Letters: On abortion rights, electricity rates, OKC neighborhoods

Anti-abortion laws are a privacy issue

Abortion is not a public issue. Abortion is a privacy issue. Contraception is a privacy issue. I know of few if any women who wish to have an unintended and unwanted pregnancy. Again, that is a privacy issue involving one's control over one's body.

To decrease unwanted pregnancies is to make them unnecessary through proper sex education before puberty and readily available free contraception. In areas where this has been tried, abortion drops dramatically.

Abortion is not a religious only issue. (Many religions) are in support of abortion rights. The Bible does not take a stance on abortion. In America and Oklahoma, a clear majority support abortion rights up until viability. Obviously, our current governor is pursuing his own agenda and not representing the people.

Current legislation is clearly directed toward the lower socio-economic citizens who cannot afford to travel across state lines to access medical care. The more fortunate will not be affected.

Furthermore, the last time I checked, it takes sperm and an egg to achieve pregnancy. Where is the male responsibility? Again, this is a privacy issue. Why are men responsible for decisions on women's health and autonomy? It makes no sense. Isn't that obvious?

— Pamela Ryan, Oklahoma City

Only OGE shareholders win when rates increase

Enough!

The recent rate increases granted to OG&E have placed an undue burden on its customers, while benefiting its shareholders. Dividends (for parent OGE) have increased every year and are more than double what they were 10 years ago, while costs to the customers have gone up exponentially.

I live in a small condominium for people over 55 and many of us are on fixed incomes. Utilities (gas, water, and electricity) represent 30% of our annual operating budget. We’ve already had an increase in Homeowner Dues of 7% this year and probably will face another increase in January due to increasing energy costs. We received a $12,000 electricity bill last month, by far the highest we have ever had. Electricity costs are becoming unsustainable. And it’s not just us, it’s everyone. Something needs to change.

OG&E is a monopoly and can pass its costs on to us almost at will. We have no ability to look for lower cost suppliers and this needs to change. We need to allow competition in the electricity market like we have in the natural gas market. Let us contract with other electricity suppliers and negotiate fixed price contracts or buy only clean energy if we so choose. The choice should be ours, not the monopoly’s.

I ask the Legislature to work with the Alliance for Electrical Restructuring in Oklahoma (AERO) to end the monopoly as soon as possible. The rate increases are not sustainable. The only winners are the OGE shareholders.

— Christopher Meek, Oklahoma City

'I love Oklahoma City, and especially the south side'

I enjoyed your article about OKC neighborhoods and look forward to the series of stories featuring four major parts of OKC. I also moved to Oklahoma City in the 1980s, in fact it was 1980. I was a young wife and mother, and my husband transferred to the GM plant here. I was a little bit afraid of leaving my hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, and my family, but the job opportunity was too great for us. Besides, my dad told me he did pipeline work in Oklahoma and thought it might be a nice place to live.

Ironically, my dad always brought us kids gifts and I received a small Oklahoma license plate that had my name on it. He also brought us a small jar of the Oklahoma red dirt, which I took to school to show the other kids. Back then I never dreamed Oklahoma City would be my new home and it has been my home for 43 years now.

I also kept to the south side ... why? Because of the people. We started off in an apartment on S Santa Fe, then moved to the area off SW 89th, and finally settled in the area of 73170 ZIP code in Stone Meadows housing addition. We really liked the Moore schools. We really have the best friends and neighbors.

Through the years, I have gotten divorced and remarried, worked for the Postal Service and retired from there, but one thing remained constant: I love where I live. It is like living in the city and the country. There is farm land close by and a beautiful downtown just a short drive away. There are countless things to do — from small town farmers markets to world concerts. I just saw Andrea Bocelli last month!

The city seems to be constantly improving, too, which is great. I remember how the people came together after the Murrah Building bombing and after various tornadoes. In fact, we lost our home in the 2013 tornado and I actually cried as people hugged us, gave us water, food, or helped with removing debris. The "Oklahoma Standard" is an amazing thing and I love Oklahoma City, and especially the south side.

— Paula Langston, Oklahoma City

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Letters: On abortion, electricity costs, OKC neighborhoods