Isaac Mattox

Not only is Oklahoma 50th in education, but we are also 45th in life expectancy, 49th in insurance coverage for citizens, 12th highest in violent crimes with 418 violent crimes per 100,000 people. 5th highest in total incarceration rate for all people and 4th highest in in our country in incarceration of women. We are 49th in healthcare, 47th in wages, and 25th in homelessness.  We have to work to turn this around. We can do better. This is the definition of insanity, we must move forward together. 

Believe it or not, the two things are not mutually exclusive. Those of us that go into politics, or have any position of authority should have to adhere to strict ethical standards. People in any position of authority should be held to higher standards than average citizens. That means closer adherence, closer scrutiny and stricter penalties.  

Voting is the foundation of democracy. Efforts to restrict access threaten the rights guaranteed by both the U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions. Every citizen must be able to vote freely, fairly, and safely, because our government only works when the people have a voice.

Our children deserve an excellent education that prepares them for the future. We need to prioritize funding for schools, use resources wisely, and ensure students have the tools, staff, and opportunities to succeed. Education must be a public investment, not an afterthought.

We must have real investment in Oklahoma if we don't want to continue being 50th in education, Oklahoma is last because of the policies of the controlling party, at the federal and state levels. If we want businesses to move to Oklahoma we have to have an intelligent and well educated population. I don't know of any company where being uneducated is a job requirement, or considered an asset for advancement, do you?

Doctors should be free to make decisions based on what’s best for their patients, not what insurance companies demand. Patients need to trust their doctors and have real recourse against neglect or malpractice. We must put care and compassion back at the center of healthcare.