It seems that lately I have written way too many things about people who have passed on. It just seems like we have lost a lot of people in the last several months and I guess that is just kinda how I mark the passing of people who have had an impact on myself as well as others by the way they lived their lives or what they did to make their mark. I have always been in awe of people who did whatever they did well. I have always been a little disappointed that what I seem to be skilled at is politics. I guess it is hard for me to picture politics as a noble profession. I wish what I was good at wasn’t so intangible. I have always had a great deal of respect for guys that took their living to the next level and were respected far and wide for their skills and abilities. Buddy Treadwell was such a person.
Buddy left this earth at the age of 57 which by today’s standards, is much too young. But, he packed a lot of life into his 57 years. Buddy was a farmer and rancher and was really good at it. He had a knack for the cattle business and a work ethic second to none. I delivered his eulogy a week ago Wednesday and did everything in my power to try to capture the essence of who he was. Buddy lived everyday to its fullest. Not only was he a good cattleman but he was also a musician, songwriter and a very good Christian who truly loved and cared for his family with all that he had. His family and their future was extremely important and I believe one of the reasons that he worked so hard. Buddy was an advocate for agriculture and worked extremely hard on issues that affected not only local and state agriculture, but also on national issues as well. He was a deep thinker and was certainly not selfish with his energies and helped many ag producers deal with government and the bureaucracy that can sometimes derail your operation.
It is extremely hard to lose a friend, a husband, a father and a grandfather especially when it does not seem like the timing was normal and natural, as was the case with Buddy. But, that is where our faith has to kick in and where as difficult as it is, we have to know that God has a plan and that there are sometimes reasons we cannot see or understand. One reminder that it hammers home for me is how precious everyday of our lives can be because we have no guarantees on this earth. Maybe his life was to teach us to live ours more fully. Do not put off that family vacation and remember, as Buddy Treadwell always did, what really matters. As I said at the end of my eulogy at his memorial service, “the big pasture weeps for a good man today, may God rest your soul, my friend”.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take; But by the moments that take our breath away…..”
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Brace Yourself.
As I was preparing this week’s column, I could not help but notice the headlines in most of the papers including the Daily Oklahoman talking about the budget cuts that seem inevitable. One of the common questions that you hear from people is ‘what will it take to get our budget healed up?’. What seems to be the common cure is for natural gas prices to increase. As I thought through that, it seems that we have a supply issue and we do not seem to be using enough natural gas to drive the price to a level that will heal up our state budget. I find myself wondering why. I have to believe that it is an issue of not enough consumption of that resource. If you look at gasoline vs. diesel, we see especially in the winter, diesel fuel climb above gasoline prices at the pump, many times by 30 to 40 cents per gallon. All the old timers say that is ridiculous because diesel is simply a by-product of the gasoline making process. All the oil boys will tell you that diesel is in the same class as heating oil. One of the dynamics that occurs is that in the winter when they use lots of heating oil up north, the price goes up. I have heard that for several years and bought it hook, line and sinker until I saw diesel higher than gas in the heat of the summer. So, I say baloney.
My contention and I do not know if I am right, is that there is so much demand for diesel. Lots of pickups are diesel now and there is a lot of freight traveling down the highways . I just think that supply outweighs the demand. This would come closer to explaining the spread in price that we see in the summer. The question is ‘how do we do the same thing with natural gas?’. I believe the answer is to fuel more vehicles with ‘CNG’ which is also known as ‘compressed natural gas’. There seems to be a lot of talk as we kind of head that direction. I heard that the Tulsa Public Schools have retro-fitted all their buses to run on CNG and can do so at a much lower cost than diesel fuel or gasoline. T. Boone Pickens has said for several years that CNG is “where it’s at”. Some would argue that we do not have the technology. I will tell ya that in other countries, it is as common as it can be. I made a trip several years ago to Argentina. I can tell you from personal experience that every old farm truck in that whole country has a CNG tank in the back. It is very common and it is certainly not rocket science. Every place I went where there was a gas station, they had a row of gas and diesel pumps, and a row of CNG pumps. So, if someone tells you that it is too high tech, they are wrong. Those countries have embraced that fuel source and their infrastructure is in place so I know it can be done. The next question is ‘why haven’t we done it?’. I think part of the reason is that we haven’t had to. Our oil production has been fairly cheap. We had a spurt for a year or so where gasoline prices climbed up in the four dollar range. It seemed to drive the discussion and get people talking again about CNG and then all of a sudden, as quick as the prices went up, they went back down to less scary levels and we then forgot the pain of those high prices. Now, as fuel prices seem to be climbing again, it seems to renew interest in that discussion.
I guess the answer lies in our society’s tolerance for high gasoline at the pump. I think it may be as simple as ‘when it hurts bad enough, we’ll fix it’. We know we can, and we know we need to. It’s just got to hurt bad enough to force us to do it. I drive a diesel pickup and I start getting a little weak-knee’d and dizzy when I see diesel climbing like it is now. But again, it may be necessary to get us thinking and make us change. So, here we are again. Let’s see what we do about it.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Budget: a mathematical confirmation of your suspicions.” ~A.A. Latimer
My contention and I do not know if I am right, is that there is so much demand for diesel. Lots of pickups are diesel now and there is a lot of freight traveling down the highways . I just think that supply outweighs the demand. This would come closer to explaining the spread in price that we see in the summer. The question is ‘how do we do the same thing with natural gas?’. I believe the answer is to fuel more vehicles with ‘CNG’ which is also known as ‘compressed natural gas’. There seems to be a lot of talk as we kind of head that direction. I heard that the Tulsa Public Schools have retro-fitted all their buses to run on CNG and can do so at a much lower cost than diesel fuel or gasoline. T. Boone Pickens has said for several years that CNG is “where it’s at”. Some would argue that we do not have the technology. I will tell ya that in other countries, it is as common as it can be. I made a trip several years ago to Argentina. I can tell you from personal experience that every old farm truck in that whole country has a CNG tank in the back. It is very common and it is certainly not rocket science. Every place I went where there was a gas station, they had a row of gas and diesel pumps, and a row of CNG pumps. So, if someone tells you that it is too high tech, they are wrong. Those countries have embraced that fuel source and their infrastructure is in place so I know it can be done. The next question is ‘why haven’t we done it?’. I think part of the reason is that we haven’t had to. Our oil production has been fairly cheap. We had a spurt for a year or so where gasoline prices climbed up in the four dollar range. It seemed to drive the discussion and get people talking again about CNG and then all of a sudden, as quick as the prices went up, they went back down to less scary levels and we then forgot the pain of those high prices. Now, as fuel prices seem to be climbing again, it seems to renew interest in that discussion.
I guess the answer lies in our society’s tolerance for high gasoline at the pump. I think it may be as simple as ‘when it hurts bad enough, we’ll fix it’. We know we can, and we know we need to. It’s just got to hurt bad enough to force us to do it. I drive a diesel pickup and I start getting a little weak-knee’d and dizzy when I see diesel climbing like it is now. But again, it may be necessary to get us thinking and make us change. So, here we are again. Let’s see what we do about it.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Budget: a mathematical confirmation of your suspicions.” ~A.A. Latimer
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Inaguration Day with a Strange Twist
This past Monday, Dede and I attended Governor Fallin’s inauguration at the Capitol. It was almost as cold and damp and snowy as the weathermen had predicted, but everyone just bundled up, hunkered down and got it done. It was a very nice ceremony, full of all the things you would expect, all the pageantry, all the dignitaries, all the normal things that you would expect to see in an event such as that with one notable exception, the flags were at half staff. The reason was the very recent shootings in Arizona where Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords along with 19 other people were shot at a town meeting. I have to say, I have been to many events around the Capitol and other places where the Governor or members of Congress or other people like that were in attendance and I cannot say that I have ever been afraid. I was not afraid at this event but as I set with other House members and Senators, you could not help but notice the snipers on the roof of the historical society and the Jim Thorpe building as well as the extra uniformed troopers and the plain clothed security detail, many in dark glasses. You could not help but get the feeling that they were not there by accident. You never know in this day and time when tragedy can strike. Actually, you would expect it more at something like an inauguration than you would at a simple town meeting. I cannot say the feeling was of fear but I could help but be just a little uneasy since all the state leaders were sitting ducks. But, I will bet my bottom dollar that every two story house within view of the Capitol grounds had already been scrubbed.
