BY
RUSSELL TURNER
COMPELLING
INTEREST
When any issue comes before the voters it is easy to get into a
certain frame of mind and get on one side or the other. One issue that is
generating a large amount of controversy is State Question 777. We owe it to
ourselves, and future generations, to become educated on both sides of this
issue. I am a farmer and I live that life everyday, I understand the problems
facing agriculture. The opponents of the question have raised some points that
need to be debated. #1 the opponents claim that they are looking out for the
family farms. #2 the opponents are concerned about water quality. #3 there is a
concern that Chinese owners will take over the Ag business in Oklahoma and
pollute our state. While these concerns are legitimate, we need to address them
in a logical manner.
On the #1 issue about being concerned about the family farm, I am
speaking from personal experience. I am a cattle rancher, and like all other
ranchers, we are being hit with a drop in cattle price to the point where we
will do well just to break even this year; from what I understand the grain
farmers are not much better off. It seems strange to me that the news media
never tire of telling about the underpayment of Oklahoma educators, yet there
is no coverage about the plight we are enduring. Various interests have no
problem in asking us to vote for more taxes to increase their salary, but I am
touched by their concern for the family farm and their lack of a decent wage.
On issue #2 the concern about clean water is something farmers and everyone
else desires. In the question it states that there must be a compelling
interest before the legislature can impose more regulations upon agriculture.
It might surprise you to know that in the last legislative session HB 2446 was
passed; that bill makes it very clear that water quality is a compelling
interest to the state of Oklahoma. When it comes to water quality the
legislature currently has, and will continue to have, the ability to pass
regulations to protect our water. On issue #3 about Chinese owning and
polluting our state, I was informed just a few days ago that our legislature
passed a law several years ago that prevented foreigners from owning Oklahoma land.
If the people from China and other countries are owning and operating our
farmland, how are they getting around our laws?
For years others and myself have been alarmed by China buying up
some of this nation’s best farmland. Ask yourself, why is this happening? I
have a theory. Too many of our elected leaders will do anything to get elected;
to get to those ends they are quick to accept money from any Political Action
Committee (PAC’s). All of these fancy slick photo grade fliers, which are full
of clichés that you get around election time, cost money. I have found that
lawmakers are ready to put more regulations upon the family farmer while
ignoring the fact that foreign people are getting around our laws. Ask yourself
if you have a compelling interest to trust these guys? I can see the farming
way of life slipping away, I will be voting for 777 to slow down that trend.
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