Yes, we don't need roads to farmland to get crops to market. Let's eliminate them. :(

Exactly, Rover, that's exactly what I'm saying.

Christ, you're unbearable.

Exactly, Rover, that's exactly what I'm saying.

You do know I was being sarcastic, right? (hence the frown)

Yes, we don't need roads to farmland to get crops to market. Let's eliminate them. :(are you for real? It's almost obscene of how many roads are in Oklahoma serving 4 million people. There are thousands of miles of roads that should removed. Lately I've been driving around the state on my days off and it's like Oklahoma is just an extremely low dense city sprawled all over the place. There are tons of four lanes roads in the middle of nowhere with hardly any traffic and single family homes every 5 miles.

The typical tea party thinking is to reduce infrastructure, ignoring that infrastructure is a large part of what enables an economy to grow. We are a rural state with lots of low density farming and ranching. That is who we are. We are not a state with great mountains and ski slopes or rambling ranches. We are a sparsely settled state that is barely 100 years old. We are not blessed with great waterways for freight transportation, nor could we build railroads to serve the farmlands properly. When you go to foreign underdeveloped countries and see how farm products rot because they can't get it to market and where villages are isolated and poverty reigns, then maybe you can see the value of infrastructure. Oklahoma doesn't need to relegate itself to 3rd world status.

First off, I never said anything about Oklahoma being 3 world. I don't care what other counties do. We may have vast farmland, but smarter planning could line milled roads connected to two lane asphalt roads and then served by "hubs" that are along four lane concrete highways.

Don't act like every road that is out there is being used by farms who couldn't otherwise operate without it. Like I said, what I have been seeing are wide roads in the middle of nowhere with very little traffic on them ALL OVER THE STATE!!!!!!!! There is no reason for that.

We don't need 100,000 thousand miles of roads to serve farms. That is crazy.

BTW, the circumference of the earth is about 25,000 miles. We have 100,000 miles of roads. No one sees anything wrong with it.

Which highways are you talking about...going where to where...that you want to eliminate or don't think are important enough to serve the people in the area?

And, yes you should care about economic development and learn a little from what happens in other countries and the lessons shown.

BTW, the circumference of the earth is about 25,000 miles. We have 100,000 miles of roads. No one sees anything wrong with it.

And the sun is 93 million miles away. So what's your point. You can't throw out a number completely out of context and expect it to mean anything or to provide any reasonable economic or social analysis. It's like saying anyone over 300 pounds should be a great football player.

I do care about economic development, but there are highways in the middle of nowhere that could be built for the OKC area expanding the city.

Highways in the middle of nowhere? HA! Just because you think they are in the middle of nowhere and seldom used doesn't make it a fact or frankly even close to the truth. Do we have a lot of paved roads? sure and at the highway 74 Odot meeting they admitted as much but every highway is being used either by oil and gas, agriculture or the numerous number of small cities that are spread out through this state but saying they could instead be built in OKC is silly. You are normally very good about providing maps when you want to make points such as this and while some may disagree its a point because you put work into and actually thought about it but simply saying we have lots of unused roads that could be put to use in the city is something that any large city can and will say for generations to come.

I guess you're right. It just seems weird to me how many miles this state has for roads, but I'm not them 24/7, so perhaps they have a purpose.

Where You Live Says A Lot More About You Than You'd Think (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/10/state-by-personality-truity_n_6833614.html)

Oklahoma is listed as one of "The Open Minds" - "The Open Minds are interested in arts, literature, the sciences, and other intellectual activities". :confused:

And the sun is 93 million miles away. So what's your point. You can't throw out a number completely out of context and expect it to mean anything or to provide any reasonable economic or social analysis. It's like saying anyone over 300 pounds should be a great football player.

