Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee began June 2nd. The sovereign of Great Britain (and 31 other countries) beamed with pride at what she and her countrymen have built. QE II is their sovereign because of, well, sovereignty… the authority of a state to self-govern… the bedrock beneath the pillars of state – whether Great Britain or the great State of Oklahoma.

With self-governing so essential, it is surprising how easily Gentner Drummond, candidate, Oklahoma Attorney General, will give Oklahoma’s sovereignty away. Quoting Drummond during Thursday’s televised debate against Attorney General John O’Connor:

“Anytime we arrest a native American or a non-native who’s perpetrated a crime against a native, we notify that respective tribe. They reserve the right to pull them out… into the tribal system.”

Huh? Escalating chaos is the last thing we need in 2022. I watched wondering if Drummond’s scheme is a Trojan Horse towards Oklahoma becoming two separate sovereign states. Drummond went on to explain the terms acceptable to the tribes: “…they would accept as an intergovernmental agreement from the State of Oklahoma to each individual tribe in an individual capacity, recognizing the sovereignty that the Supreme Court has already recognized the past 200-years…”

It felt eerie to watch an unelected candidate for office explain to Oklahoma’s top law enforcement officer our terms of surrender. For over a century we Oklahomans have enjoyed sovereignty. Drummond offers it casually, like a $1 poker chip. His plan seems poorly conceived and reckless. Let’s maintain Oklahoma’s sovereignty!