Print edition: 
Boycott chamber businesses
I am very frustrated by our legislators' refusal to follow Gov. Mark Parkinson's recommendation of a temporary 1 percentage point sales-tax increase. His plan would prevent serious harm to education and other Kansas services. I am equally frustrated by the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce's public stand against any sort of temporary tax increase.
I have written my district legislators by both e-mail and letter, with limited results. Recently, I had an idea that might help.
I visited the chamber's Web site. I noticed it had a great membership directory with excellent contact information for Wichita business owners and managers. I can only assume that if a local business is in the membership directory, then it supports the chamber's stand against a temporary tax.
I intend to write every business owner on the list with whom I do business, express my disappointment with its association with the chamber, and explain, in a polite way, that unless its position on the tax can be proved otherwise, my future purchases may be with a business not in the directory.
If I am the only one who writes, business owners will think that I am an eccentric and ignore my letter. What would happen, though, if a business received 50 letters? How about 100?
Don't assume that someone else will do something. Take an hour; write a few letters.
JOHN EATON
Wichita
IMAX downtown?
All this time I thought we were looking for a unique draw to get people to go downtown, to begin to realize the potential of Old Town, to turn the corner and finally start making the downtown into something that people wanted to go to. I thought Bill Warren really wanted to make his downtown theater a profit-making affair.
When I first heard the proposal to put an IMAX on the western outskirts of Wichita, I thought: "Wow, that would be the perfect draw for turning the corner downtown." I figured the Wichita City Council would see that right off the bat. I thought Mayor Carl Brewer would be on the phone to Warren to see about putting the IMAX downtown instead of in one of the places in the least need of promoting faster growth. All along, I thought the idea was to turn the downtown into something Wichitans would keep coming back to. After all, we've only been hearing that for 20 years now.
Nope, the council vote was unanimous ("City OKs bonds for Warren IMAX plan," April 7 Eagle). Not even any discussion on putting it downtown. I guess the downtown idea is DOA. I guess I'm just confused.
BILL LEISTIKO
Wichita
Unaffordable care
I am a 24-year-old student at Wichita State University. I get good grades, I have scholarships, and I take a full course load. Additionally, I work. I live at home in order to save costs.
I do all these things, and I can't afford to pay for my own health insurance. Why does Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, believe that I don't deserve affordable health care?
TYLER EMERSON
Wichita
Avoid roads
A letter writer said his dad was lucky to survive after a car struck him while riding his bicycle ("Bike rights," April 6 Letters to the Editor). I agree that his dad was lucky, but luck should not have so much to do with it.
As the writer explained, a bicycle has a right to the road, and the cars should respect it. The problem is that what is and what should be are two different things, and will continue to differ until bicycles are as fast and as large as cars. Assuming cars will see and avoid bicycles is a dangerous mindset, as the letter illustrated.
I used to ride a great deal but never trusted my life on every single car seeing and avoiding me. I rode about 150 miles per week for several years and never had a close call. I do not ride on streets except those that are quite deserted, such as in neighborhoods. When I do have to use a main road, I will stay on it as briefly as possible.
Bike paths are good. And sidewalks can be lifesavers except downtown, where riding on them is prohibited (and be sure to yield to pedestrians). Yes, I might have to go a little extra sideways distance, but this way I will not go 6 feet downward.
ALAN SIEGMAN
Wichita
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As long as the "great thinkers" who dwell in our Legislature allow bicycles on the same roadways as vehicles weighing between one and two tons, we will continue reading stories about accidents.
TOM LEVINSKI
Wichita
Indian rulers
Regarding "Fighting mad" (April 2 Letters to the Editor), calling for people to "band together to fight the politicians": The Indians could have ruled the country had they not fought among themselves.
GUYETTA MONROE-MARTIN
Wichita
Go with Butler
Does anyone else agree that the Olympic selection process could be greatly simplified and improved by choosing the entire Butler University basketball team and coaching staff to represent the United States? The prima donna pros could then stay home to count their money, and our international image would be significantly enhanced.
R.E. BROWN
Wichita