It is really hard to imagine what short circuit would have to snap in someone’s brain to make them want to shoot people like the gunman in Arizona. Who knows what his motivation was or even if he got all the targets he had intended, we may never know. What we do know is that there was a senseless loss of life and a Congresswoman who may never be the same and a little girl born on 9/11 whose parents will grieve for the rest of their days the loss of their precious daughter. The shooter had someone in mind and thank goodness for some quick thinking individuals around him who were able to subdue the man and disarm him before he could kill even more people.
I have to say that I was a little bit relieved when the closing prayer wound down and Toby Keith performed “An American Soldier” just because I knew that once it was over we would be back in the building and plus, my toes had about had all they could stand. All in all, it was a great ceremony and congratulations to now Governor Mary Fallin, Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb, and a big congratulations to our neighbor, State Auditor Gary Jones. We have a tough year ahead with a slate of great leaders to get us through. The sun will shine again on the great state of Oklahoma. It was awesome to be a part of history even with that little slight uneasy feeling. It was a great day to be a public servant in Oklahoma.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“For some moments in life there are no words”. ~David Seltzer
It is really hard to imagine what short circuit would have to snap in someone’s brain to make them want to shoot people like the gunman in Arizona. Who knows what his motivation was or even if he got all the targets he had intended, we may never know. What we do know is that there was a senseless loss of life and a Congresswoman who may never be the same and a little girl born on 9/11 whose parents will grieve for the rest of their days the loss of their precious daughter. The shooter had someone in mind and thank goodness for some quick thinking individuals around him who were able to subdue the man and disarm him before he could kill even more people.
I have to say that I was a little bit relieved when the closing prayer wound down and Toby Keith performed “An American Soldier” just because I knew that once it was over we would be back in the building and plus, my toes had about had all they could stand. All in all, it was a great ceremony and congratulations to now Governor Mary Fallin, Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb, and a big congratulations to our neighbor, State Auditor Gary Jones. We have a tough year ahead with a slate of great leaders to get us through. The sun will shine again on the great state of Oklahoma. It was awesome to be a part of history even with that little slight uneasy feeling. It was a great day to be a public servant in Oklahoma.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“For some moments in life there are no words”. ~David Seltzer
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
He Did Windows
“He Did Windows”
James Delbert ‘Jim’ Porter
April 24, 1921-December 25, 2010
Jim Porter, or Delbert as his family knew him, was a father of one of my best friends since college, J.D. Porter. Jim was one of those guys that you would refer to as the salt of the earth. There was not a flashy bone in his body. I do not ever remember seeing him in anything but overalls or the uniform that he wore as an auto glass specialist when he worked at Gene Burk Auto Glass. He lost his wife, Ada Porter, about 14 years ago and they were the kind of people who would give you the shirt off their back. I have used this space many times to write about and honor people who were much more high profile or who might have made huge marks on the world. But, taking a minute to remember a man like Jim Porter is a lot like getting off the main highway when you take a trip. It is a whole lot like seeing America from the back roads because that is where the real people live, on those back roads.
I remember hanging out with J.D. in college and when it came time for me to do my student teaching, I was needing somewhere to live for eight weeks and did not really have the money to rent anything. J.D.’s mother and dad came to the rescue and we cleaned up an old 22 foot camper trailer that they had on their place that had probably been used more for storage in those days than ever for camping. It did have a heater and a roof, and they would not take any money. It was a lot like a bunk house but I had a warm place to sleep and it didn’t rain on me so it got me through. It was simple, just like Jim Porter, one of the regular people that make this country what it is, part of the fiber of rural America.
