Print edition: 
Other options for feeding hungry
The area neighborhood association and the Wichita Ministerial League were not wanting a Band-Aid solution to the complex problem of feeding the hungry ("Lord's Diner withdraws 21st St. plan," Nov. 15 Eagle). We tried to negotiate with the Lord's Diner in finding sites to feed the hungry while also dealing with finding jobs for the poor.
We believe the downtown model of feeding many homeless was not right for a residential area that needed economic development. We believed that mobile units could feed the 300 children and adults who were identified as hungry in the neighborhood.
It would be a mismanagement of funds to pour thousands of dollars into renovating a building, upgrading parking, providing security and paying for extra supplies when the organization could have put that money into services.
But we did agree to help find location. And find one we did. The former travel agency building at 20th and Oliver was perfect. It is not in a residential area, parking is great, and it is on a bus route. That location was turned down.
REUBEN D. ECKELS
President
Wichita Ministerial League
Wichita
Slippery slope
I cannot believe that a federal task force is actually recommending against annual mammograms for women in their 40s and self-examination generally (Nov. 17 Eagle). I have a sister-in-law who is alive today because she caught her cancer with self-exam. She was 44.
Wake up, people, and see the slippery slope the government has us on. This is one example of many to come that predicts what the government will do if it gets hold of the health care system. This is a sad example of what President Obama's rationed care would be like. The mature generation will be expendable. This should be a sad, sad day of revelation for everyone.
KATHY UTZ
Wichita
Need public option
As a native Kansan who now lives in New York, I am still in the habit of reading Opinion Line. I have noticed a trend in opinions expressed regarding proposals by President Obama and, in particular, the recent proposals for health care reform. One comment said that supporters of the president should get off public assistance and become productive members of society. Others have stated that those who support a public option are lazy or looking for handouts.
I work 50 to 60 hours each week at a very stressful job. I do not receive public assistance, and I help to provide for others through my taxes. I support a public option because I do not believe that we can continue to allow people to suffer and die because they cannot afford adequate health care.
VANESSA L. KANAGA
Long Island City, N.Y.
Stand against tide
The author of "Tiahrt voted against helping families" (Nov. 11 Letters to the Editor) couldn't be more wrong. First of all, according to Democrats themselves, the health care bill does not cover all Americans, which I thought was the whole point. It raises taxes on families and businesses and makes cuts in Medicare, something I thought the American Medical Association and AARP would be against. Fines and possibly even jail time are the penalties for not enrolling.
Why does this "right to health care" need to be forced on us? How is that "free enterprise" and "free choice"? The letter writer may not like the assessment by Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, that federal control of health care is socialism, but if the shoe fits... .
I am thankful that Tiahrt is standing against the tide of trading our liberties for substandard health insurance. I'm glad to support a candidate for U.S. Senate who will work against the ever-expanding control of the federal government in every facet of our lives.
TAD HITTENBERGER
Wichita
Koch money
It was almost laughable to read the disclaimer by a Koch Companies Public Sector spokeswoman ("Not funding parties," Nov. 16 Letters to the Editor). She said that Koch Industries and Koch foundations have not funded the recent taxpayer "tea parties." She also said that so far in 2009, Koch-related funding for Americans for Prosperity and its foundation is less than 5 percent of the organizations' total funding.
On Oct. 5, "The Rachel Maddow Show" aired a video clip of David Koch at the AFP convention held the weekend before. He said, "Five years ago, my brother Charles and I provided the funds to start the Americans for Prosperity, and it's beyond my wildest dreams how AFP has grown into this enormous organization." Please note that David Koch is chairman of the board of the AFP Foundation.
But let's go back. Koch family money founded Citizens for a Sound Economy in 1984. CSE later split and the CSE Foundation eventually became AFP, which has continued to be a large recipient of Koch family funds.
Going even further back, Fred C. Koch was a founder of the John Birch Society in 1958.
After 51 years, the Koch political agenda is still the same — get the ordinary people to oppose their own best interests. Its "education" mission means indoctrinating people against the science of climate change and progressive taxation.
JANICE BRADLEY
Wichita
