Oklahoma City defies recession - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-08-11-oklahoma-jobs_N.htm?csp=usat.me)


Cornett says taxpayer-financed improvements started after United Airlines rejected the city as a maintenance hub. The airline told city officials that Indianapolis won because of superior quality of life.

Just another reminder that many companies do not pick locations based on costs alone. They know they need to be somewhere that people want to live in order to attract the best workforce they can.

Wow. Some of those comments after the article are terrible. People like Sally Kern still influence how our city is viewed by outsiders, unfortunately.

People like Sally Kern still influence how our city is viewed by outsiders, unfortunately.

Well, Sally Kern is a representative of our community, so you can't really say it's not deserved. IMO, the real problem is that we don't have much opposition to it, at least not on any significant or visible level. If the perception fostered by these groups and leaders of being a culturally and religiously intolerant community was somehow shown to be isolated or, at least, balanced by an equally vocal and powerful contingent that respected individuals rights to the point of wanting to protect them, then it could be shown that Oklahoma is at least as dynamic as most American communities. As it is now, however, sentiments by Kern or similar leaders meet little public or legislative resistance.

The real question is whether that is an unstated quality factored into the "lack of quality of life" reason given by companies who pass on opportunities to move here. It certainly is a reason I have heard some individuals give for not locating here and for leaving.

I think we're going to hear MAPS in every OKC press release for the rest of my lifetime....

Wow. Some of those comments after the article are terrible. People like Sally Kern still influence how our city is viewed by outsiders, unfortunately.
Gladly, the article makes no mention of Sally. As for terrible comments, there are plenty that are good, too. It's a heck of a nice article, very good press.

NOT winning the United Airlines maintenance hub was a great thing. Those of us who were here at the time may recall that United was doing a terrific job pitting each city against the other, with frantic, last-minute concessions and inducements being offered right up to the very end. I don't recall the final tally, but Indianapolis paid a huge amount, and the cost per job was nothing less than stunning. And only to have United close the plan just a few years later.

I wonder if people outside of OKC really have any clue who Sally Kern is? I am starting to think its kind of all in our own heads.

I wonder if people outside of OKC really have any clue who Sally Kern is? I am starting to think its kind of all in our own heads.

Most do not remember the names of people who promote policy and rhetoric that lends reputations to communities and creates their image. However, those reputations remain. Before last year's movie, I'm sure many in Oklahoma who couldn't tell you who Harvey Milk was would be quick to tell you their impressions of San Francisco and the influence of its gay community, whether they had ever been there or not.

The reality is that it may be all in our heads, but it is also in the heads of outsiders and, really, it is not unfounded. People don't need to mention Sally Kern or know who she is to have the impression that Oklahoma is less accepting of certain lifestyles and cultures than many communities in America today. They don't need to know who she is to make a decision of whether to come here or not based on that reputation. There are many who work hard to foster that reputation and, yes, some count it as a positive and as a reason to live here.

I don't think we should make our decisions or elect our representatives based on what outsiders think, but I think it's a mistake to think it doesn't matter or have an effect.

Sorry, I didn't mean this to be a political thread when I posted the article, but, obviously, politics and perception (along with, as Cornett points out, luck) do matter in the business of economic growth and relative performance. Even a simple, straight forward article about our community's economic stability garnered some negative reactions based on the reputation of the city's culture alone. I don't think we need to go out of our way to try and deprogram the stereotype, as much as I personally wish we could do more to stop reinforcing it in a very real way.

Most do not remember the names of people who promote policy and rhetoric that lends reputations to communities and creates their image. However, those reputations remain. Before last year's movie, I'm sure many in Oklahoma who couldn't tell you who Harvey Milk was would be quick to tell you their impressions of San Francisco and the influence of its gay community, whether they had ever been there or not.

