Citizens Working Together to Keep Government Honest
Government belongs to the people.
That means accountability should not begin and end with elections.
For too long, many Oklahomans have felt that government has become too comfortable operating without enough public oversight. Too often, citizens don’t learn about waste, inefficiency, or possible misconduct until after the damage has already been done.
The Farmer Servant movement believes the best watchdog over government is not another government agency.
It is an informed, engaged, and empowered citizenry.
That is why we are proposing the People’s Army.
Despite its name, the People’s Army is not a military organization and it is not a law enforcement agency.
It is a statewide network of trained citizen volunteers dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and honest government.
The strongest government watchdog is an informed citizen.
Step 1: Citizen Accountability Teams
The People’s Army will consist of volunteer Oklahomans from every county who are committed to ethical government and public service.
Their mission is simple:
To observe.
To report.
To educate.
To help ensure government remains accountable to the people.
These volunteers will not have law enforcement authority or special legal powers.
Their strength comes from transparency, public participation, and responsible civic engagement.
Step 2: County Accountability Representatives
Every Oklahoma county should have citizen volunteers helping monitor government transparency.
Using the People’s App, citizens could participate in a transparent selection process to identify county accountability representatives.
These volunteers would serve as community liaisons, helping identify concerns, encourage civic participation, and bring public attention to issues that deserve review.
Step 3: Training Before Service
Accountability requires knowledge.
Volunteers should receive training in:
- Oklahoma Open Records laws
- Open Meeting requirements
- Government ethics
- Public budgeting
- Public procurement
- How to document concerns responsibly
- Respecting privacy and due process
- Professional standards of conduct
The goal is responsible oversight—not political conflict.
Step 4: Transparency Through the People’s Table
Information is the foundation of accountability.
The People’s Table will provide citizens with easier access to:
- Public budgets
- Contracts
- Audit reports
- Agency performance
- Legislative activity
- Executive initiatives
- Public records that are legally available
When information is easier to find, accountability becomes easier to achieve.
Step 5: Real-Time Public Feedback Through the People’s App
The People’s App gives elected officials the ability to hear directly from verified Oklahoma voters.
Instead of relying solely on lobbyists, consultants, or political insiders, leaders can seek real-time public feedback on important issues.
When combined with the People’s Table, the People’s App creates a government that both listens to the people and allows the people to see their government at work.
Transparency leads to accountability.
Accountability builds trust.
Step 6: Encourage Ethical Government
The People’s Army is not about assuming government is corrupt.
It is about creating a culture where honesty, openness, and ethical leadership are expected.
When public officials know citizens are engaged and informed, transparency becomes the norm rather than the exception.
Step 7: Report Concerns Through Proper Channels
When volunteers identify concerns involving possible waste, fraud, abuse, or unethical conduct, they should report those concerns through the appropriate legal and administrative channels.
The People’s Army is committed to facts, documentation, and due process.
Its purpose is not to conduct criminal investigations or replace existing oversight agencies.
Its purpose is to help ensure that concerns are brought forward responsibly and transparently.
Step 8: Accountability at Every Level of Government
Transparency should not stop at the State Capitol.
The People’s Army encourages civic engagement involving:
- State government
- County government
- Municipal government
- Public boards and commissions
- Public trusts
- School districts
- Other governmental bodies operating with taxpayer funds
Every level of government should remain accountable to the people it serves.
Step 9: A Peaceful Movement for Better Government
The People’s Army is built on peaceful civic participation.
Its mission is to strengthen public confidence in government by encouraging:
- Honesty
- Transparency
- Public participation
- Respectful dialogue
- Ethical leadership
- Responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars
This movement is about building trust—not division.
The Goal
The People’s Army, together with the People’s App and the People’s Table, forms the foundation of a new culture of government in Oklahoma.
- The People’s Table allows citizens to see what government is doing.
- The People’s App allows elected officials to hear directly from the people through real-time polling and feedback.
- The People’s Army encourages informed citizens to help promote transparency, identify concerns, and strengthen accountability through lawful civic participation.
Together, these three initiatives create a government that is more open, more responsive, and more accountable to the people.
Because corruption thrives in darkness.
Transparency brings it into the light.
And when citizens are informed, engaged, and willing to serve, government becomes stronger, more honest, and more worthy of the people’s trust.
It’s a WE thing, not a ME thing.