Stan Geiger

Interesting Election Day

Most interesting, indeed. A 19-year-old kid beat a status quo politician in the race for mayor of Muskogee. Moreover, the vote wasn't even close; the kid won in a landslide. At the same time, TCC, asking for $76 million in debt plus a permanent property tax increase, was rejected on both requests---rather soundly.

If I were a politician or an educator, I would pay very close attention to what the people said on May 13th. The message, in a nutshell: We're fed up.

There's a fellow named Obama, not far removed from being a state legislator, that is on the verge of securing the Democratic nomination for president. And all he's had to do to get there is roam around the country shouting the words, "change, change, change."

Muskogee isn't a major metropolis, but it's not exactly a one-traffic-light town, either. When given a choice between a fellow that had served 3 terms as mayor in the past and a college freshman, 70 percent of voters decided to take their chances with the kid. That speaks volumes.

I have been writing in complaint of the tax-gobbler we call public education for over 10 years now. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see the day, but I'd say Tuesday's vote is a very clear indicator that people have finally had enough of education's constant demands for more and more and more.

On the debt issue 55 percent of voters said no. On the permanent tax hike 57 percent of voters said no. Less than 10,000 people were willing to say yes on either issue---not even for what the World called a "modest" tax increase. TCC, simply put, got body slammed.

It might well be the gravy train on which educators have been riding for 20 years is coming to a stop.

Politicians that want to stay in the game for the long haul had better get used to the idea of doing what the people want done as opposed to doing what benefits them.

Educators had better get used to the idea of giving up extravagances like six-figure salaries for chair jockeys, free vacation trips, free cars, free houses, fat bonuses and ridiculously exorbitant retirement benefits.

Lord knows it's high time---on both counts.

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