but we Americans have degraded ourselves into a people that lack the vision to remain a great nation.

Before we label someone as greedy, remember that the true greedy person is the one who does not contribute but wants a share of someone else’s labor. During this election season we need to reflect upon what we have become, the next time we look into the mirror we may not like what we see.  

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net. 

The Conservative View: Darkest Before Daybreak

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Darkest Before Daybreak

I have been told that the night is the darkest just before daybreak; I feel that that analogy can be applied to the economic situation that our country is currently in. I keep hearing some bureaucrats from various governmental agencies claim that the worst of the economic crisis is behind us and all will be fine in a short period of time. I guess that we could be inspired by their optimism, but I have learned that the main difference between an optimist and a pessimist is the pessimist usually has more and better information.

There are some facts that we Americans need to take into account before we start letting our guard down. For a true economic recovery, only the private sector can create the wealth needed to bring our country out of the financial mess we are in. For those who think that the government is the answer, we need to remember where the government gets the money it spends. That money only comes from the taxpayers of this country. The so-called economic rebound since March 2009 was bought with unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus. There has not been a real, market-generated recovery. Even with all of the money that our government has thrust into the system through bailouts and stimulus, the recovery is still weak. We need to remember that at least 80 percent of this huge stimulus program has been used up. There isn't much left to keep the economic engines running.

For any economy to grow, the people must have enough faith to be willing to borrow money and take a risk in order to make money. Today it seems like the only borrowing going on is what our government is doing. Strong recoveries have always been driven by credit growth. The labor market has not recovered and thus consumer spending is also down. Even the housing market could experience more problems with mortgage debt defaults which would result in falling home prices.

We Americans seem to have forgotten that our economic system relies upon each of us to do all that we can for our own well being. Granted, government has a place, but it should only be used for as short a period of time as possible. If our government does not stop the practice of printing more currency and using it like monopoly money, our economic night will continue to grow darker and darker. 

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: Champagne Taste & Beer Pocket Book

This week's Conservative View, by outgoing Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell). [Russell recently lost his reelection bid in the Republican primary on July 27th]

The Conservative View

by Russell Turner

Champagne Taste & Beer Pocket Book

If you are like most people, whenever you open a phone bill you will be astonished by all of the fees that are tacked on the basic service of your bill. Many times the bill will increase 50 to 60% over what you thought you would have to pay. Government is always looking for some kind of fee to raise more revenue. It is a sad fact that we Americans can be the most gullible people on the earth. We listen to all of the absurd promises that some politician makes and never question where the funds will come from to finance the big promise. We Americans have a bad habit of wanting something and not wanting to pay for it. I was taught a long time ago that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Back when the current financial problems started, there were cries about the mess that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were in. The main problem with those lending institutions was that the government was pressuring lenders to make loans to people that were buying more house than they could afford or were unable to pay back the loan in the first place. I recently read about a proposed fee that will affect all home buyers in this country.

The U.S. Treasury Department is considering a new mortgage fee to fund the backstops it gives for loans purchased through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Analysts say the fee may be up to 1.5 percent of the borrower's mortgage, which would be a big increase from the current 0.25 percent that both Fannie and Freddie currently charge mortgage borrowers. This 1.5% fee could be in addition to the current .25%. To put it into perspective, if you obtain a mortgage for $300,000 you could see an additional fee of up to $4,500 ... and the additional cost would just keep rising with the size of the loan. For any of you that thought the bailouts and stimulus spending didn’t cost anything, this new fee blows that conclusion away. 

Buying a house is not a lot different than buying a new car. The salesman will tell you that for just a little more you can have a better stereo, better upholstery, etc.  It is sad that we Americans often have a champagne taste on a beer pocket book. We Americans need to start living within our means and stop thinking that someone else will get us out of the jam that far too often we create ourselves. 

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: Selective Enforcement Sucks

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Selective Enforcement Sucks

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of laws that our state legislatures and congress pass every year. Laws are supposed to create an environment that will ensure equality and liberty for everyone. Laws should only be passed if they are needed. When legislation and laws are passed they should be enforced; if there was no intention to actually enforce them, why pass them in the first place?

One of the purposes of our federal government is to protect our country from harm; foreign or domestic. The dilemma that the people of Arizona are facing concerning the invasion of illegal aliens into their state should attract everyone’s attention. At some time in the past the federal government saw a need to take action to control our borders, what our lawmakers seem to have forgotten is for any law to achieve the effect it was intended for it first must be enforced. For all of the people giving the state of Arizona grief for trying to protect itself from an all out invasion, maybe they should demand Washington DC do its job first.

