David Walters: Your one vote is more powerful than all the politicians who seek it
People often ask me how we reached this point. How did Oklahoma’s government become so wasteful and extreme over the past few years?
Oklahomans are a good and honest lot ― people who care deeply about their families, neighbors and communities. That hasn’t changed since I was governor, but many of our politicians now think they’re bulletproof, and it’s a big problem.
In a democracy there is only one way out, and that’s for all of us to vote, make our voices heard and start holding politicians accountable.
Whether it is Democrats or Republicans, it is not good for Oklahoma to be dominated by one political party. Our leaders look at Oklahoma’s status as the state with the worst voter turnout in the country, and they scoff that they’ll ever be held accountable. If 1.2 million Oklahomans cast their vote to elect state leaders on Nov. 8 and the winning candidate gets something over 600,000 votes, that 600,000 represents only 20% of the adult aged Oklahomans who are eligible to register and vote!
This narrow group of participants, determining our leaders and policy, is why the politics of the majority can become so extreme. It is an easy but destructive approach to politics and policy. The majority party leaders in Oklahoma believe that as long as they can point to politics in Washington, D.C., or try to divide us based on our differences, they can do anything they want here at home. This election is not about Democrats and Republicans. It’s not about Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, AOC, Ted Cruz, Ron DeSantis or Donald Trump.
This election is about what is happening right here in Oklahoma in our own backyard. It is about who can unite us around our common goals, of which we have many, not how to divide us on some national controversies that are intended to motivate the most radical base voters. Imagine leaders who call both sides to the table, who look for ways to work together and who work to reach agreements rather than suing everyone.
For the first time in a long time, Oklahomans have some very close general elections to decide ― not because our politics have changed ― but because our values remain strong. We fundamentally believe that every politician, regardless of party, should be held accountable, and I think voters will do exactly that this year.
During my time as governor, we had a 38% increase in public school funding by reallocating dollars from lower priorities and making hard decisions. We did not get there by trying to whip up anger against public schools. Instead we focused on the needs of children and worked closely with the Legislature to get things done.
Our residents want us to be able to present Oklahoma as a wonderful place to live and work and raise our kids, not as the reddest “this” or the most radical “that.”
I love the old saying, ”Your one vote is more powerful than all of the politicians that seek it.” In our democracy, these individual votes and voices reach a crescendo on Election Day and can move mountains and create real change. When the 40% of eligible adults voting turns into 60% or 70%, then we get policies that serve all of us and not leaders who are in it for themselves rather than doing the hard work here at home.
PLEASE vote, no matter your politics on Nov. 8 and encourage your family and friends to do the same.
David Walters served as the 24th governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: David Walters: Individual votes, voices can create real change
