BY SHARON MARTIN

Recently, the following statement showed up on my Facebook feed: “The essential difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals could not exist without conservatives to defend their freedom and support them economically.”

What, liberals don’t work? Or is it liberals don’t hire workers? Or liberals don’t spend money and pay taxes? Maybe someone doesn’t understand how the economy works. Maybe he doesn’t see the link between freedom and economics.

People who like wars of aggression are not conservatives, no matter what they like to call themselves. Attacking a Middle Eastern country or an island in the Caribbean does not make us safer or more free.

War is a black hole into which lives and money are thrown. A few mercenaries set up camp at the bottom of the hole to catch as much wealth as they can. The rest of us lose.

What if, instead of carping at each other, liberals and conservatives came together to make the economy of this country work for everyone? Those who still believe in trickle down need to just leave the room and let the rest of us work this out.

We can start with a jobs program. What needs to be done?

Our infrastructure is crumbling. It isn’t just our state Capitol that needs repair. The top story most mornings in Tulsa is a water main break or a murder. Sometimes we get both.

What if we train young people to rebuild and update our water and sewer lines? Contrary to what some conservative pundits tell you, people want to work. They want meaningful jobs that pay a living wage.

Economic freedom is freedom. Poverty shackles people. Try building a life and raising a family without the means to an education or the promise of a job that truly supplies ones needs.

Education is an essential component of a jobs program. Don’t complain that people don’t have the skills for the jobs available; offer them training to acquire the skills.

Health is another essential component. If you don’t have access to medical care, your freedom and your quality of life are in jeopardy. And here’s a newsflash: ObamaCare is working. It would work even better if the mean spirited among us would quit standing between poor people and health services.

People who contribute and benefit from this country’s policies are less likely to need social services or end up in prison. They are less likely to become terrorists.

Real freedom, economic and otherwise, depends on healthy, educated citizens who have meaningful lives. Let’s quit playing word games and roll up our sleeves. Our country’s security depends on it.

– Sharon Martin lives in Oilton, OK and is a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer