Last week we asked readers to weigh in after the Nov. 5 election and offer their thoughts on what should come next.
President-elect Donald Trump is already busy naming members of his Cabinet and developing plans for when he takes office in January. The Oklahoma Legislature will be back in session in February.
More: Editorial: Trump will be president. We hope with self-reflection a leader emerges for all.
On the national level, we asked about expectations for a second Trump presidency? What challenges should the president and Congress put first on their priority list?
On the state level, we asked for reader thoughts about more tax cuts, more money appropriated to improve prison conditions, provide more support for health and mental health care agencies and improve public schools.
Here are some of the comments we received:
What Trump should do
You asked what President Trump and the new congress should prioritize. Here is my list:
1. Close the border, we can’t afford massive immigration
2 .Drill, make the U.S. energy independent again and export oil
3. Strangle Iran financially
4. Stop massive spending that caused inflation
5. Back Israel with all they need to defeat Iranian proxies.
That’s enough though I could go on.
―Richard Perkins, Bethany
More money to improve highways
If 100% of state gasoline tax went to highways we could have better and possibly some new roads instead of being held hostage by the turnpike authority. Another thought would be to eliminate ODOT and hire a decent company to run the highway department. Maybe then every project would not end up with a bottleneck.
―Ken Seibel, Oklahoma City
Eliminate food insecurity
Oklahoma is one of the hungriest states in the nation. We need solutions! Food insecurity in Oklahoma affects all types of citizens: children, seniors, rural communities, and people living in food deserts. This is an important issue, as food insecurity can directly correlate to increased health issues costing our local economy money. Children suffer in school by not being able to focus due to hunger, and lack of economic growth in certain geographic locations. It is believed that Oklahomans facing food insecurity are needing more than $470 million in resources.
I spent two years working at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma in the childhood hunger programs. I have seen firsthand the impact that after school and summer feeding programs can benefit not only children but their families. Families shared that it was a stress relief knowing their child was being fed a healthy, nutritious meal and not have to worry where dinner was coming from. I have also seen firsthand how the rules and regulations set into place by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), the governing agencies of said programs, have limited who can participate, leaving out hungry Oklahomans.
Oklahomans deserve better. We must do better! I believe we need to gain support from OSDE to show Governor Stitt the importance of summer feeding programs and the need for Oklahoma to opt-in to the federal Summer EBT (electronic benefit transfer) program. The program would allow eligible households to receive up to $40 per summer month per eligible child. Oklahoma has two food banks in the state, so I believe they also need to lobby and advocate for the program so Governor Stitt has no choice but to opt-in. In July 2024, Gov. Stitt stated he did not opt-in to the program due to not having enough information on it and already giving $20 million in state money to local food banks. I believe if Gov. Stitt met with these families or came to these programs and saw firsthand how it impacts families, he would have to say yes to the program.
Being a social worker means we advocate for all our clients. Social workers see firsthand the impact that food insecurity can have on other aspects of life: work, school, and health. If social workers continue to advocate for a better Oklahoma, we will see a better tomorrow.
―Bethany McGarry, Edmond
More: Rejection of summer food program for kids and Ryan Walters top readers’ letters
Thoughts on the election
Nationally:
For me the top priority was the economy. Lower inflation and trying to bring down current prices. Does no good to lower inflation and keep current elevated grocery (and everything else) prices.
Woman for President: I have fought the “glass ceiling” for my whole career. Nothing would please me more than to vote for a strong, intelligent, capable, politically moderate woman for president. Sadly, the two candidates we have had come nowhere near an acceptable candidate given my criteria.
Goal for Trump in my view should be to help people manage by stopping people and drugs at the border, improving the economy for all and improving our defense against China, Russia and Iran.
Oklahoma:
I voted Democratic for state offices because the Republicans have turned on women and are too far right for my taste.
Goals for our state government should be to stop making hundreds of new laws each year, enforce the ones we have, trust and let women make their own decisions, keep church and state separated and IMPROVE public school education in this state. I realize that here with such a far-right Legislature, these goals will be hard to reach. But I can hope.
―Suzanne M. Rogers, Edmond
We’d welcome more of your thoughts. Send your commentary to yourviews@oklahoman.com. Please include your name and hometown.
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