By Randy Brogdon

I believe most of the economic problems we face in Oklahoma are a direct result of Washington politicians trampling on the Constitution and the rights of states. I have been a rather vocal critic of the Bailout and Stimulus Package pushed by Obama and members of Congress. I want to serve as Governor in order to challenge the status quo and turn back to our founding principles of limited government and the expansion of freedom.

Never in my lifetime did I consider a time when our Federal Government would take control and ownership of private businesses in America. I believed then, just as I believe now, our Constitution does not give the federal government the right to spend our tax dollars on private businesses.

Recently, economist Thomas Sowell reported "after the Bush administration's stimulus spending in 2008, business spending on equipment and software fell -- not rose -- by 28 percent. Spending on durable goods fell 22 percent. What about the banks? Four months after the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) poured billions of dollars into the banks, the biggest recipients of this money made 23 percent fewer loans than before. A year later, the credit extended by American banks as a whole was down -- not up -- by more than $20 billion. Spending in general was down.

The velocity of circulation of money fell faster than it had in half a century. Just two weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal reported, "U.S. banks posted last year their sharpest decline in lending since 1942'" You can call it a stimulus, if you want to, just as you can call a tail a leg. But the actual effect of what is called a "stimulus' has been more like a sedative."

Following the Constitution is not always the easy way out, but it is vital in order to protect our freedom. It's not easy being threatened by the Federal Government and being told that Grandma wouldn't be allowed to board a plane if we opt-out of the Real ID Act, but I stood on Constitutional grounds and wrote legislation to opt out of the unconstitutional act. My bill passed and Grandma can still board a plane. It wasn't easy telling the North American Union promoters that the NAFTA Superhighway would have the largest U-turn in the world because if they came to our state it wouldn't cross the border. I stuck to my guns and the NAFTA Superhighway is a dead issue. It wasn't easy pushing the 10th Amendment Resolution through the State Senate knowing the Federal Government was closely watching, but we also won that battle.

Oklahomans deserve a governor who has a record of standing in the gap between the people and the over-reaching federal government. The citizens of Oklahoma also deserve to have a leader who not only understands the states rights and the limitations of the federal government, but they also deserve a leader who will stand against the status quo to protect their freedom.

Standing up for the Constitution has never been the easy way out, but I believe it's the ONLY way out!

State Senator Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso) represents state Senate District 34 and is an announced candidate for governor. Visit his website at: www.randybrogdon.com