January 22, 2020 Issue, Page 3 of 10

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, January 22, 2020 Compact dispute solution: Opinion Page “ElkCituNews End the casino monopoly Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 Funding doesn’t By Byron Schlomach reservations. Consequently, dodging vehicles with Texas cal issue but a moral one. explain state With Governor Stitt and Oklahoma’s tribes at log- tribal members have inte- plates slowing for casino ex- As Howard Hughes pointed grated into the prevailing its. After the casinos, traffic out to a U.S. Senator in the gerheads over the gaming movie, The Aviator, granting education culture, apparently becom- clears. compact, it’s a good time to ing just as prosperous as any That’s the reason casino monopolies is un-American. reconsider the tribes’ gam- other group of people. gambling will not end in For those who have a moral performance bling monopoly altogether. While there is only one Las Congress still recognizes Oklahoma’s reservation-less Oklahoma, despite the cur- rent dispute. Casinos bring problem with gambling, keep in mind that while casi- By Jonathan Small Vegas, Oklahoma is a ca- tribes, and this grants the too much money into the no gambling exploits a vice, sino state. Regardless of the tribes some privileges oth- state, even with tribes the so does selling liquor in a In recent years, status-quo forces have described Okla- compact dispute’s outcome, ers of us do not enjoy. Given primary beneficiaries of sur- bar and selling state-spon- homa’s 2009 per-pupil funding level as a goal for state Oklahoma will remain a history, this might well be rounding states’ inhabitants’ sored lottery tickets out of a spending, and argued that the slight reduction in per-pupil casino state. The question justified, but it is not ap- gambling habits. convenience store. If people appropriations experienced following 2009 is to blame for is, why should the tribes be parent that there was ever a Tf casino gambling is not want to keep casinos out of the state’s education problems. exclusive operators of casi- justification for a grant of a going away and it’s already their communities, the legal Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, is the latest example nos? monopoly over an industry all over the place, why means to do so can be more Casino gambling exclu- other than that it happened should the tribal monopoly of this pattern. Provenzano told The Oklahoman she op- sively allowed of tribes in elsewhere. continue? A more com- effective against a Steve poses making the state superintendent a gubernatorial ap- other states arose from a petitive casino gambling Wynn than against tribes. Casinos in this state are pointee, and implied the focus should be simply on spend- legitimate need for impov- not restricted to specific ter- industry will bring even Let’s end the tribal mo- ing increases. erished reservations to gen- ritories, although the laws more money into the state. nopoly over casino gam- “The state of education in Oklahoma, and the work that erate some cash flow. In and regulations on permis- Competitive industries are bling in Oklahoma and open Arizona, where I lived for sible locations can be re- generally larger and richer the industry to anyone will- we're going to have to do to even get it back to where it several years, I found res- strictive, confusing, and than monopolized ones. The ing to compete. once was, is a direct result of severe underfunding by the Byron Schlomach ervations to be sad, unde- arbitrary. Thus, casinos in head-to-head competition is state Legislature for well over a decade,” Provenzano said. veloped, _ poverty-stricken Oklahoma are fairly ubig- that made Las Vegas great is 1889 Institute Director If spending equals better results, then 2009 should be a places with a few poorly- uitous. When headed north relatively muted in Oklaho- and can be contacted at high-water mark for educational outcomes in the state. It's exploited natural attractions. out of Texas on I-35 or I-44, ma by its limitation to tribes. bschlomach@ 1889institute. not. But Oklahoma does not have it can be quite the adventure This is not just a practi- org. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called the “nation’s report card,” shows fourth grade reading and math scores in 2009 were basi- Honestly reflecting on Martin Luther cally the same as in 2019. In reading, NAEP found just 28 percent of Oklahoma King Jr. in the age of white lies fourth graders read at grade level or better in 2009. In by Wim Laven generations to come: Rever- dubious. of Conscience (1968) har- 2019, the test found 29 percent read at grade level. I find no hero more in- end Dr. Martin Luther King, The equality King sought nesses his full moral author- Put simply, 2009 levels of spending generated the same spiring than the Reverend Jr. taught us to love one extended to all humans. He ity to pronounce: basic results as 2019 spending. That doesn’t fit the narra- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. another, accept each other, saw the innocent people be- and I see crucial need for celebrate our differences, ing killed in Vietnam as his We must move past in- tive of those who want no changes in Oklahoma schools’ oversight or expectations. his message during the cur- and remember that which brothers and sisters. Living decision to action. We must rent epidemic of intentional brings us together — we are up to King’s message means find new ways to speak for Neither does the fact that the 20-percent increase in cruelty and persistent moral all God’s children and we opposing the intentional ex- peace in Vietnam and for Oklahoma school appropriations over the last two years cowardice at the highest lev- are all charged with making tension of endless wars and justice throughout the de- has had no notable impact on outcomes. Instead, academic els in the United States of this world a better place. Dr. the intentional escalation of results declined in 2019 on NAEP, state academic tests, America. King dedicated his life to violence being perpetrated veloping world, a world that In testament to the inspira- this effort, and as we honor by White House policies borders on our doors. If we and the ACT college-entrance exam. Also contrary to the “only spending matters” crowd, the tion I have drawn from Dr. his memory, we must ensure motivated to antagonize and do not act, we shall surely King, I revisited his 