Jim was a World War II veteran. He served his country during World War II and as J.D. said so eloquently at the funeral, he was honored to do it. I was around Mr. Porter almost everyday for the last six months, as he lived in the veteran’s center and was neighbors with my dad on the Red Wing. I remember a couple of months ago, J.D., who now lives in Lexington, Oklahoma, had come to see his dad just to spend some time. He loaded him up in the pickup to go to Wayne’s Drive-In just to sit and have a Coke. He had lived with J.D. and Jannie for 11 years until he moved into the Vet Center and had lived there for around three years. A very simple man with very simple ways who lived his life with no glitz, no glamour. He loved stock car racing, he raised hogs, hunted coyotes with greyhound dogs, and just lived. He was not a member of the country club or the president of a chamber of commerce, but he was one of the best glass men in the business. Yes, Jim Porter did windows, car windows, and made it look easy. To see Jim Porter you had to get off the main highway. I still drive by the old Porter place pretty often in Western Comanche County on Deyo Mission Road. There is not much left there. The old house is gone. But, I have some pretty special memories of an old couple who helped me along in my journey in a very small way but at the time, that little kindness was very much needed by their son’s college buddy. They were just that kind of people and would do anything they could to help a neighbor or a friend. Jim’s final resting place is Pecan Cemetery just about a mile from my house in Western Comanche County where he spent almost his entire life and probably chased a few coyotes. Rest in peace, Delbert and thank ya.
As I wrote this piece about Mr. Porter, it served as a reminder that our World War II vets are gradually leaving this earth and we must remember the sacrifice that countless Americans made in that era. One of the things that is being done is a really great cause called “Honor Flights”. Honor Flights is a way to allow WWII vets to go see the National Memorial in Washington, D.C. If you or someone you know is interested in the Oklahoma Honor Flights Program, visit the website at: http://oklahomahonorflights.org/ or contact my office and I will make sure you get in touch with the right people.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” –Scott Adams
James Delbert ‘Jim’ Porter
April 24, 1921-December 25, 2010
Jim Porter, or Delbert as his family knew him, was a father of one of my best friends since college, J.D. Porter. Jim was one of those guys that you would refer to as the salt of the earth. There was not a flashy bone in his body. I do not ever remember seeing him in anything but overalls or the uniform that he wore as an auto glass specialist when he worked at Gene Burk Auto Glass. He lost his wife, Ada Porter, about 14 years ago and they were the kind of people who would give you the shirt off their back. I have used this space many times to write about and honor people who were much more high profile or who might have made huge marks on the world. But, taking a minute to remember a man like Jim Porter is a lot like getting off the main highway when you take a trip. It is a whole lot like seeing America from the back roads because that is where the real people live, on those back roads.
I remember hanging out with J.D. in college and when it came time for me to do my student teaching, I was needing somewhere to live for eight weeks and did not really have the money to rent anything. J.D.’s mother and dad came to the rescue and we cleaned up an old 22 foot camper trailer that they had on their place that had probably been used more for storage in those days than ever for camping. It did have a heater and a roof, and they would not take any money. It was a lot like a bunk house but I had a warm place to sleep and it didn’t rain on me so it got me through. It was simple, just like Jim Porter, one of the regular people that make this country what it is, part of the fiber of rural America.
Jim was a World War II veteran. He served his country during World War II and as J.D. said so eloquently at the funeral, he was honored to do it. I was around Mr. Porter almost everyday for the last six months, as he lived in the veteran’s center and was neighbors with my dad on the Red Wing. I remember a couple of months ago, J.D., who now lives in Lexington, Oklahoma, had come to see his dad just to spend some time. He loaded him up in the pickup to go to Wayne’s Drive-In just to sit and have a Coke. He had lived with J.D. and Jannie for 11 years until he moved into the Vet Center and had lived there for around three years. A very simple man with very simple ways who lived his life with no glitz, no glamour. He loved stock car racing, he raised hogs, hunted coyotes with greyhound dogs, and just lived. He was not a member of the country club or the president of a chamber of commerce, but he was one of the best glass men in the business. Yes, Jim Porter did windows, car windows, and made it look easy. To see Jim Porter you had to get off the main highway. I still drive by the old Porter place pretty often in Western Comanche County on Deyo Mission Road. There is not much left there. The old house is gone. But, I have some pretty special memories of an old couple who helped me along in my journey in a very small way but at the time, that little kindness was very much needed by their son’s college buddy. They were just that kind of people and would do anything they could to help a neighbor or a friend. Jim’s final resting place is Pecan Cemetery just about a mile from my house in Western Comanche County where he spent almost his entire life and probably chased a few coyotes. Rest in peace, Delbert and thank ya.
