In the Southwest, thirsty travelers once came upon water wells that produced no water when pumped. However, attached to the well was a small container of water and a sign that said if the traveler would pour the water into the pump, the pump would then be primed and pumping the handle would produce all the water the traveler needed. If the traveler was a short-term thinker, he'd drink the container's water. If he was a long-term thinker, he'd use it to prime the pump.
In the 1920s, Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon was a long-term thinker. He reasoned that lowering taxes would increase citizens' spending money, then they would spend more, then sellers would sell more and pay more taxes and the treasury would get more revenue. Enough long-term thinkers in Congress agreed. Taxes were significantly lowered and the treasury got more revenue at the lower tax rate than it had at the higher rate. The same thing happened under Presidents Kennedy, Reagan and George W. Bush.
Our public schools are good at turning out short-term thinkers. Some end up as politicians who lack the knowledge and/or courage to prime the pump. Gov. Fallin had both the knowledge and the courage, but she was outnumbered. Too many state and national politicians are short-term thinkers who'd rather drink the available water than prime the pump. This will leave very little for the rest of us.
Mike Jones, Oklahoma City