Marc Kushner: Why the buildings of the future will be shaped by ... you | Talk Video | TED.com (http://www.ted.com/talks/marc_kushner_why_the_buildings_of_the_future_will_ be_shaped_by_you)

are you for real? It's almost obscene of how many roads are in Oklahoma serving 4 million people. There are thousands of miles of roads that should removed. Lately I've been driving around the state on my days off and it's like Oklahoma is just an extremely low dense city sprawled all over the place. There are tons of four lanes roads in the middle of nowhere with hardly any traffic and single family homes every 5 miles.

First off, I never said anything about Oklahoma being 3 world. I don't care what other counties do. We may have vast farmland, but smarter planning could line milled roads connected to two lane asphalt roads and then served by "hubs" that are along four lane concrete highways.

Don't act like every road that is out there is being used by farms who couldn't otherwise operate without it. Like I said, what I have been seeing are wide roads in the middle of nowhere with very little traffic on them ALL OVER THE STATE!!!!!!!! There is no reason for that.

We don't need 100,000 thousand miles of roads to serve farms. That is crazy.

A major portion of our state highways are two lane road (I would bet large majority but I am not going to verify that now) , going to hubs (aka cities), with the four lane non-interstate highways tending to either connect the medium size cities to either the interstate system or OKC/Tulsa directly. Also it is comical if you are going on this tangent and still wanting features like 5 high stacks or six lane distributor roads in the metro.

A major portion of our state highways are two lane road (I would bet large majority but I am not going to verify that now) , going to hubs (aka cities), with the four lane non-interstate highways tending to either connect the medium size cities to either the interstate system or OKC/Tulsa directly. Also it is comical if you are going on this tangent and still wanting features like 5 high stacks or six lane distributor roads in the metro.the reason I don't want these smaller highways built out there is so we can have wider and nicer highways and interchanges here in the metro.

By all means, support the endless roads throughout the state.

I found this article amusing https://www.yahoo.com/travel/what-every-u-s-state-is-best-at-113184438892.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

I did a few months of TDY from Ellsworth up to Minot. It was during the winter so maybe that's why I didn't notice that particular best. Gets mighty cold up there.

If only we were North Dakota. :P

Best At Electing Presidents

I wonder if that means they are the most likely to have selected the winner or more subjectively they choose the better candidate irrespective of if they win the national election.

Maybe it's just more voter turn out.

List of best cities for millennials led by OKC, Omaha and Austin.

The 15 Best U.S. Cities for Millennial College Students (http://www.onlinecolleges.com/texas/best-cities-for-millennial-college-students.html)

List of best cities for millennials led by OKC, Omaha and Austin.

The 15 Best U.S. Cities for Millennial College Students (http://www.onlinecolleges.com/texas/best-cities-for-millennial-college-students.html)

That's becoming a pretty tight group of usual suspects...

The states where second marriages are most common: We've mapped them for you. (http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2015/03/13/the_states_where_second_marriages_are_most_common_ we_ve_mapped_them_for.html?wpsrc=fol_tw)

I guess I missed out on this. Been married for 37 years. Neither one of us are from OK. both military brats. Maybe that skews the equation up.

We're pretty far on the edges too - been married to each other for 20+ years, first marriage for both of us, and no kids.

The states where second marriages are most common: We've mapped them for you. (http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2015/03/13/the_states_where_second_marriages_are_most_common_ we_ve_mapped_them_for.html?wpsrc=fol_tw)

I am sure the rush to marriage culture in Oklahoma contributes. Arkansas does the same thing and it the highest. So many people I know who got married at 18 or 19 are now on their second and sometimes third marriages by their late twenties.

Oklahoma is #1 in police shootings! | The Lost Ogle (http://www.thelostogle.com/2015/06/02/oklahoma-is-1-in-police-shootings/)

The Counted: people killed by police in the United States in 2015 ? interactive | US news | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/jun/01/the-counted-police-killings-us-database)

Oklahoma is #1 in police shootings! | The Lost Ogle (http://www.thelostogle.com/2015/06/02/oklahoma-is-1-in-police-shootings/)

The Counted: people killed by police in the United States in 2015 ? interactive | US news | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/jun/01/the-counted-police-killings-us-database)

I believe this deserves it's own thread given the broad scope and issues it encompasses.