As I wrote this piece about Mr. Porter, it served as a reminder that our World War II vets are gradually leaving this earth and we must remember the sacrifice that countless Americans made in that era. One of the things that is being done is a really great cause called “Honor Flights”. Honor Flights is a way to allow WWII vets to go see the National Memorial in Washington, D.C. If you or someone you know is interested in the Oklahoma Honor Flights Program, visit the website at: http://oklahomahonorflights.org/ or contact my office and I will make sure you get in touch with the right people.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” –Scott Adams
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
It's Official, She's Done.
It seems like when you are raising children, your life hinges on life changing events usually tied to the child’s development. It seems like the first big step when they are first born is “if we can just get them to sleep all the way through the night”. To new parents, that is a big deal. For many, step two is “if we can just get them out of diapers”. Then it’s “if we can just get them out of daycare”. I want you to fast forward with the Armes’ family 22 years and it seems like the latest wish is “if we can just get her out of college”. Well, sports fans, we are there. Saturday, we watched our first born, Kathryne Leigh Armes, walk across the stage at Oklahoma State University and receive her degree in what is commonly called “HRAD” which is “hotel and restaurant administration”. Katy, aka ‘Katybob’, ‘Katycat’, also occasionally referred to as ‘drama queen’ is now officially a college graduate and I just cannot describe how proud I am for her to receive her degree and to be ready for the first chapter in her adult life. It is a huge milestone which certainly has not been without sacrifice. There have been several trips to Stillwater pulling a gooseneck stock trailer. But, all in all, I think it has been a very positive experience for all of us and mostly for her. She, like myself and many of you out there, had to work her way through and I am proud of my daughter’s work ethic because I know, like a lot of you do, that it takes a lot of work just to survive. To finally complete a goal like that is an extremely fulfilling milestone.
I know, as I write about this, that I am making it sound like college is the end. In reality, it is only the beginning. I do not believe for a minute that college is a guarantee to success but it is a huge door opener. I kind of think that a college degree in this new century will be equivalent to what a high school diploma was 30 or 40 years ago. There are still a great many unknowns as far as where this path will lead her but I do know that it will broaden her horizons, allow her to see the world from a little higher perch, and it will still be up to her whether she is successful or not but I think she is in a pretty good place to start that journey.
I know it may sound like I am bragging a little and that is certainly not my intent. But, as a public official, our lives are somewhat of an open book so I just thought that I would take a moment to share with my constituents, friends and neighbors, kind of where we are in the Armes’ family saga. I know that I am only half way home because little sister Kelsey has about a year and a half before she heads somewhere to get her education. So, it will only be a brief financial rest, and in a flash, Dede and I will be empty nesters. If you have little ones still in diapers or still hanging in there on the Santa Clause Deal, my advice is to enjoy every precious moment because in the blink of an eye, your babies will be grown and headed out into the world to seek their fortune. For now, as we head into this Christmas season, we are counting our blessings and are extremely proud of Katy for achieving this monumental milestone. Now, “if she can just get a job”.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” -Wiliam Butler Yeats
I know, as I write about this, that I am making it sound like college is the end. In reality, it is only the beginning. I do not believe for a minute that college is a guarantee to success but it is a huge door opener. I kind of think that a college degree in this new century will be equivalent to what a high school diploma was 30 or 40 years ago. There are still a great many unknowns as far as where this path will lead her but I do know that it will broaden her horizons, allow her to see the world from a little higher perch, and it will still be up to her whether she is successful or not but I think she is in a pretty good place to start that journey.
