Oklahoma must move on from traditional ways

   The conservative agenda is beginning to annoy most of the younger and upcoming generations in Oklahoma. The ideas, comments, and policies that are being produced by the leaders of Oklahoma are honestly embarrassing. It's like having a grandpa that just says to much at a family dinner or after watching an hour of Fox News. Their close minded opinions about the world are ignorant, and I think that is what is ultimately the cause of the embarrassment. It's most likely they got the job through a connection that politicians made and how much money they put into their campaign, not that they are actually the most qualified person for the job.

   Obviously, not every person in the older generations has an extreme conservative mindset. Some of the more moderate republicans in the state of great insights, but the number of extremes outweigh the moderates. Ignorant comments made by Senator Inhofe, Governor Fallin, and even Tom Coburn have made Oklahoma seem like Georgia during the Civil War; ignorant and full of pride. A comment that Inhofe made on the Senate floor in 2006  “I’m really proud to say that in the recorded history of our family, we’ve never had a divorce or any kind of homosexual relationship.” I am not gay, but I am not oblivious to the fact that we are a free country. Right? If a man wants to marry another man then let him. Same goes for lesbian relationships. These citizens have a freedom of choice. Mary Fallin also defends the school systems which are obviously failing, and Tom Coburn also voted against anything not conservative.

 Extreme conservative mindsets believe that if gay marriage was legal then the AIDS epidemic would become pronounced in the gay community. To the contrary, wouldn't it actually reduce the number of cases of the disease? Gays will have sex married or not married. That's how heterosexuals are too. There is no stopping that. If gays wanted to marry then let them. Health insurance companies would still have the same number of clients. Maybe the AIDS epidemic would subside in the gay population due to them having sex with only their spouse, but this is a completely different topic that could be carried on through another blog post. 

   Another topic that Oklahoma's leaders are missing out on is the legalization of marijuana. At least it should be medically legal. It is still mind blowing to me that alcohol can be so publicized and advertised when it is MUCH more impairing to the human body. Not only does marijuana have health benefits for those who need it, but it also has economical benefits. No taxation without representation right? Well marijuana has had more representation then any other possible crop that could be grown in America. Taxing the plant could in return put millions of dollars back into the state as well as reducing the amount of money spent fighting the drug. Colorado has made a 15% tax on marijuana profits to be put towards public education. Whoa? What? Weed can help with building better and more fair schools? The answer is yes. The tax will generate an estimated 70 million dollars a year for public schools. Coming from a public school in Oklahoma, I know that our funding for public schools is poor, let alone one of the worst in the country. There are public schools who have private donors, so this is why they can build new amenities on their campuses. Some public schools only have state funding, which in return we end up with schools with mold on the walls, leaking roofs, and teachers who get paid less than trash men do. Yeah, most teachers do not even make what the guy driving around a truck and picking up trash makes. We have teachers who do not care as much because the incentive for them is roughly 36,000 salary. With a tax on marijuana, we could develop our schools into something that would develop students. Students are the key to our future. At least that is what I gather from the grand scheme of things. Oklahoma obviously is missing that concept.

   I know that in ten years that things will be different, but it is truly annoying to me that the politicians heading Oklahoma now are so stubborn. Get over yourself and how much money you make and start caring about the people of the state. It's your job.