The status quo is simply unacceptable.

No other investment yields as great a return as the investment in education. An educated workforce is the foundation of every community and the future of every economy.

For only by nurturing the minds and strengthening the values of our children can we give them an opportunity to be full, productive citizens, to reach their God-given potential, and to have good jobs right here in Oklahoma.

No one should have to choose between medicine and other necessities. No one should have to use the emergency room every time a child gets sick. And no one should have to live in constant fear that a medical problem will become a financial crisis.

What unites Oklahomans today is what has always united us: Our unshakable faith. Our love of family and compassion for others. The unlimited promise of a hopeful future.

It is a paradox that far too few Americans participate in the wonderful ritual of democracy that we call Election Day.

Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.