I know it may sound like I am bragging a little and that is certainly not my intent. But, as a public official, our lives are somewhat of an open book so I just thought that I would take a moment to share with my constituents, friends and neighbors, kind of where we are in the Armes’ family saga. I know that I am only half way home because little sister Kelsey has about a year and a half before she heads somewhere to get her education. So, it will only be a brief financial rest, and in a flash, Dede and I will be empty nesters. If you have little ones still in diapers or still hanging in there on the Santa Clause Deal, my advice is to enjoy every precious moment because in the blink of an eye, your babies will be grown and headed out into the world to seek their fortune. For now, as we head into this Christmas season, we are counting our blessings and are extremely proud of Katy for achieving this monumental milestone. Now, “if she can just get a job”.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” -Wiliam Butler Yeats
It's Official, She's Done.
It seems like when you are raising children, your life hinges on life changing events usually tied to the child’s development. It seems like the first big step when they are first born is “if we can just get them to sleep all the way through the night”. To new parents, that is a big deal. For many, step two is “if we can just get them out of diapers”. Then it’s “if we can just get them out of daycare”. I want you to fast forward with the Armes’ family 22 years and it seems like the latest wish is “if we can just get her out of college”. Well, sports fans, we are there. Saturday, we watched our first born, Kathryn Leigh Armes, walk across the stage at Oklahoma State University and receive her degree in what is commonly called “HRAD” which is “hotel and restaurant management”. Katy, aka ‘Katybob’, ‘Katycat’, also occasionally referred to as ‘drama queen’ is now officially a college graduate and I just cannot describe how proud I am for her to receive her degree and to be ready for the first chapter in her adult life. It is a huge milestone which certainly has not been without sacrifice. There have been several trips to Stillwater pulling a gooseneck stock trailer. But, all in all, I think it has been a very positive experience for all of us and mostly for her. She, like myself and many of you out there, had to work her way through and I am proud of my daughter’s work ethic because I know, like a lot of you do, that it takes a lot of work just to survive. To finally complete a goal like that is an extremely fulfilling milestone.
I know, as I write about this, that I am making it sound like college is the end. In reality, it is only the beginning. I do not believe for a minute that college is a guarantee to success but it is a huge door opener. I kind of think that a college degree in this new century will be equivalent to what a high school diploma was 30 or 40 years ago. There are still a great many unknowns as far as where this path will lead her but I do know that it will broaden her horizons, allow her to see the world from a little higher perch, and it will still be up to her whether she is successful or not but I think she is in a pretty good place to start that journey.
I know it may sound like I am bragging a little and that is certainly not my intent. But, as a public official, our lives are somewhat of an open book so I just thought that I would take a moment to share with my constituents, friends and neighbors, kind of where we are in the Armes’ family saga. I know that I am only half way home because little sister Kelsey has about a year and a half before she heads somewhere to get her education. So, it will only be a brief financial rest, and in a flash, Dede and I will be empty nesters. If you have little ones still in diapers or still hanging in there on the Santa Clause Deal, my advice is to enjoy every precious moment because in the blink of an eye, your babies will be grown and headed out into the world to seek their fortune. For now, as we head into this Christmas season, we are counting our blessings and are extremely proud of Katy for achieving this monumental milestone. Now, “if she can just get a job”.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” -Wiliam Butler Yeats
I know, as I write about this, that I am making it sound like college is the end. In reality, it is only the beginning. I do not believe for a minute that college is a guarantee to success but it is a huge door opener. I kind of think that a college degree in this new century will be equivalent to what a high school diploma was 30 or 40 years ago. There are still a great many unknowns as far as where this path will lead her but I do know that it will broaden her horizons, allow her to see the world from a little higher perch, and it will still be up to her whether she is successful or not but I think she is in a pretty good place to start that journey.
