Oh, what a week it has been in Oklahoma.

Last weekend, walking through the Okmulgee Wal-Mart, I told Mom to get plenty of groceries, even more than her two-week usual. An ice storm was on the way, and it could be significant, I had been told.

Part of me believed that the more I yapped about the storm, the less likely it would be to happen.

However, I also knew that residents in the Muskogee area -- some of them -- were without power for a month after an ice storm earlier this year.

After six days without power, I can't begin to empathize properly with those folks, nor can I empathize properly with the 500,000-plus people who don't have power right this second. Fortunately, my power came back on today here in Norman.

If you're from out of state, and you think this is mere "bitching" or "wimpiness," perhaps you haven't been without power in subfreezing weather for days on end.

A colleague asked me today why I was so down on OG&E. I've said for two years that, in my opinion, our core power infrastructure, as supported primarily by OG&E, was simply not ready for calamity. Each time I've covered a major storm in Oklahoma, major power outages have followed. And while utility workers are salt-of-the-earth folks, and while they have worked and are working their tails off this week, they deserve better just as much as we do.

When I consider the ways I would improve the state of my birth, the state I've been loyal to all my life, the state of my college and my team, the primary hope I'd have for Oklahoma is that it progresses. That we act and react progressively.

It's not a political argument. It's not a social debate, and it's not some sort of left-wing ideology. I'm a firm believer that hardcore right-wingers and bleeding-heart lefties can work toward common good, which I'd define as collective prosperity.

It starts with a great infrastructure. Great roads. Great utilities.

Every good thing that could happen for Oklahoma the next 25 years start with those, and if you want to look toward examples of how this can be done, start with none other than Oklahoma City. Since the bombing in 1995, OKC has turned into one of the truly cool little big towns in the country.

Sure, they have plenty to work on; however, Oklahoma City's problems aren't the foundation of this message. On the other hand, their successes underscore my point about acting progressively. Between Bricktown's revival and the MAPS project and the recently passed bond issue, Oklahoma City has it goin' on.

And if OG&E wants to continue to be the singular electric utility for central Oklahoma, it needs to get on the bandwagon. It needs to invest in underground cabling. Their executives need to work with emergency planners to develop worst-case scenario strategies for getting power restored in 48 hours or less, regardless of the situation, and be able to execute.

Now, this will be my last word on the matter unless my power goes back out, at which time, I'll merely update and bitch and moan. It's not that I don't support those whose power still isn't on, it's just that my voice is really kind of irrelevant at this point given that I'm sitting here in the comfort of 72-degree temperature.

However, I'd be stunned if I could find anybody who disagrees with me that at least some improvements need to be made. Sure, it might cost a little more; however, any good investment requires some cost and some risk.

Oklahomans really didn't want to hear OG&E CEO Peter Delaney talk about "cost-benefit analysis" at a news conference earlier this week. It was bad, bad form. They wanted to see his butt out there working with his men, living the very motto of our state - labor conquers all.

Great infrastructure is a primary factor in whether or not this state attracts new business.

Great infrastructure is a primary factor in attracting talented, educated residents, and it's a primary factor in keeping them here after they graduate from college.

And for anybody who says we have it here in Oklahoma, I would love to have a sip of whatever you're drinking. I think one could make an argument that our power infrastructure is in significantly better shape than most of our roads; however, it's like asking who's the bigger mess-up: Britney Spears or Amy Winehouse?

So, my hope is that people of like, progressive mind make it a point to insist that OG&E reconsider its cost-benefit analysis once their restorations are complete. Either that, or we should work to introduce competition to the marketplace.

Besides, I've never, ever thought competition was a bad thing. Perhaps that should happen regardless.