Readers on Ryan Walters, political parties, taxing nonprofits, OKC arena | Letters

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OK County deputies are investigating after two board members told The Oklahoman they saw images of nude women while the board met behind closed doors.

Is there no limit to the demands, the power of Ryan Walters? We should all be disturbed by his power grabs. He seems to believe that he can do almost anything without worrying that someone will oppose him.

Each morning, I dread reading The Oklahoman because there is almost surely some new action that he demands, an action that, likely as not, violates a rule of his own department or law of the state. The many lawsuits against him and his department don't seem to deter him. What is going on here? What is going on is that the quality of education in Oklahoma is 50th in the country.

-- J. Robison, Edmond

Washington's warning about political parties

America has faced many challenges since its beginning. There is one challenge that is persistent. That is a single political party seeking total control of America. President George Washington, who was against political parties, recognized this in his famous Farewell Address, delivered Saturday, Sept. 17, 1796. He stated as follows:

"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."

President Washington further warned in his lengthy farewell address that when a political party enslaves and mentally enfeebles the public by agitating the community with ill-founded false alarms while kindling hate of opposing parties, the stage is set for the country to fail. He also noted that political parties open the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government through the channels of party passions. President Washington's concerns are reflected by the current political activities in America, over 200 years later.

It is up to voters to become informed and vote to rescue America from total destruction by a political party whose leaders seek money, fame, and power by displacing our democracy with a totalitarian form of government.

-- Richard C. "Dick" Hall, Norman

We're losing tax dollars to nonprofit organizations

If I were to give one dollar to all the nonprofit organizations that are approved by the IRS, it would cost me $1.5 million. I wonder how many taxable dollars are hidden in these organizations?

Maybe Trump should look into these organizations for lost taxable dollars. It seems that every day there is a new nonprofit being established, especially by retiring professional football, basketball, etc. players.

-- Gerald P Sawyer, Del City

We all need quiet zones in the city

Oklahoma City residents deserve to live in a safe and friendly environment. We live just outside Nichols Hills and The Village. It's a great place to live. However, a couple of nagging problems could be fixed by the city that would address our concerns as well as many others.

-- Ron Good, Oklahoma City

OKC so much better than Houston!

A recent visit to Downtown Houston for a family reunion illustrated just how dramatic Oklahoma City's downtown transformation has been, and the potential of its continued trajectory! By comparison Houston's central business district dwarfs Oklahoma City's in size and scale, but bigger isn't always better.

Decades of public investments largely spurred by MAPS and TIF dollars in turn incentivizing a tidal wave of private investments has accomplished wonders! The shine and sparkle of Oklahoma City is on full display in the living room, if you will, of the city that we know as downtown.

We should take great pride in the transformation that our public and private spaces in the central business district have undergone. The cleanliness, vibrant and modern appearance of downtown Oklahoma City is second to none!!!

OKC! OKC! OKC!

-- Richard McPherson, OKC

Name the new arena after our city, not the Thunder

This is in response to the article in The Oklahoman (July 27) concerning naming of the Oklahoma City arena.

When I voted in late 2023 on this issue, I read the ballot two or three times and "The Thunder" was not in the wording at all, not mentioned. I voted yes for the Oklahoma City arena, not for "The Thunder" arena.

I am proud of the Thunder, but that was not what I voted for.

-- Kirby Kilfoy, Oklahoma City

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