Defending the common man?

Given the Oklahoman's stance on big business, it's surprising to see today's letter from Jon Womastek of Oklahoma City, writing

Funding for school storm shelters? No way! Health care for the poor? In your dreams! Protect wealthy corporate interests? Let's hurry and call an expensive special session!

In “State can't afford not to hold special session” (Point of View, July 24), former state Sen. Glenn Coffee refutes his own case. Without the Legislature going into special session, he writes that the business community will be injured because plaintiffs in lawsuits that had been gutted will now have a chance to speak with juries. He claims part of Oklahoma's softer recession was due to a favorable business climate, implying that shackling people's legal rights is good for business.

Indeed, this is a major argument put forward by the plutocracy: things like quality healthcare, a living wage, and, yes, legal protections, are all bad for business-- and business is the most important thing.

This totally falls apart when he writes, “Our state constitution was based on keeping the seats of power closest to the people.” The most powerful equalizer most people will ever need to resort to requires access to the courthouse through a lawsuit. Coffee is writing on behalf of the insurance, medical and business community, not ordinary people. Those institutions already have fine representation in Gov. Mary Fallin, Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman and House Speaker T.W. Shannon, without having to also take away your legal rights.

I am not familiar enough with the issues to know how valid Mr. Womastek's concerns are. But given that he is clearly advocating for non-elites over business and industry (and their wealthy owners), one suspects that a classic Oklahoman point/counter-point will quickly come about. Perhaps the paper's favorite champion of Sam Seller will chime in... again.