What's particularly troubling is the recognition that Oklahoma's "transportation experts" insist they "didn't see today's difficulties coming." They "didn't see the value of the last grand Union Station rail yard in the West with all its original yard space intact."

But they're "experts."

That's "why the people of Oklahoma pay them," presumably.

But a citizen panel -- way back in 1999 -- apparently saw what was coming and told them in no uncertain terms what should be done with OKC Union Station.

Imagine what a hero Kirk Humphreys might have been had he shown the wisdom to recognize that upright politics is at least as much about "listening" as it is about "talking" -- and started real transit development then.

Instead -- his attitude -- confronted with the visionary work of a citizen transportation panel -- was about the same as Gary Ridley's: "There was a time when we didn't even have to ask you what you thought..."

The "driving force?" All too often, ego. Blind self-interest. "Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven."

I don't know whether anybody has noticed -- but that's not "the American way." To the contrary, the American way is when citizens rise up against such nonsense and see that it does not prevail. It's especially sweet that the citizenry didn't even need "Tax Increment Financing" to do it.

TOM ELMORE