From what I have heard about SB 1070 it mirrors federal law. Earlier this week federal judge Susan Bolton blocked several key parts of the Arizona law. One comment was made by the feds that if the federal government decided not to enforce the federal law, it would be illegal for the state to take any action to stem the tide of illegal immigration. I do realize that gridlock does exist and it slows the legislative process; at times it is a good thing, but this is not one of them. The way our government is handling our problem on our southern border is equivalent to calling the police when someone is breaking into your home and being told it might be next week before the officers could be there.

Elections come and go, the vast majority of Americans want a common sense solution to the problem but it doesn’t seem to be the fed’s major priority. It is so strange that our federal government wants to ignore its duty to protect our borders, but it is ready to sue the state of Arizona and prevent them from doing what the feds should already be doing. I have a suggestion for all branches of government; if laws are not going to be for all the citizens of this country, don’t pass them in the first place. This selective enforcement of laws sucks!   

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: A Nation of Children

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

A Nation of Children

Life can be full of simple pleasures such as watching young kittens or puppies at play. Their whole life revolves around simply having food and playing with each other. We humans often start much the same was as our pets do, but we humans are capable of much more. Whether or not we choose to evolve and grow up is our choice.

When you watch children play they will exhibit many of the same traits as our animal friends, some are selfish, some desire to be the dominate one on the playground. It is our duty as adults to help mold our children into being caring and responsible people. This is something that does not come about overnight, it take years of training and good examples for our children to become good, productive citizens. Our nation and our way of life relies upon our ability to convey those values to our children. While there are always exceptions to the rule, children lack the discipline to make the best decisions for their future. Children lack the ability to spend money wisely; for the most part they are only concerned about their needs at the present time and not for the future. Their life experience does not allow them to see the bigger picture; before they can see the bigger picture they must have the experience of being responsible for their own wellbeing. Our children rely upon us adults, but eventually they must grow up. I have seen a trend in our country that is alarming to me and it should be to all conservative Americans.

Far too many of our adult citizens look at our government as a substitute for their parents. One of the greatest traits of our forefathers was the ability to be self reliant. Throughout our lives all of us experience problems, but we need to remember that our problems are just that, our problems. It is a sad fact that for the most part we humans are our own worst enemy, most of the time we create our problems ourselves. Our government is “we the people” and we should not look to others to solve our problems. Granted, there are times that anyone requires a hand up, but we should avoid always asking for a hand out. I recently read a timely quote from Elizabeth Scalia, "When nothing matters and you answer for nothing, you’re living the life of a child, and a nation of children cannot survive for very long." Maybe it is time that we Americans start to grow up. 

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: Never Wrong to do Right

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Never Wrong to do Right

I believe that whenever anyone has reached the end of their rope, it is a time for a person to set down and think about his problems and what the solutions may be. I have found from personal experience that you can get so busy that it is easy to forget what our founding values are. I have seen people who justify about any behavior because they think that the ends justify the means. Stretching the truth, turning a blind eye to improper behavior, does nothing but degrade the fabric of our society. Occasionally all of us at one time or the other has had the privilege to make the acquaintance of someone that has chosen the path of honesty and integrity. Just a few days ago I had the fortune to meet such a person.

I am a County Commissioner from Oklahoma, and recently I attended a trade show in Oklahoma City. There were vendors from all sorts of companies there to display their products with the hope of gaining new customers from various counties in our state. One of the vendors made a profound impression upon me. When someone has integrity it shows, there seems to be a twinkle in the eye of the person that possesses it. This individual is an elderly man that started a culvert pipe business many years ago; he still works in the business with his two sons. We talked about the state that our country is degrading into and his simple words of wisdom are something that we all can learn from. He told me that his father taught him that it is never right to do wrong and it is never wrong to do right. We talked about some of the practices in the past where elected officials expected companies to funnel money back to them if they purchased government equipment from them. I can remember back in the 1980’s many county commissioners went to prison for that kick-back scheme. I can only imagine the pressure on a struggling business when the owner played by the rules and refused to take part in an illegal practice that many other companies engaged in.

Sometimes the simple approach is the best. Many Americans have bought into the idea that all of our problems can be solved with more money, in reality we have a shortage of integrity. Integrity and honesty is the core belief of us conservatives. Sometimes doing the right thing is not the popular thing to do but I agree that it is never wrong to do the right.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: When In Rome

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

When In Rome

I have often heard the old expression, “when in Rome do as the Romans do”. I believe that statement to be one of respect. When I visit someone and observe how they conduct their business, I often remind myself that how they do things is their business and not mine. Unless asked, I don’t try to convert them to fit into my personal belief system. Most countries would take a very dim view at someone from another country protesting and carrying the flag of another country within their borders. We Americans are a tolerant people to other people’s values and beliefs. I recently read some comments from our founding fathers concerning the allowing of other people from different cultures into our country.