Oklahoma is #1 in police shootings! | The Lost Ogle (http://www.thelostogle.com/2015/06/02/oklahoma-is-1-in-police-shootings/)

The Counted: people killed by police in the United States in 2015 ? interactive | US news | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/jun/01/the-counted-police-killings-us-database)

Can anyone say they are surprised by Oklahoma leading in another undesirable statistic?

Can anyone say they are surprised by Oklahoma leading in another undesirable statistic?

Life is how Oklahomans choose to make it. Make a stupid decision and end up helping to make Oklahoma look poor in the statistics.

Oklahoma is #1 in police shootings! | The Lost Ogle (http://www.thelostogle.com/2015/06/02/oklahoma-is-1-in-police-shootings/)

The Counted: people killed by police in the United States in 2015 ? interactive | US news | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/jun/01/the-counted-police-killings-us-database)

The problem I have with this, is this really has zero basis in real statistics. There is terrible (as in non-existant) record keeping and reporting of police shootings in the US. Being smaller in population and news, it's more likely a shooting will get media coverage in Oklahoma than California, which is what the guardian based their rankings on.

I'm 100% behind the idea of dealing with police shootings, if they're a problem, but the first step would be some sort of accurate record keeping and reporting.

...
I'm 100% behind the idea of dealing with police shootings, if they're a problem, but the first step would be some sort of accurate record keeping and reporting.

Absolutely! As well as other gun-related deaths, which I believe isn't kept track of accurately either (not sure what the percentage of accuracy or "unreportedness" is for each, though)!

As TLO said, it's really a shame a foreign newspaper has to compile these stats and do this kind of story...

Oklahoma City continues to make strides to become a solid big league city:

Oklahoma City is growing, but how can we gain momentum in popularity for tourists? | KFOR.com (http://kfor.com/2015/06/04/oklahoma-city-is-growing-but-how-can-we-gain-momentum-in-popularity-for-tourists/)

^^ That's awesome to see something in Oklahoma top 10 for tourism, truly.
As I've said numerous times on here, as someone who has "vacationed" in OKC a few times, Bricktown is the catalyst for the majority of tourists around the area. You have to keep Bricktown's momentum and redevelopment going and ensure it keeps it's entertainment value while at the same time fulfilling it's desire to become a real neighborhood.

Unique bars (not chain bars, or necessarily clubs), greater variety of dining options (and BT doesn't need to go crazy here, just a few more restaurant options spread throughout), and continuing developments such as Brickopolis that can provide a greater resume of fun activities. This is why the Starflyer actually grew on me after I was a little cold on the reception front.

Of course, Chisolm Creek is also up and coming, but unless you're staying around that area (which, most people don't), it's a drive from downtown to get there, and will be. At that point public transit or even knowing someone around the area really becomes beneficial.
Now, obviously this is all easier said than done, I'm not a wealthy developer who can assume the risk. But, as long as people continue to go to BT, and as long as OKC's population continues to grow, the amenities will keep coming. Thus, certain things become more popular and visitors will warm up to the idea of staying longer or more often because they know there are multiple activities and options.

Although we have our problems, this is a nice list to NOT score high on. Pun intended. https://www.yahoo.com/autos/top-10-states-where-drugs-and-alcohol-kill-the-123513741117.html

We're #1 We're #1!!
http://static1.lxdcdn.net/images/max/w/806/c827c7172b699f4cf0ab9eda20e5df02.jpeg

Oklahoma Has Image Issues | Okie Funk: Notes From The Outback (http://okiefunk.com/node/1598)

Not a good list of stuff, quoted directly from the article:

Here’s just a partial list of what has been in the national news about Oklahoma recently:
(1) We lead the nation in executions on a per capita basis.
(2) Oklahoma leads the nation in the number of fatal police shootings on a per capita basis.
(3) We imprison the most women on a per capita basis.
(4) We lead the contiguous United States in the number of 3.0-magnitude or higher earthquakes we endure because of a portion of the fracking process.
(5) We have cut education funding the most of any state since the 2008 economic downturn.
(6) Attorney General Scott Pruitt continues his relentless and laughable legal wars against the Environmental Protection Agency and the Affordable Care Act.
(7) U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe recently held a snowball in his hand on the Senate floor and claimed once and for all it proves global warming is a left-wing conspiracy. He was widely mocked throughout the world.
(8) The governor’s daughter was living in a recreation vehicle at the state “mansion.” The story became known as “trailergate.” It got widespread, national coverage.
(9) The Ten Commandments monument at the state Capitol has created controversy and silliness widely reported throughout the world.
(10) U.S. Sen. James Lankford isn’t doing much as a political leader these days but attacking Planned Parenthood based on secretly recorded and obviously biased and fraudulent videos. He’s widely known as a fanatic ideologue in Washington but adored by The Oklahoman editorial board as some wise sage.
(11) Oklahoma faces a massive teacher shortage because of low pay and poor working conditions. The state’s anti-education mentality has never been on such wide display than now, or at least I can’t remember such a time.
(12) The Oklahoma Health Care Authority just cut the payment rate for developmental disabilities service providers. Read that sentence again.

If the far right Christian politics don't force people a number of people to leave Oklahoma, then the earthquakes eventually will, if they continue to step up in frequency and intensity as the months go by. But for now we're expected to accept them as a product of Mother Nature, what comes with Okie living, like we do severe thunderstorms, blizzards and risk of more F-5 tornadoes happening.

^^ That's awesome to see something in Oklahoma top 10 for tourism, truly.
As I've said numerous times on here, as someone who has "vacationed" in OKC a few times, Bricktown is the catalyst for the majority of tourists around the area. You have to keep Bricktown's momentum and redevelopment going and ensure it keeps it's entertainment value while at the same time fulfilling it's desire to become a real neighborhood.


With all the crazy news events and insane politics that go on in it, Oklahoma needs to be a promoted as a state you got to visit to believe it.

OK is #6

Adult Obesity in the United States: The State of Obesity (http://stateofobesity.org/adult-obesity/)

OK is #6

Adult Obesity in the United States: The State of Obesity (http://stateofobesity.org/adult-obesity/)

Kelroy,
I can tell by your picture that you could stand to lose a pound or two!
C. T.

Kelroy,
I can tell by your picture that you could stand to lose a pound or two!
C. T.

Haha... classic... great line C.T.

5th Most Dangerous State to Drive In

Oklahoma Makes Top Ten Most Dangerous States To Drive List - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/30642199/oklahoma-makes-top-ten-most-dangerous-states-to-drive-list)

5th Most Dangerous State to Drive In

Oklahoma Makes Top Ten Most Dangerous States To Drive List - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/30642199/oklahoma-makes-top-ten-most-dangerous-states-to-drive-list)

Ouch. Think is also has to do with our high number of uninsured drivers on the road?

^I wonder what each set has in common..................

Using complete data from 2013, Oklahoma averaged 17.6 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2013. A total of 678 people died in traffic accidents. Only 84-percent of passengers and drivers said they always used seatbelts. Even more disturbing, out of all traffic-related deaths in 2013, 91-percent of those people had alcohol in their blood.

But hey, let's focus all our efforts on "modernizing" our liquor laws.

But hey, let's focus all our efforts on "modernizing" our liquor laws.What are you saying?

But hey, let's focus all our efforts on "modernizing" our liquor laws.

Doesn't Missouri have really lax liquor laws? They were only 19th.

Doesn't Missouri have really lax liquor laws? They were only 19th.

Yes Missouri does have lax liquor laws. Oklahoma has very strict liquor laws and yet we still have a DUI problem. So that should show that the laws have nothing to do with it if someone is going to try and claim laxing the laws will put more drunk drivers on the road.

Doesn't Missouri have really lax liquor laws? They were only 19th.

