Today I was lucky enough to land a one-on-one interview with Braylen Rogers, an aspiring political scientist with hopes of becoming a public servant to the people of Oklahoma in the near future. For now, Mr. Rogers is working the graveyard shift for Haliburton Energy Services- Baroid Division in Pocasset, OK, but he has not lost his focus on studying the political machine that makes up American politics. With economics and foreign policy being his preferred field of study, Braylen is still interested in state and local affairs. Since many have not heard Mr. Rogers' positions on key political issue, we agreed on a quick round of simple questions to help the public get to know him better, and who and what they'll possibly be voting for.
Question 1: Capitol punishment-
Answer: I do believe that the death penalty is not a completely cruel method of punishment. However, the way the system works, the costs seem to outweigh the deterrence that many people in favor of the death penalty believe creates. On average, it costs the government over two to three million dollars to execute a prisoner. Meanwhile a prisoner serving out a life sentence costs around one million dollars. I am not to the point of saying "abolish the death penalty" but with this state and this nation facing the fiscal problems today, it may be necessary in the near future.
Question 2: Abortion-
Answer: Obviously a very heated debate, but I still stand against abortion unless under certain circumstances. I won't object to women who are victims of rape, or incest, or to save their life receiving an abortion. I also do not want to circumvent the law handed down by the Supreme Court. The 10th Amendment has been interpreted as a way of giving the states rights to make their own laws and penalties on certain matters, however, abortion has been made into a federal matter, meaning it is the law of the land. Now certain details were not made so clear, such as late-term abortions, but I feel if the pro-life, anti-abortion or whatever a person wishes to consider themselves, want to make a great change, they should go through the same proper channels that those in favor of abortion in the 70s went through. We need to remain strong on our principles, and not get lulled to sleep by the slow process.
Question 3: Staying in the reproductive realm, what is your position on sexual education at the middle and high school level?
Answer: I believe kids today should receive education on safe sex and abstinence. Most parents would prefer their children to remain abstinent through their days in school, they must realize that times really have changed. I do not see pounding kids with the idea that "sex is evil" as an effective way of lowering the national teen pregnancy and STD rate. But I do feel that parents should have the right to pull their children out of sex-ed classes if they feel it goes against their own morals or beliefs. But like so many of these issues today, it cannot be viewed so black and white. Kids should learn as much as they need to about sex, but the burden of educating them on the subject should not fall completely on the schools. Parents should be the first in line to teach the kids about it. I'm sure it is a tough subject to talk about, I'm not a parent yet so I can't really say I know what its like for parents to talk to their kids about sex, but as a member of society I feel I have the right and duty to take part in the educational process.
That's all for today. Tomorrow we'll continue our interview and hit more important topics and policies effecting Oklahoma and America.
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