In 1820 Alexander Hamilton wrote, "The United States have already felt the evils of incorporating a large number of foreigners into their national mass; by promoting in different classes different predilections in favor of particular foreign nations, and antipathies against others, it has served very much to divide the community and to distract our councils. It has been often likely to compromise the interests of our own country in favor of another. The permanent effect of such a policy will be, that in times of great public danger there will be always a numerous body of men, of whom there may be just grounds of distrust; the suspicion alone will weaken the strength of the nation, but their force may be actually employed in assisting an invader."

While we Americans can be tolerant, we need to remember that the values our country was founded upon are just as important as those of any other country. It is strange that no other country in the world is as tolerant to other people’s beliefs to the extent that it degrades our own heritage.

If the people in Rome were so tolerant of other cultures and allowed their values to be replaced, their city would no longer be Rome. Whenever you hear of blanket amnesty we need to remember the words of Alexander Hamilton, "To admit foreigners indiscriminately to the rights of citizens the moment they put foot in our country would be nothing less than to admit the Grecian horse into the citadel of our liberty and sovereignty." Over the past weeks the state of Arizona has taken much abuse for merely wanting to know who is coming into their house, maybe the current administration needs to read the words of the men who actually founded this country.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: When Donkeys Fly

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

When Donkeys Fly

Anyone who owns an automobile learns pretty quickly about the insurance industry and the need to have insurance on his car.  In most, if not all, states require drivers to have liability coverage. If a person finances his car, the lending institution requires that the owner must have full coverage to insure that the loan will be paid off in the event of an accident.  If a driver owns his car, it is his business to decide if he want to purchase full coverage or not.  The prudent driver knows that life is a gamble and he has to decide if he is willing to take the chance of not having full coverage.  Protecting our savings is also a gamble, before 2008 individual accounts in banks were insured up to $100,000.00.  Most individual bank accounts — including checking, savings, trusts, certificates of deposit (CDs), etc. — are covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  If a husband and wife had a joint savings account, for example, they were typically protected up to $200,000.  If a sole account owner had the same $200,000 ... he would have been wise to open two $100,000 accounts at two separate banks to get full coverage.  Thousands of people using Indymac Bank, a California institution that went under in July 2008, did NOT understand these things.

There is currently legislation now working its way through Washington with a little-known provision that will retroactively insure about 8,700 depositors at Indymac Bank and five other institutions that went belly up before lawmakers increased FDIC coverage.  Our government has made a habit of bailing out businesses and firms that didn’t use good financial sense, and now they want to bail out people who didn’t take time to protect their own money.  While this is a small bailout, the cost will be anywhere from $180 million to $200 million.

If the same mentality could be applied to the auto insurance industry, we could buy a car and drive it without insurance and save the premiums that we would pay and use the money for something else.  If we did have the misfortune to become involved in an accident, then we could go to the local insurance agent and buy full coverage and get our car repaired.  We all know that would only happen when donkeys would learn to fly.  If our government continues to ignore the rules they create why even pretend to have rules at all, when they're so easily bent and exceptions are so easily made?

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: Blood From A Turnip

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

 The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Blood From A Turnip

One of the biggest flaws in our political system is the fact that many of the people that we elect to represent us have never had their own money at risk or have run a business of any kind. One of the founding fathers once said that any government is a burden and expense to the citizens. It is our duty as Americans to decide how much burden that we are willing to tolerate. I have head it said that the best way to get someone’s attention is to get into their pocket book first. For those of us who actually pay taxes our government has done a good job at getting my undivided attention. Nothing comes without costs, too many Americans do not seem to be able of comprehend this simple fact. I have noticed that the people that support many of the programs that are draining our national piggy bank pay little or no taxes.

Recently I was told that 47% of the American public doesn’t pay any income taxes. Those people fail to understand the dilemma that is facing our nation. When you look at it objectively the taxpayer is paying his bills and raising his family while all at the same time doing the same for someone else. One thing that our politicians do understand is numbers, what they fail to understand is that there is a limit to the amount of taxes that the taxpayer can pay and have a decent living for himself. My parents taught me that there are limits and you can’t get blood from a turnip.

For all of those people who think it is fine to continually tax the ones who are already paying the bills need to realize that when a certain point comes they will kill the preverbal goose that laid the golden egg. Our friends on the left fail to understand the capitalist form of economics, capitalism is the engine that has built our country. To illustrate the point, several years ago in an attempt to raise tax revenues congress passed a huge tax on the yacht industry. The result was that the yacht industry was driven out of business in the United States. I have been told that we humans seldom learn from history but for the sake of our country we had better start learning from the mistakes of the past or we may be a nation of turnips in need of a blood transfusion.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.