Public Square: Oklahomans vocal about Gov. Stitt's veto of OETA funding

Public media essential to information diet of all Oklahomans and Americans

Color me one of no doubt many Oklahomans who are gobsmacked (but not entirely shocked) that you would veto the bill that would reauthorize the charter for the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, our state's long-standing and well-regarded PBS affiliate.

Public media is essential to the information diet of not just Oklahomans but all Americans, and is actually "meant" to be an alternative to commercial programming, including profit-driven newsgathering organizations (that is, the traditional broadcast networks plus the cable news outlets). Some of us prefer to be informed by "PBS NewsHour," or National Public Radio, because each one presents the news soberly and with much-needed context that cannot be had from profit-driven commercial network and cable news. They also present other stories that commercial network and cable news don't present, which give even more insight into what's going on outside of our borders or across the ocean. They might be small stories, but still worthy of being seen or heard by those with open minds.

Not to mention in many rural parts of Oklahoma that are underserved by cable providers and/or broadband, OETA is their window to the world, for the entire family. And in many cases, it's how they get important communications in case of severe weather or other emergency.

I have more than confidence that my representative, Jared Deck (House District 44), and senator, Mary Boren (Senate District 16), will be among those who will vote to override your veto — hopefully that will come to fruition very soon.

I will also remind you that many of us voted for your opponent in large part because we object to your enthusiasm for waging the far-right culture wars (this goes for Ryan Walters, too), and especially the willingness of your political kindred to knock down and subjugate women, populations of color, minority religions, and the 2SLGBTQ+ community — all communities that find a platform in public media for their stories, incidentally. The reasons you gave in the weekly presser don't surprise me, at least what's being reported by KFOR: You object to PBS programming because it's "indoctrination." Look, we know you, and It doesn't take a Ph.D. to figure out that's *really* why you want to terminate OETA and PBS in Oklahoma. You say it should be in the "private sector" but aye there's the rub — putting it into the private sector a.) Defeats the purpose of public media, and b.) Leads to the kind of programming that we bemoan in commercial/profit driven media.

In the interest of full disclosure, I put my money where my mouth is: I am a monthly donor to OETA and a monthly donor to KOSU, my preferred NPR station. It's THAT important to me as a media consumer to have an alternative to commercial media — especially news. And it's also where public media outlets get the majority of their funding —only a fraction of funding for OETA, or KOSU or KGOU, comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting or "the government."

You have not heard the last of this issue, I assure you.

— J Bonner, Norman

Is Oklahoma headed down the slippery slope toward totalitarianism?

We recently enjoyed a visit in Germany with family and friends. While sitting around talking one evening, I happened to mention the recent legislation and new administrative directives in Oklahoma to remove certain books and restrict class subjects from our public schools. Suddenly there was complete silence and a look of horror on our German friends’ faces. The silence was broken when one of them said, “That’s one of the first things the Nazis did here.” Later, I reviewed the 1933 Nazi book ban movement, as well as other insidious actions to force compliance with their ideology, and found some disturbing similarities with what is happening in Oklahoma right now. This includes the recent withdrawal of support for public television in our state. If you’re not familiar with this piece of history, I recommend you do a quick study. My current concern is that Oklahomans have allowed some first steps down the slippery slope towards totalitarianism … and realizing Gov. Kevin Stitt’s proclamation that “Oklahoma — It’s not for everybody.”

― Jana Butcher, Oklahoma City

Loss of OETA will be profound if Legislature doesn't override veto

Gov. Kevin Stitt’s veto of funding for OETA is incomprehensible and completely unacceptable. Oklahoma had one of the first PBS stations in the country before they were called that, and today OETA is certified as being the most watched PBS station in the nation. That should make us all proud. But now, if the state Senate and House don’t come together to override Gov. Stitt’s veto, OETA will go off the air in June! We will then be the only state in the nation that doesn’t have a PBS station, and that will make us a national laughing stock. It's also bad for business.  What companies would want to come here, if they are unable to watch a PBS station? PBS does profound good in the lives of so many, through their broadcasting of the news, the arts, children’s programming, science and history programs, and so many other important things. Also, in rural areas where people don’t always have access to cable TV, it helps save lives in bad weather situations. I, therefore, implore everyone in the state House and Senate to override Stitt’s veto. It will be a profound loss to this state and its people, if they don’t.

― Sharron Miller, Norman

Responses on The Oklahoman's Instagram

"When did that happen? Our kids have been watching PBS shows like Sesame Street, and loved Ernie and Big Bird with excellent outcomes. When did they start being “sexualized?” It looks like Stitt can’t stop thinking about sex. What’s wrong with him?"

— gwenstouthmurphy

"Good job! Why does our taxpayer money go to TV programs? Rather outdated form of media that our money doesn’t need to go to. They can find some advertising dollars somewhere if enough people watch it."

— davelong

"C’mon. Give me a break. He’ll Make up anything to get his way. OETA is to give elderly, low income and children an education and entertainment outlet. All demographics he clearly doesn’t give a (expletive) about."

— sleapea2

"He said last week he’d 'veto any and all legislation authored by senators who didn’t stand with him' on his education and tax policy. He’s throwing a temper tantrum because he didn’t get his way. And he’s accusing the Senate of being undemocratic for not conforming to his singular opinion, which is a confusing perspective on what democracy is."

— ericmichaelmckinney

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Public Square: Oklahomans vocal about Gov. Stitt's veto of OETA funds