The reality is that it may be all in our heads, but it is also in the heads of outsiders and, really, it is not unfounded. People don't need to mention Sally Kern or know who she is to have the impression that Oklahoma is less accepting of certain lifestyles and cultures than many communities in America today. They don't need to know who she is to make a decision of whether to come here or not based on that reputation. There are many who work hard to foster that reputation and, yes, some count it as a positive and as a reason to live here.

I don't think we should make our decisions or elect our representatives based on what outsiders think, but I think it's a mistake to think it doesn't matter or have an effect.

Sorry, I didn't mean this to be a political thread when I posted the article, but, obviously, politics and perception (along with, as Cornett points out, luck) do matter in the business of economic growth and relative performance. Even a simple, straight forward article about our community's economic stability garnered some negative reactions based on the reputation of the city's culture alone. I don't think we need to go out of our way to try and deprogram the stereotype, as much as I personally wish we could do more to stop reinforcing it in a very real way.

I agree

Most do not remember the names of people who promote policy and rhetoric that lends reputations to communities and creates their image. However, those reputations remain. Before last year's movie, I'm sure many in Oklahoma who couldn't tell you who Harvey Milk was would be quick to tell you their impressions of San Francisco and the influence of its gay community, whether they had ever been there or not.

The reality is that it may be all in our heads, but it is also in the heads of outsiders and, really, it is not unfounded. People don't need to mention Sally Kern or know who she is to have the impression that Oklahoma is less accepting of certain lifestyles and cultures than many communities in America today. They don't need to know who she is to make a decision of whether to come here or not based on that reputation. There are many who work hard to foster that reputation and, yes, some count it as a positive and as a reason to live here.

I don't think we should make our decisions or elect our representatives based on what outsiders think, but I think it's a mistake to think it doesn't matter or have an effect.

Sorry, I didn't mean this to be a political thread when I posted the article, but, obviously, politics and perception (along with, as Cornett points out, luck) do matter in the business of economic growth and relative performance. Even a simple, straight forward article about our community's economic stability garnered some negative reactions based on the reputation of the city's culture alone. I don't think we need to go out of our way to try and deprogram the stereotype, as much as I personally wish we could do more to stop reinforcing it in a very real way.

I asked five people here in Houston if they knew about Sally Kern. All of them drew a complete blank.

Once again, Oklahoma City's hard work is bastardized because of a government temp. It goes to show how washed America's mentality is. Sally Kern does not represent the city's culture. In fact, much of America knows d*ck about Oklahoma City's culture. Our city is under-appreciated time and time and time again.

What about the religious cults of Texas and one cult in particular that moved to Garland and told the national media that GOd was going to show up on TV for a major announcement back in 1997? And how many companies and people have moved to Texas since? Damn, people. Damn.

These message boards certainly don't help.

Point taken, okcpulse. Spot on.

Well you wouldn't know it by the Tweets that NewsOK.com is putting out on their Twitter...maybe Steve could do something about that...

I asked five people here in Houston if they knew about Sally Kern. All of them drew a complete blank.

Once again, Oklahoma City's hard work is bastardized because of a government temp. It goes to show how washed America's mentality is. Sally Kern does not represent the city's culture. In fact, much of America knows d*ck about Oklahoma City's culture. Our city is under-appreciated time and time and time again.

What about the religious cults of Texas and one cult in particular that moved to Garland and told the national media that GOd was going to show up on TV for a major announcement back in 1997? And how many companies and people have moved to Texas since? Damn, people. Damn.

These message boards certainly don't help.


OKCPulse,

Did you read any of the comments after the article? For what it's worth, Kern made national news on multiple occasions about her commentary. Another poster in the thread made the strong point that people may not know her by name, but it seems things said by Kern, Inhofe and others are the only time our state leaders are ever in the national news.

Do they represent our views? Probably not the folks on this forum, but they were all reelected and continue to make similar comments.

Coburn wanted to ban Schindler's List and talked about rampant gangs of lesbians in school bathrooms in Southeast Oklahoma. That, too, made national news.

