Print edition: 
Country needs to find the middle
The current failure of the government is not just one man. It is the fault of two different political views, each attempting to have its way. Each has its merits.
Republicans on the right aim to protect traditions and keep government as small as possible, allowing individuals to be empowered to do what they wish to be successful.
Democrats on the left are progressive and want social services available to help individuals who need them.
The idea then is to reach a middle compromise in which we hold onto our traditions but adapt to the times, empower the people to be great while providing them with safety nets in case the worst happens.
The role of the president is to sit in the middle and make the best out of both sides. But no one wants to reach the middle, and that is very sad.
JON LEONARD
Winfield
Shift focus
It appears to me that Secretary of State Kris Kobach is barking up the wrong tree when it comes to stopping undocumented workers from crossing the border. By focusing on the illegal Hispanic workers (and let's face it — it is only the Hispanic immigrants he is concerned with stopping, legal or not; Canadians don't get hassled for their papers when pulled over), Kobach is concentrating on the end result instead of the cause.
These workers cross the border, risking their lives and sometimes their families to find work. You would think that if there were no work available, they wouldn't bother.
Unfortunately, American businesses love undocumented workers, because they can be paid a pittance and overworked. It's not Mexican companies hiring these people.
Until these companies are penalized harshly enough to make them comply, the Hispanic workers will continue to cross the border to fill jobs that are waiting for them, jobs previously occupied by their now-deported countrymen. Meanwhile, the American business gets a slap on the wrist and a "don't do that anymore" penalty.
Kobach needs to shift his focus.
ROY CONNELLY
Park City
Water before oil
The controversy regarding the Keystone XL pipeline crosses party lines, but what seems most important are the relative values and the alternatives.
The state of Nebraska and its governor are strongly against the pipeline because it could endanger the Ogallala Aquifer. If you are a rancher totally dependent upon this water, you have no alternative if it is damaged. If you are the pipeline company and the oil industry, your alternatives are to relocate, to use more natural gas and renewables, among many others. The aquifer's water, therefore, seems more valuable than the pipeline.
ALFRED JAMES III
Wichita
Don't go there
I was very saddened by the article "Skin cancer drug's cost leads Britain to reject it" (Oct. 15 Eagle). Many people today are affected by skin cancer. It saddens me to see that because of the socialist health care system in Britain, people are not able to get this treatment.
I see this as being exactly where Obamacare is going. In the socialist health care system, the government is unable to pay for such high-cost medicine or procedures. Even some of Canada's government leaders have come to the United States for medical treatment.
As Americans, we should look carefully at socialized health care in other countries and ask ourselves, "Do we really want to go there?"
REBEKAH BOUMA
Clearwater
Rule of Marten
We can do away with elections now. No longer do we need elected representatives. We no longer need the 125 representatives and 40 senators in Kansas who have been working so hard on budgets and allocation of taxpayer money.
All we have to do is go to U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten, and he will tell us who gets taxpayer money and who does not ("Judge orders Kansas to release Dodge clinic funds," Oct. 19 Local & State).
Marten ordered that federal funding be given to the Dodge City Family Planning Clinic. He overlooked the fact that the Ford County Health Department and United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries provide the same family medical care and much more.
I thought the Legislature was the only branch of government constitutionally authorized to allocate taxpayer funds.
It is too bad federal judges are appointed for life. Fortunately, as Marten is painfully aware, appellate courts can and have overturned his prejudiced decisions and ruled in favor of the constitutions of Kansas and the United States.
Marten continues to abuse his discretion with this ruling on the allocation of federal funds. I hope he will be overturned once again.
Eventually, the rule of law will prevail over the rule of Marten.
DAVID GITTRICH
Wichita
Reward teachers
Four years is long enough. Teachers cannot grind out another year with no improvements to their financial condition.
No longer can it be acceptable to watch our governor and lawmakers dismantle our quality public education system with draconian cuts.
We have understood the calamities that the Kansas Legislature has placed on USD 259 leaders, but next spring it is time for our school board to offer a salary package that will reward and thank teachers for their hard work and sacrifices since 2007.
The male teacher has landed on the endangered-species list. Nationwide, the number of male teachers has declined in the past eight years from nearly a third of all teachers to just 16 percent. Many have to work two jobs. Ultimately, most male teachers realize they cannot give due justice to their teaching duties, so they leave the profession for higher pay in the private sector. This is very unfortunate, as kids need male teachers and role models, too.
Four years is long enough.
DAVID E. CLARK Jr.
Wichita