I know it may sound like I am bragging a little and that is certainly not my intent. But, as a public official, our lives are somewhat of an open book so I just thought that I would take a moment to share with my constituents, friends and neighbors, kind of where we are in the Armes’ family saga. I know that I am only half way home because little sister Kelsey has about a year and a half before she heads somewhere to get her education. So, it will only be a brief financial rest, and in a flash, Dede and I will be empty nesters. If you have little ones still in diapers or still hanging in there on the Santa Clause Deal, my advice is to enjoy every precious moment because in the blink of an eye, your babies will be grown and headed out into the world to seek their fortune. For now, as we head into this Christmas season, we are counting our blessings and are extremely proud of Katy for achieving this monumental milestone. Now, “if she can just get a job”.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” -Wiliam Butler Yeats
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
What's Really Important?
If you have been watching any news at all lately, or especially for you real political junkies who like to read blogs, the “blogisphere” has been full of accusations. We have been doing what us Republicans do best “eating our young”. That has been quite a big deal lately as this is the first time in history for the Republicans to control all three branches at the Capitol. It is what I call the three-legged stool. We have only owned the third leg, which is the Governor’s office, for a matter of weeks and already Republicans are at each other to see who can “out conservative” the other one. I said in 2004 when the Republicans first took the House that “it is all well and good but now we must govern”. Now the minority party will point out the weaknesses of the majority party. We were great at that when we were in the minority. We should have been since we did it for 80 years.
Gradually, year by year, with a little help from Washington, D.C., voters have realized that Oklahoma is a pretty conservative state. I think that message is pretty clear especially considering the seats we picked in Southeast Oklahoma, which has long been considered a stronghold for Democrats. There are those who said for years “you will never switch Southeast Oklahoma”, but now it is happening. The argument as we head toward session this year seems to be “what is most important to conservatives?”. Is it the economy or social issues? When I consider things like this, it seems I often go back to things my mom used to say, one of which was something I heard all too often growing up and something you have heard me say before and that is “life is about balance”. I think it holds true today as we examine where we are as a state. I think if you think of it in other terms like “what is the hottest fire?”, I have to think that the economy is the hottest fire we are dealing with. Now, before you say that I have picked sides and “Don Armes is no conservative” and all that other malarchy, let’s go back to why we sign up as Republicans to start with. One of the big reasons that I am a Republican, even when it was not cool in Southwest Oklahoma, is the freedom to keep and bear arms. That is very important to me and the desire to be left alone transcends into other areas for me personally. I have a pro-life voting record that I will put up against anyone’s. In fact, on the other side of the ledger, I got a seven percent from the latest ACLU rating that just came out. Most liberals score well over 50, so I feel pretty good about that.
I think one thing we have to remember is that not all Republicans think exactly alike. From my experience in the last eight or nine years of politics, I can tell ya that we as a group are not very tolerant of anyone who does not think just like we do. It seems that we do not tolerate shades very well. I guess, maybe those of us who were conservative when it wasn’t cool, get our hackles up pretty easily and tend to “bow up” when someone questions us or our position. I was one of the first Republicans elected in Southwest Oklahoma in this era. I spent two years in the minority party in the House and was there when we made history with the first Republican majority in eighty years. People have been waiting a long time for us to get in position to change some things in this state. They expected things to happen and “right now”. That conservative base out there was not really in the mood for excuses. They were in the mood to make something happen. I can tell ya from being in a ringside seat that the reason Oklahoma is spending more on roads and bridges is because Republicans forced that. I can specifically remember the two members, who are both termed out now, that forced the democrats hands in what I considered a brilliant political move. The members’ names were Jim Newport and Mark Liotta. We took a responsible stance and said “Oklahoma, we need to spend our money wisely and road and bridge infrastructure as a priority and if we continue to neglect it, we will never catch up”. It is more important than getting elected and more important than lots of things.” So, there has been tons of progress and there will continue to be. With the control of both chambers, came lots of good things, especially where social issues are concerned. We can now not only take a pro-life stance, we can actually pass the laws because we have the votes.