Question: how often do you see any Oklahoman on national news that is unafilliated with sports or politics? I don't see our scientists on there. I just see people talking about banning stem-cell research.

We don't live in a vacuum. The comments made by our leaders -- elected or otherwise -- that appear on national news programming do influence how people view our state.

And another thing. Ask your five pals in Houston if they think Oklahoma City is a progressive, culturally sophisticated place to live. Ask them if they would like to relocate from Houston here.

Thanks for posting this link.

Another poster in the thread made the strong point that people may not know her by name, but it seems things said by Kern, Inhofe and others are the only time our state leaders are ever in the national news.

If we could just get Andrew Rice elected to a bigger office. He could really be an anti-Coburn represtation for the state. He could be the next Obama.

[QUOTE=soonerguru;246279]OKCPulse,
Coburn wanted to ban Schindler's List and talked about rampant gangs of lesbians in school bathrooms in Southeast Oklahoma. That, too, made national news.QUOTE]

Come on now, guru. If you're going to report an action of a politician, report it in the proper context. You are making it out like Dr. Coburn somehow wanted Schindlers list banned like some of the nutty folks want Catcher in the Rye banned. He wanted the movie moved from prime time network TV because of the graphic violence, the nudity and the graphic language. He felt it was not the right forum where young children could see it without parental supervision.

With regard to the rampant gangs of lesbians, again, you are exaggerating what he said. Dr. Coburn was pointing out that there have been a number of attacks on girls in school bathrooms in SE OK that were homosexual in nature.

After seeing Schindlers list and feeling it is one of the most gripping, heart wrenching and intense movies ever made, I agree that for any child who doesn't have the maturity to understand it or to be able to handle the vividly graphic portrayals of the holocaust, they shouldn't see it.

A lot of people assume that the whole world knows about our dirty political laundry and have a real complex about it. Where I am living, all people know about Oklahoma comes from the Grapes of Wrath and the fact that it is in the bible belt and tornado alley. Some of them aren't even sure exactly where Oklahoma is and most couldn't tell you for sure without consulting a map. Many of those same people have driven through Oklahoma on I40, which doesn't give them much to savor, visually. They think - no mountains, no beaches, no forests. They are astonished when I describe the beauty and diversity of the land. It isn't the alleged backwards culture that bother them nearly as much as the alleged flat, dusty, tornado ravaged image they have of the state. And many don't think there are any Starbucks here, either. They think we all drink sun tea and use ice trays instead of ice makers.

What's an ice maker?

Other than this forum I know hardly anyone who cares what others, inside and outside of Oklahoma, think about the state. And not everyone thinks it is a good thing to attract people to move here either.

Hey, wait just a dadgummed minute. What's wrong with sun tea? It's my favorite beverage.

A lot of people assume that the whole world knows about our dirty political laundry and have a real complex about it. Where I am living, all people know about Oklahoma comes from the Grapes of Wrath and the fact that it is in the bible belt and tornado alley. Some of them aren't even sure exactly where Oklahoma is and most couldn't tell you for sure without consulting a map. Many of those same people have driven through Oklahoma on I40, which doesn't give them much to savor, visually. They think - no mountains, no beaches, no forests. They are astonished when I describe the beauty and diversity of the land. It isn't the alleged backwards culture that bother them nearly as much as the alleged flat, dusty, tornado ravaged image they have of the state. And many don't think there are any Starbucks here, either. They think we all drink sun tea and use ice trays instead of ice makers.

While it may be true some people carry around this negative stereotype, it's more a statement of their own ignorance and lack of education than what it truly says of Oklahoma.

What's an ice maker?

It's what hit my house December 2007. I had all the ice I could stand.

With regard to the rampant gangs of lesbians, again, you are exaggerating what he said. Dr. Coburn was pointing out that there have been a number of attacks on girls in school bathrooms in SE OK that were homosexual in nature.


