A Land of Elephants and Fat White Guys

I am a blue dot in a sea of red here in this flyover state.  And I’m a native.  Somehow, the political makeup has changed over the years until, during the last Presidential election,  my flyover state was the reddest in the nation.  And for some perverse reason, we are proud of that.   


On my Google home page was a funny quote by Seth McFarlane:  “The two symbols of the Republican party:  an elephant and a big fat white guy who is threatened by change.”


Welcome to the land of elephants and fat white guys!  We battle Mississippi for the bottom rung in educational rankings, yet we vote down Question 744 which would have required our state to spend at least as much money per student as the bordering states do.  Aren’t our children worth the investment of our tax dollars?


We seem to think we are in imminent danger of Sharia law taking over our state’s courts because there was a state question about that.   Also, there was a state question about making  English the official language in this flyover state.  If anyone is familiar with this flyover state’s use of the English language, they might find this state question ironic.  Heck, the natives have trouble using English!  But now it’s official -- English is the official language of this state.  The only people this did not affect are the Native Americans.


And, of course, my candidate for governor -- Jari Askins -- did not win.  I now understand something that a professor from the East Coast once told me.  “You think you’re liberal?  You’re not liberal.  You should see the East Coast liberals.”  I understand now.  Even our Democratic candidates are barely recognizable as Democrats.  And, heaven forbid, if you aren’t wearing the required Christian cross around your neck.  That and the American flag lapel pin.  


Oh, and we also voted to block the new federal health care initiative.  It’s crazy.  We are already one of the unhealthiest states in the nation, but we don’t want any help with health care.


We’re represented by two Senators, one who says there is no climate change (there is!) and who is famous for flying his own plane which he recently landed on a closed runway (see Inhofe plane landing under FAA investigation).  And then there's Senator No.  He makes news only because he calls a press conference to say “no.”  Doesn’t matter what the question is; his answer is “no.”  He reminds me of my grandchildren.  “No.”  


Oh, and one more thing:  we elected a man to represent us in Washington, D.C. whose work experience was being a director at the Falls Creek Youth Camp, a big deal here in Baptist Oklahoma.  If nothing else, watching him maneuver around in our Nation's capitol will be interesting.


I told my husband we should move to another state.  His response, “Why should we move? We were born in this state!  We have just as much right to live here as anyone else. At least until there's a state question on the next ballot asking voters to decide if we can still live here.”


And, finally, to all you voters who switch allegiances back and forth with each election.  I believe you call yourselves "independent."  (Maybe wishy-washy?) There's a great cartoon appearing on this morning's Lawton Constitution editorial page.  A man is screaming at the TV which shows Election Night 2010.  "WE WANT CHANGE!!!"  Twenty-four hours later, the same man is screaming, "It's been 24 hours!  Nothing has changed!!"