The fighting we see within our own party is very frustrating to me but one thing it does create healthy dialogue. Former Speaker, Chris Benge, used the analogy of a “big tent”. I think that sums it up fairly well because as the size of our tent increases, so do the opinions and beliefs of all of us under that tent. We have a lot of things to take care of this year. Personally, I think the hottest fire is the economy and the state budget but, as I said before, life is about balance and our job is to lead. I believe that to do that we have got to do it all. We have to address social issues but I do not think we should let those spin out of control to where we ignore the economic issues. It is a tricky tight rope to maneuver but as an old friend of mine used to say “we have got it to do” so let’s go to work.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call 1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind; it requires the same effort of the brain that it takes to balance oneself on a bicycle.
Helen Keller
Gradually, year by year, with a little help from Washington, D.C., voters have realized that Oklahoma is a pretty conservative state. I think that message is pretty clear especially considering the seats we picked in Southeast Oklahoma, which has long been considered a stronghold for Democrats. There are those who said for years “you will never switch Southeast Oklahoma”, but now it is happening. The argument as we head toward session this year seems to be “what is most important to conservatives?”. Is it the economy or social issues? When I consider things like this, it seems I often go back to things my mom used to say, one of which was something I heard all too often growing up and something you have heard me say before and that is “life is about balance”. I think it holds true today as we examine where we are as a state. I think if you think of it in other terms like “what is the hottest fire?”, I have to think that the economy is the hottest fire we are dealing with. Now, before you say that I have picked sides and “Don Armes is no conservative” and all that other malarchy, let’s go back to why we sign up as Republicans to start with. One of the big reasons that I am a Republican, even when it was not cool in Southwest Oklahoma, is the freedom to keep and bear arms. That is very important to me and the desire to be left alone transcends into other areas for me personally. I have a pro-life voting record that I will put up against anyone’s. In fact, on the other side of the ledger, I got a seven percent from the latest ACLU rating that just came out. Most liberals score well over 50, so I feel pretty good about that.
I think one thing we have to remember is that not all Republicans think exactly alike. From my experience in the last eight or nine years of politics, I can tell ya that we as a group are not very tolerant of anyone who does not think just like we do. It seems that we do not tolerate shades very well. I guess, maybe those of us who were conservative when it wasn’t cool, get our hackles up pretty easily and tend to “bow up” when someone questions us or our position. I was one of the first Republicans elected in Southwest Oklahoma in this era. I spent two years in the minority party in the House and was there when we made history with the first Republican majority in eighty years. People have been waiting a long time for us to get in position to change some things in this state. They expected things to happen and “right now”. That conservative base out there was not really in the mood for excuses. They were in the mood to make something happen. I can tell ya from being in a ringside seat that the reason Oklahoma is spending more on roads and bridges is because Republicans forced that. I can specifically remember the two members, who are both termed out now, that forced the democrats hands in what I considered a brilliant political move. The members’ names were Jim Newport and Mark Liotta. We took a responsible stance and said “Oklahoma, we need to spend our money wisely and road and bridge infrastructure as a priority and if we continue to neglect it, we will never catch up”. It is more important than getting elected and more important than lots of things.” So, there has been tons of progress and there will continue to be. With the control of both chambers, came lots of good things, especially where social issues are concerned. We can now not only take a pro-life stance, we can actually pass the laws because we have the votes.
The fighting we see within our own party is very frustrating to me but one thing it does create healthy dialogue. Former Speaker, Chris Benge, used the analogy of a “big tent”. I think that sums it up fairly well because as the size of our tent increases, so do the opinions and beliefs of all of us under that tent. We have a lot of things to take care of this year. Personally, I think the hottest fire is the economy and the state budget but, as I said before, life is about balance and our job is to lead. I believe that to do that we have got to do it all. We have to address social issues but I do not think we should let those spin out of control to where we ignore the economic issues. It is a tricky tight rope to maneuver but as an old friend of mine used to say “we have got it to do” so let’s go to work.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call 1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind; it requires the same effort of the brain that it takes to balance oneself on a bicycle.
Helen Keller
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