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Budget cuts punish the powerless
Political budget gorillas resemble school-yard toughs in that they talk big but enforce their authority by punishing the powerless, those who are not only too few in number or frail in body to fight back, but who also pose no intrinsic menace to the status quo.
True to form, Gov. Sam Brownback, the fierce new GOP Defender of the Realm of Fiscal Responsibility, has laid down the sword of justice in favor of the pocketknife of idle whittling. Brownback proposes to lance some puny arts spending, refuse assistance to the disabled and the mentally ill, and cut school funding.
I don't believe that these proposed cuts, once enacted, will do a darn thing to correct the economic anemia of the state of Kansas. All the cuts will accomplish is the provision of rhetorical flourishes in the next round of campaign propaganda.
The revitalizing of the state and its economy requires imagination, courage, the ability to move people to sacrifice and discipline for the sake of excellence. If Brownback expects to offer Kansas as a model of triumphant capitalism, he and his advisers had better devote themselves to a more profound examination of human aspiration and endeavor.
NOVELENE ROSS
Wichita
Deranged society
Everyone seems to have been herded into the safe, though suspiciously warped, O.K. Corral of opinion that the killer in Tucson was deranged. That the killers of Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller and other doctors around the country were deranged. That the killers at Virginia Tech, Columbine and all the rest who have shot dead so many others are simply deranged.
Could our society be deranged for allowing such effective ways of silencing others to be dismissed in such a callous and hollow manner?
The combination of one powerful group's loud and paralyzed stand on the freedoms guaranteed under the First and Second amendments has turned into a legal and lethal means of holding the real reins of power in this country.
One of the original commandments Moses brought down from the mountain was "Thou shalt not kill." Strict restrictions on hate speech and guns have sharply reduced killing in most nations. To those nations, this nation has become a bit deranged for refusing to even consider such measures.
HIBBARD DAVIS
Wichita
Left-wing lies
I take exception to "GOP bullies" (Jan. 19 Letters to the Editor). It stated that conservative Republican media moguls (such as Rush Limbaugh) should not be stopped from saying what they think, but that "they are cowards."
The dictionary defines a "coward" as one who lacks courage or shows shameful fear. If anybody listens to talk-radio shows, you could hardly say Limbaugh lacks courage. He continuously pounds politicians (left and right) for not standing up for the interests of the American people. Tune in sometime.
The letter also said that Limbaugh's statements are false, but it didn't mention one false statement Limbaugh has made. My advice to all left-wingers: If you cannot build an argument with fact, truth and examples, then all of your written words are nothing more than a conglomeration of catchy phrases, spins and opinions.
Conservative talk radio is alive and well. Why? Is it because the hosts continuously spin lies?
Whatever happened to left-wing radio? It doesn't exist anymore. Why? Because the hosts continuously spin lies.
JERRY ARENSBERG
Wichita
Sour grapes
Our president gave a great speech at the Tucson memorial service last week. He suggested that we all try to be more civil, more understanding of one another, and that we put a stop to the "blame game" that goes on across our country.
Almost everyone agreed that it was a fitting tribute to those injured or killed in that senseless shooting. However, the most vitriolic objector was Rush Limbaugh.
The day after the president's speech, this radio commentator did his best to violate and discriminate against everything the president said. He said that our president tried to make the memorial about him. He said that the applause for our president was inappropriate and forced. And he claimed that the president's speech dragged former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin into the spectacle of the division of the country. I think she jumped into it of her own free will.
Limbaugh also criticized everyone, including the president, for quoting from the Bible, as if people didn't have the right to do so. Perhaps Limbaugh should spend a little more time reading the Bible. He might learn something about respect for one another, caring and compassion.
WALTER JOHNSON
Wichita
Hateful cartoon
Richard Crowson's editorial cartoon on Jan. 16 was another despicable hit-and-run from the left.
Did he tell us what words were said that were hateful? No. Did he name who said hateful words? No, but we have a pretty good idea. Did his cartoon include the man who actually pulled the trigger? No, apparently Crowson hates talkers more than an actual killer.
Do his hate-talkers include Alec Baldwin, who when appearing on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" in 1998 screamed that we should stone former Illinois Rep. Henry Hyde to death and go to the homes of House Republicans and kill their wives and children? It doesn't appear so.
Apparently Crowson wants us to imagine that everyone is guilty of either hate speech or is too cowardly to stop it. By the way — didn't this cartoon make Crowson guilty of hate speech?
TAD HITTENBERGER
Wichita