1967 that we too are always striv- terrorize millions of people be dragged down the long, biggest improvement in outcomes occurred even as educa- question “Where do we go ing to make a difference. around the globe. It also it dark, and shameful corridors tion appropriations declined slightly. In 2015, NAEP found from here?” in the title of my That was then; now Mc- also means reflecting on of time reserved for those 33 percent of fourth graders read at grade level or better. doctoral dissertation. He sawCarthy and virtually all the military-complex as a One reason that reading outcomes improved in 2015 two paths before our nation: elected Republicans support whole. Predating the Black who possess power without even as per-pupil spending was at a standstill or declining community or chaos, and he Trump no matter how egre- Lives Matter movement by compassion, might without slightly is that lawmakers raised expectations. A law in worked for community. He gious his racialized state- decades, King was familiar morality, and strength with- launched the Poor People’s ments and policies, eg., with the complaint that Af- out sight. force at that time ended social promotion and required stu- Campaign. He sacrificed ev- calling refugees fleeing war rican Americans were dis- dents to repeat the third grade if they read at a first-grade Naturally, as we’ve come erything, giving the last true zones “animals” and urging proportionately drafted, as- level or lower. (That law has since been watered down and measure of devotion, not to crowds to tell elected rep- signed to combat units and to expect, Trump is using outcomes have fallen as a result.) flag, but to people, all peo- resentatives who are people killed in Vietnam, and statis- King’s holiday to brag about Money matters, but government structure, accountabil- ple. of color to go back to their tics support that conclusion. himself. Just surreal. From ity, and academic expectations matter too. Under Oklaho- Checking our racialized countries of origin (all but King was diplomatic but his proclamation: language, the common un- one of them born in the US, clear in his concerns and ma’s current system, gubernatorial candidates from both We have seen historic eco- derstanding of the term but let’s not let the facts get critiques. Today, he would parties campaign on education issues, but their ability to “white lie” is that it’s a mi- in the way of a great rac- spotlight the cruel injustice nomic growth, with more implement their vision is hampered by their lack of author- nor, harmless little fib. I’m ist chant). Send them back’ in those opposing repara- than 7 million new jobs ity over the Department of Education. instead using it to mean lies Send them back! Um, sure, tions by highlighting the since my election and record Giving the governor authority to appoint a state super- told by white supremacists like Detroit, the Bronx, Chi- ongoing benefits of white highs in African-American, intendent will guarantee direct accountability. If things or those told by those who cago the places three of them privilege, the many harms Hispanic-American, and seek to retain the profound- were born? to people of color from sys- go wrong in Oklahoma schools, the governor will be on Asian-American employ- ly unequal economy of our The Poor People’s Cam- tems much more than overt the hot seat, Under our current system, no one is really in profiteering plundering class paign is still struggling to name-calling, and the con- ment. Through a focused charge. starting with Trump. find ways to alleviate the tinued failure to address the effort of deregulation and Ask yourself: Which system do you think is most likely The ubiquitous white conditions of poverty—ev- threats of white supremacy. growth-oriented policies, we to generate better academic outcomes? The answer is obvi- lies of our times obfuscate erywhere. The US enters He would draw parallels be- have unleashed the potential ous. the depth and meaning of into “free trade agreements” tween the ongoing efforts to of the American economy Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma King’s message. The annual promising to help people, disenfranchise and_ restrict tradition of sharing favorite but the deals tend to in- minority votes and the anti- and bolstered the strength of Council of Public Affairs (www.ocpathink.org). MLK quotes, which enters crease poverty on both sides. democracy practices of Jim the greatest workforce in the into full swing during the NAFTA, for example, has Crow segregation and voter world, the American work- celebration of his birthday, left persistent poverty and suppression. Of course Sen- Have something force. is so fashionable that every- increased unemployment in ate Majority leader Mitch In 2020 we can all oppose one but the most extreme Mexico, and reduced wag- McConnell opposes repara- racists will participate, and es while costing 100,000- tions, his ancestors owned Trump’s attacks on the poor to share? even many of them will too. 700,000 jobs in the US. The slaves, and he has had a and his efforts to increase Donald Trump’s racist ca- agreements work well for lifetime of benefit he inher- instability and escalate vio- reer does not preclude his elite owners, not so much for ited and which he’s grown lence and war. We can sup- participation. His defenders millions of workers. through corruption. Send your letter port movement towards throughout the GOP have The President who paid The racism that elected cynically done so as well. fines for racist practices Trump is the same as the equality and challenging in- Back in 2011, then-House in his real estate bi SS racism that opposed Obama justice, and we all should act to editor@ecdaily- majority whip Kevin Mc- has signed an executive because of his color (not his with Kingian compassion, Carthy (R-CA 23rd) posted order “that will seek to re- policies) is the same as the courage, and conviction. this to mark MLK Day: move regulatory barriers in racism calling slaves 3/5ths Wim Laven, Ph.D., syndi- Today we celebrate the the housing market, which of a human for purposes of news.com life and work ofa great man would reduce the price of representation in Congress. who has left his imprint on homes and reduce homeless- cated by PeaceVoice, teach- King always made fierce es courses in political sci- our nation and this world for ness.” Specialists call that calls to action; The Trumpet ence and conflict resolution.