Oklahoma Technology Conference Draws Hundreds

Geeks Unite in OKC

More than 600 people from across the state and nation are expected to attend Thursday’s Oklahoma Technology Conference at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.

Sponsored by Oklahoma City Public Schools, this huge event brings together educators, technical innovators, and technology companies for a day filled with presentations, workshops, and cutting-edge software and hardware displays.

The conference has quickly become one of the premiere technology conferences in the state. More than 600 people have already registered to attend, according to conference organizers.

This year’s keynote speaker, the glamorous Tiffany Shlain, is a fabulous, dynamic speaker and motivator. Creator of the Webby Awards, Shlain is considered one of the most articulate people about the Internet and technology in the country. She is also a screenwriter and filmmaker.

The Webby Awards are given each year to people who have contributed in some meaningful way to enhance the Internet. One of this year’s recipients is none other than former Vice President Al Gore who promoted the Internet politically during its early stages.

Check out the great conference Web site for more information.

Sprawl, Y’All

Every summer when Oklahoma City issues its first clean air alert, and it has already done so, I wonder what more our culture needs in terms of motivation or warning in order to develop alternative fuels or invest in more public transportation or enhance hybrid technology. Rising gasoline prices and declining oil supplies only add to the dilemma.

Perhaps, it will take an energy or environmental crisis of some type, though rising gasoline prices have made virtually everyone I know more aware of how energy dictates our lives. Unfortunately, a place like Oklahoma City, with its sprawling metropolitan area, poses unique challenges for someone trying to save money by conserving gasoline.

Our “sprawl” may well mean the Oklahoma City area will suffer economically in future years when people will need more public transportation and need to live closer to their jobs. Much of our major infrastructure—colleges, schools, hospitals, office complexes—is so spread out it will take a major rebuilding effort or shifting of the population in the face of declining energy supplies.

I am not arguing this shift will happen overnight, but I do wonder what the city’s sprawl will mean in 10, 25 or 50 years. Recent studies show more people are moving to downtown Oklahoma and living in more populated, dense areas, but there remains much to do.

(The downtown area needs a grocery store, for example, like Whole Foods in Austin, Texas. This grocery store should be able to sell wine. Perhaps we can declare this one spot in Oklahoma an “international free market zone,” or something like that, and just let it sell wine. Let’s do it for the planet!)

The Oklahoma City Council recently started studying when the city could feasibly switch to alternative fuel vehicles without federal help, according to a news report. This is a great first step, and the council should be commended, but all government agencies in the state should start making plans for $5 a gallon or more gasoline.

More than anything else, U.S. Senator James Inhofe needs to back away from his ridiculous claims that global warming is a hoax. Science shows global warming is quite real, and it is caused at least partially by car emissions. Inhofe’s lack of concern for the environment allows some Oklahomans to copout on taking care of the planet when thinking about their mode of transportation.

But we do know how much gasoline costs these days. Even Inhofe cannot play the “hoax” card about that. It is all part of the same problem. We need to start moving away from fossil fuels.

No Tax Cuts For The Rich

The Alliance for Oklahoma’s Future has a study on its Web site that shows how the income tax reduction proposal floated by House Republicans will primarily benefit the richest people in the state.

Meanwhile, the tax cuts will mean higher college tuition, dilapidated roads and underfunded schools for ordinary Oklahoman. In other words, you might get a $50 tax break one year, but you will spend $300 more in college tuition or other government costs. Maybe your kid will not have access to the math textbooks she needs to become successful. Is that worth $50? Oklahoma is not, I repeat, is not a high tax state when compared to other states.

If we do reduce or eventually eliminate the state income tax, then we should make sure we have other revenue streams to replace the money, and those revenue streams should be based on progressive tax models.

A proposal offered recently by the State Senate leadership to lower taxes by increasing the state's standard deduction to the federal level is a much better idea and will benefit more people.

For five years under the ideology of President George Bush, the ultra rich and big corporations have received major tax cuts and massive corporate welfare. It is time state politicians think about the little guy—not big oil company executives—when constructing the state budget.