I was making a joke as much as anything. However, I wish people were as concerned with getting insurance rates up and road safety improved as they were about buying cold beer. BTW - I support the RLOA's proposals. I just think people are more worried about liquor and weed in Oklahoma than about road safety. Which is probably why we rank so high.

I was making a joke as much as anything. However, I wish people were as concerned with getting insurance rates up and road safety improved as they were about buying cold beer. BTW - I support the RLOA's proposals. I just think people are more worried about liquor and weed in Oklahoma than about road safety. Which is probably why we rank so high.

The insurance thing just blows my mind. How is this not a bigger issue here?!

Would inspections help? How do other states combat this? I would assume people would just get insurance for the inspection then turn it off afterwards.

The insurance thing just blows my mind. How is this not a bigger issue here?!

Would inspections help? How do other states combat this? I would assume people would just get insurance for the inspection then turn it off afterwards.

No idea. I do know they were talking about a program where cameras in police cars would scan license plates and automatically check for insurance. But I don't know if that was enacted.

But yeah, even on my POS $2000 truck, I keep full coverage. Cause if you get in a wreck in Oklahoma, chances are they won't have insurance.

Oh, and removing inspections bugged me. There are now cars with bald tires, bad exhaust, and non functioning lights all over the road. Why in the world did we remove the inspection requirements?

I was making a joke as much as anything. However, I wish people were as concerned with getting insurance rates up and road safety improved as they were about buying cold beer. BTW - I support the RLOA's proposals. I just think people are more worried about liquor and weed in Oklahoma than about road safety. Which is probably why we rank so high.

Jerry, I don't know if you meant to say reduce the rate of uninsured or increase the rates on the insured, but currently Oklahoma is 15/51 for having the highest auto insurance rates.
Car insurance rates by state: Most and least expensive (http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/car-insurance-rates.html)

Jerry, I don't know if you meant to say reduce the rate of uninsured or increase the rates on the insured, but currently Oklahoma is 15/51 for having the highest auto insurance rates.
Car insurance rates by state: Most and least expensive (http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/car-insurance-rates.html)

I want to increase the rate of insured drivers. Too many uninsured on the roads. And I'm sure that causes the rates for those of us who DO pay for insurance to increase.

Plus, the lack of inspections probably doesn't help.

The insurance thing just blows my mind. How is this not a bigger issue here?!

Would inspections help? How do other states combat this? I would assume people would just get insurance for the inspection then turn it off afterwards.

New jersey has an excellent program in combatting the problem of the uninsured. In NJ the plates stay with the individual and not the car. In order to get plates, you have to show proof of insurance. Now if an individual decides to get cute and cancel the insurance, the carrier notifies the state. The state then demands the individual surrender the plates. Non compliance with the surrender demand has remedies that the state can enforce.

New jersey has an excellent program in combatting the problem of the uninsured. In NJ the plates stay with the individual and not the car. In order to get plates, you have to show proof of insurance. Now if an individual decides to get cute and cancel the insurance, the carrier notifies the state. The state then demands the individual surrender the plates. Non compliance with the surrender demand has remedies that the state can enforce.

I could live with this.

Plus, the lack of inspections probably doesn't help.

Seems only a minority of states currently have annual inspections.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_inspection_in_the_United_States
In the United States, vehicle safety inspection and emissions inspection are governed by each state individually. 17 states have a periodic (annual or biennial) safety inspection program, while Maryland and Alabama require a safety inspection on sale or transfer of vehicles which were previously registered in another state

5th Most Dangerous State to Drive In

Oklahoma Makes Top Ten Most Dangerous States To Drive List - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/30642199/oklahoma-makes-top-ten-most-dangerous-states-to-drive-list)

They must have made that list while you were still in Oklahoma instead of in Cali. ;)

3rd worst state to live in.

http://www.cullmantimes.com/cnhi_network/america-s-worst-states-to-live-in-no-is-alabama/article_94cf806a-7f59-52fa-a60e-40734c6f99cb.html