Ummm. No. Here was his actual quote:

"You know, Josh Burkeen is our rep down here in the southeast area. He lives in Colgate and travels out of Atoka. He was telling me lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?"
Tom Coburn, 8/31/04

Ummm. No. Here was his actual quote:

"You know, Josh Burkeen is our rep down here in the southeast area. He lives in Colgate and travels out of Atoka. He was telling me lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?"
Tom Coburn, 8/31/04

Which, given the nature of public school administrators, probably meant they had a few girls ask to go to the bathroom, then went and fooled around. The school administrators make some over-reaction policy, and it gets back to Coburn. I don't think his quote is all that bad. One thing I will say, I think he's done a pretty good job as a public watchdog since he's been in Congress.

"You know, Josh Burkeen is our rep down here in the southeast area. He lives in Colgate and travels out of Atoka. He was telling me lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?"
Tom Coburn, 8/31/04


Wow, that is the hands down funniest thing I've read today. Still laughing actually......

Originally Posted by soonerguru
"You know, Josh Burkeen is our rep down here in the southeast area. He lives in Colgate and travels out of Atoka. He was telling me lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?"
Tom Coburn, 8/31/04

It seems Coburn is simply making a statement about what another person said is the condition in some SE Oklahoma schools. Don't take me wrong, its a pretty funny statement but its hardly "roving gangs of lesbians" as you described it.

Maybe our Senator is spending too much time watching late-night fare on Cinemax.

:)

Now THAT may be the case!

OKCPulse,

Did you read any of the comments after the article? For what it's worth, Kern made national news on multiple occasions about her commentary. Another poster in the thread made the strong point that people may not know her by name, but it seems things said by Kern, Inhofe and others are the only time our state leaders are ever in the national news.

True, however, the national article on the USA Today was a positive spin. No mention of Oklahoma's politicians were made. Yet, the readers wanted to make sure that the negatives were thrown back into the spectrum. Yet, any positive spin on Texas gets all the praise in the world, despite Texas' most influential leaders.

It's a bunch of two-faced B.S.


Do they represent our views? Probably not the folks on this forum, but they were all reelected and continue to make similar comments.

When it comes to our U.S. senators and congressmen, the pickins have been pretty slim. You have a moron running against a moron. In the end, all you have in the winner's seat is a moron. These leaders have term limits, and they've been re-elected based on luck.


Coburn wanted to ban Schindler's List and talked about rampant gangs of lesbians in school bathrooms in Southeast Oklahoma. That, too, made national news.

I could fill this post with politicians from all over the country that have shot themselves in the foot over their ritarded mentality, but I am on lunch right now and do not have the time. I have programs to write.


Question: how often do you see any Oklahoman on national news that is unafilliated with sports or politics? I don't see our scientists on there. I just see people talking about banning stem-cell research.

Question: how often do you see the media reporting ANYTHING positive about Oklahoma? We are a "red" state, and as such, the liberal media will make sure that anything positive out of Oklahoma will get the gag. We were lucky to land a spot on USA Today.

Did the national media talk about how tghe proposal banning stem-cell research got the old heave-ho? Nope, only that people wanted banned. Nevermind the fact the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce opposed it and fought it.

The national media will talk about the revitalization in Kansas City, or even in Pittsburgh. Oklahoma City's revitalization on CNN didn't even get a mention.


We don't live in a vacuum. The comments made by our leaders -- elected or otherwise -- that appear on national news programming do influence how people view our state.

And this is where people need to re-think the national media as a reliable information source. Liberal media outlets are just as biased as conservative outlets. Unfortunately, most Americans don't like doing their homework. They only tune in to CNN or Fox.

True story - I started work for a company in Florida once and on the first day, a woman asked where I moved from. I told her Oklahoma City. She asked me what state that was in.

Moral to the story, don't worry what people outside OKC think of OKC. Just make OKC a nice place to live and raise a family in and the rest will take care of itself.

