Letters on failed tax plan, sales tax increase, dishonoring Jesus, shameful session, OK to quote Jesus, ghost mall

Poor paying for failed tax plan

It appears state lawmakers made the decision to come down on the side of the constituents they care most about – business owners and “Americans for the Prosperous.”

It is disheartening to see that, once again, the poor and middle class will be saddled with the burden of filling the financial hole created by the decision to give many businesses in the state a free ride (June 14 Eagle). The concept failed.

I hope the voters most affected by this budget proposal will remember who voted for it when the next election rolls around.

Little impact

The Legislature raised the sales tax rate from 6.15 to 6.5 percent. An article in The Eagle correctly stated that a family of four earning $30,000 or more, spending $200 a week on food, will now average $675 a year in Kansas food sales taxes without a compensating state income tax credit.

I am not a proponent of sales taxes, but I do take exception to the manner in which journalists convey information. Another way of explaining the impact of the recent 0.35 percentage point increase in sales tax for the same family of four is an increase in grocery sales taxes of $36.40 per year or 70 cents per week – the same correct information, but giving a much different picture of the legislative action.

One could ask whether $200 per week for groceries is the right amount, but the fact is that the sales tax increase will have very little impact on this family of four.

Dishonored Jesus

Richard Crowson’s June 14 editorial cartoon showing a lack of tears for the poor and middle class dramatically portrayed the hypocrisy of Gov. Sam Brownback and the Legislature. These officials who love to wrap themselves in the cloak of Christianity simply blow off Jesus’ most fundamental teachings.

Jesus taught that one of the two greatest commandments was to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:34-39). There was no love for our neighbors in this legislative session.

Jesus also defined those who would enter the kingdom of God: Those who see the hungry and give them food, the thirsty and give them drink, the stranger and welcome him, the naked and clothe him, and visit the sick. He said, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers you did it to me” (Matthew 25:31-46).

Kansas has a proud heritage of good government. The violence done to that heritage by this governor and Legislature is appalling. But the violence done to the teachings of Jesus and to “the least of these” by this governor and Legislature is unforgivable.

Shameful session

I am thoroughly embarrassed by our Legislature and governor – particularly this year.

The tax hike passed Friday follows an unreasonable, failed tax cut passed three years ago. Only after spending $1 million in legislative overtime costs did the imperfect measure to counter the disaster finally pass.

Someone finally realized that government services – schools, roads, prisons, etc. – are not all evil, and thus reasonable taxes aren’t either.

If the Republicans hadn’t descended into the attitude that anyone who dared to question them was by definition a “liberal” – voiced in the same tone as “serial killer” – this state would not have deteriorated into the laughingstock of our nation. For shame.

Not laughed at

I must vehemently protest an unsupported remark by Scott Goltl, director of outreach at Ascension Lutheran Church in Wichita, that a “college professor at a public institution used to be able to quote Jesus ... and now you would be in trouble and laughed at” (“Churches keep millennials close with outreach, programs,” June 14 Eagle). What in the world is the source of this idea?

I have taught linguistics for nearly 40 years and demonstrated the way that English has changed by using the “Our Father” prayer in Anglo-Saxon, Middle English and Early Modern English, by way of showing that words and their meanings are not organically connected, and no one finds it troubling. On the contrary, the primary problem is that many students are not familiar with the prayer at all.

Similarly, I am free to use metaphors by St. Paul, quotations from the Psalms and figures of speech with biblical roots, and no educated person is laughing at me. As long as the material is relevant to the issue under discussion, there is no reason for anyone to be censored in referring to religious texts.

It is time to stop perpetuating the ignorant propaganda that certain subject matter is blacklisted at universities. This is just a result of anti-intellectual brainwashing by those who are threatened by free discourse and open debate, without which democratic republics founded on liberty cannot flourish.

‘Ghost mall’

With a Convergys call center going into Towne West Square (June 10 Business Today), it is only a matter of time before the mall becomes a “ghost mall.” Just look at the Twin Lakes and Harry Street malls.

This story was originally published June 16, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on failed tax plan, sales tax increase, dishonoring Jesus, shameful session, OK to quote Jesus, ghost mall."