Many Oklahoma families are struggling right now, but you might not know it from listening to some of our elected leaders. In the past two weeks alone, some politicians have shown how disconnected they are from everyday Oklahomans' financial hardships.

Take U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin. He recently suggested that Americans are willing to endure even higher prices in support of President Trump's economic policies -- policies that have contributed to economic instability, unemployment, and rising costs nationwide.

"I think our constituents are going to do what it takes to get America back on track," Mullin said. "We're tired of countries taking advantage of us. Now, does it hurt our homes? Does it hurt our finances? Does it hurt our communities? Yes. But we understand that we need to get America back on track."

Mullin, who is among the wealthiest members of Congress, likely doesn't have to worry about the rising cost of gas, groceries, or rent. But in his home county, Adair County -- one of the poorest in our state -- nearly 1 in 4 residents live in poverty. For them, "doing what it takes" might mean deciding if they keep the lights on or eat.

Meanwhile, Gov. Kevin Stitt last week celebrated Oklahoma's No. 1 ranking in profit per employee for Fortune 500 companies. The report showed that these companies -- mostly headquartered outside of Oklahoma -- raked in $1.3 million per employee. Commenters quickly pointed out the irony: our state ranks sixth in poverty, and 1 in 4 children here don't have reliable access to food. What good is corporate profit when working families struggle to pay the rent?

And then there's the issue of child care, which is an increasing financial strain for working parents. A recent legislative proposal sought to ease this burden by offering tax credits to employers who help subsidize child care costs. In the floor debate, one lawmaker opposed it, arguing that it would be "incentivizing both parents to go to work," which could have "adverse effects" on children. Never mind that many families -- especially single parents -- don't have the luxury of staying home. Or Oklahoma's lack of well-paying jobs may require both members of a two-parent household to work.

Many of our friends and neighbors are experiencing difficult times. Right now, Oklahomans don't need platitudes. They need leaders who understand their struggles and support real solutions. The question is, who's listening?