Note to local politicians - stop saying OKC was lucky in describing your success. Luck played no part of it. OKC had a plan, they executed the plan, and it worked. That isn't luck. OKC succeeded on purpose. Modesty is fine, but honesty is more important.

Honestly, I am the world's worst speller so I am not being snarky when I say that I got a smile from reading the following: "ritarded mentality." (see above)

Yet, the readers wanted to make sure that the negatives were thrown back into the spectrum.

Don't these readers represent "people out there?"


Yet, any positive spin on Texas gets all the praise in the world, despite Texas' most influential leaders.


Good point, although Texas has Rick Perry suggesting secession from the Union.


how often do you see the media reporting ANYTHING positive about Oklahoma?

Isn't the subject of this post about a positive national story in, gulp, USA Today? In the past year we've been featured in Forbes a half dozen times, LA Times, New York Times (more than once) and all of these were positive articles. That's great for OKC! I think your comments about the liberal media seem to contradict with what the "liberal" media is writing about OKC.


When it comes to our U.S. senators and congressmen, the pickins have been pretty slim. You have a moron running against a moron. In the end, all you have in the winner's seat is a moron. These leaders have term limits, and they've been re-elected based on luck.


I'm not sure where you get your information, but our US Senators DO NOT have term limits. Inhofe will be there until he dies, rest assured.



Did the national media talk about how tghe proposal banning stem-cell research got the old heave-ho?

It didn't get the "heave ho." It passed both the state House and Senate. The only reason it's not law is because Gov. Henry vetoed it. The OKC and Tulsa Chambers did oppose it but the legislators did not listen to them. I do believe that Gov. Henry's veto received some national news coverage.


Oklahoma City's revitalization on CNN didn't even get a mention.


OKC has received tons of national and international press about its reinvention. Some of it so glowing as to almost overstate the improvements made here. I seem to recall CNN.com covering this as well at some point, but I've honestly lost track. Whatever the case, OKC has not been overlooked. It got tons of new coverage when we got the Thunder.

"Oklahoma City Defies Recession" - how did this end up becoming another political thread? Don't we have enough of those already?

Question: how often do you see the media reporting ANYTHING positive about Oklahoma?

Quite a bit actually. There is at least one article posted here a month from national publications reporting something positive about Oklahoma City.

Quite a bit actually. There is at least one article posted here a month from national publications reporting something positive about Oklahoma City.

Very true. But I am talking about Oklahoma as a whole, and in the political arena.

Which, given the nature of public school administrators, probably meant they had a few girls ask to go to the bathroom, then went and fooled around. The school administrators make some over-reaction policy, and it gets back to Coburn. I don't think his quote is all that bad. One thing I will say, I think he's done a pretty good job as a public watchdog since he's been in Congress.

Funny business like this has probably been going on in the schools for many decades. It's probably not as hushed up as it used to be.

But I am talking about Oklahoma as a whole, and in the political arena.

Are you insinuating that Oklahoma politics as a whole has earned a lot of praise that it's not getting?

Very true. But I am talking about Oklahoma as a whole, and in the political arena.

State political news on national TV is rarely positive.

True story - I started work for a company in Florida once and on the first day, a woman asked where I moved from. I told her Oklahoma City. She asked me what state that was in.

In all fairness, it's not like there aren't examples like Kansas City that make it less obvious then it seems like it should be.

hmm... not sure who Sally Kern is and I lvied in OKC for 5 years and kept up with the happenings lol. It's funny, as someone who has lived in both places(grew up in Florida, lived in OKC for 5 years, moved back to Florida over 2 years ago), the kind of reaction I get from people when I say how great living in Oklahoma City was. Most people respond with a now way/what's there/laugh and say I must be joking. I do find it funny how most other people I encounted have basically no clue about Oklahoma City and what's there. Half of them don't even know the Thunder are there.