Brian Walter takes on big, important job

Kingfisher businessman Brian Walter’s efforts to fulfill former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn’s dream of a reformed national Congress are most commendable.

Walter became close to the former senator in Coburn’s final years and accepted the mantle to carry on the senator’s work to gain pledges from members of Congress not to accept pay if they fail to meet their constitutional duties, including passing a budget each year.

Senator Coburn’s, and later Citizen Coburn’s, primary concern was the waste and corruption he observed while a member of Congress.

You may remember the “Wastebooks” he published – compilations of the worst wasteful federal spending.

He labored to correct the problems he saw, both while he was a member of Congress and after he retired.

He considered the waste and the national debt it created a threat to our constitutional, free republic.

He considered it criminal to waste in so capricious a manner and a threat to the freedom of his grandchildren as well as all of our grandchildren.

He called his campaign to stop the waste and the debt a work of love – because he loved his grandchildren.

He undoubtedly had a Christian love for others’ grandchildren also.

We hope you read the letters Brian submitted in the pages of the three previous Sunday editions of the Times and Free Press.

He is a dedicated warrior for honest government and efficient government.

Walter faces a massive undertaking.

Senator Coburn pointed out how easy it was for well-meaning people to fall into the Washington self-serving trap.

Walter quotes Coburn about the problem this way, deflating our personal notion that the solution was to elect more good members of Congress:

“When the “right” people finally get elected, the “wrong” system at work in D.C. corrupts them and they begin to behave just like all the others before them and nothing for the common good changes,” Coburn said.

Walter wrote:

“We believe that all members of Congress will begin behaving better only when it serves their own interest to behave better.”

That is the genius behind the “Unity Above Self in America” (UaSiA) movement that Coburn established and Walter is working avidly to see through.

The initial step was to get current members of the House and Senate to sign pledges not to get paid if they don’t pass an annual budget.

The people of Kingfisher County see the wisdom of not paying people who don’t do the job they’re hired to do. It’s a common sense concept.

Coburn, a medical doctor, was a rarity – in politics or any field. A man filled with integrity.

He had great knowledge in addition to his strict code of ethics.

He would have fit right in with the geniuses who established the United States government.

It is commendable that Walter is continuing his great effort following Coburn’s death earlier this year.

It behooves all of us in this county and this state to help him in whatever he asks us to do.

Although it seems an impossible undertaking given the corruption which has been revealed during recent years. President Trump may have been elected because he pledged to “drain the swamp.”

He has found that that the swamp will fight back with all its considerable power.

We may need to remember the faith of a mustard seed passage from the New Testament, Matthew 17:20:

Jesus said, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Our nation certainly deserves saving. Brian Walter and the rest of the people of Kingfisher County can make a difference if they put their minds to it.

Remember the mustard seed is about one to two millimeters in size but the bush can grow to 20 to 30 feet tall and wide.

Tell us what you need us to do, Brian.