Letters on rewriting amendments, Benghazi, think tanks, Masterson

Might do other rights differently, too

A letter writer asked whether the Founding Fathers would have framed the Second Amendment any differently had they known about assault rifles (“What would founders think of assault rifles?” June 29 Letters to the Editor). Fair enough question, but let’s expand the scope.

Would they have framed the First Amendment any differently had they known terrorists would exploit freedom of the press and use social media to deploy their murderous rampage? Would the Fifth Amendment on self-incrimination be different had they known Bryan Pagliano, Hillary Clinton’s personal information technology specialist, would use it more than 125 times during a 90-minute deposition?

Would the 14th Amendment, which defines citizenship, remain unchanged while illegal aliens flood across our southern border?

How about the 18th Amendment, which prohibits the manufacture and sale of alcohol? Guess we know how that one turned out.

And finally, would the 22nd Amendment, which allows a president two terms, really exist had they known President Obama’s ineptitude would last for eight long years?

Failure to lead?

Comments by Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, are what are “morally reprehensible,” as is the whole witch hunt in which Republicans cared more about attacking Hillary Clinton and President Obama than about doing their jobs (“Pompeo addendum more critical about Benghazi,” June 30 Now Consider This).

If Pompeo feels Clinton “failed to lead,” then where is his criticism of Gen. David Petraeus, who was head of the CIA? The last two people were killed at a CIA facility. Pompeo also questioned why only one of the attackers has been caught, yet George W. Bush failed to get Osama bin Laden.

If having four people killed on her watch is a failure to lead, then what does that say about Bush’s leadership when nearly 3,000 people were killed on American soil on Sept. 11, 2001? Bush failed to take any action to prevent the terrorist attacks, despite numerous warnings.

Phony think tanks

When I win the lottery, I am going to set up and secretly fund phony “think tanks,” institutes, councils and commissions, all hidden behind patriotic-sounding names. Then I too can get all my ideas published along with the nutty ideas being secretly paid for by the high rollers cloaked in the high-sounding names of these secret groups.

How about “Americans for Prosperity for the 99 Percent”? Or how about “Heart of the Country Institute” (located in another state, of course)? Or “United Smart Alecks USA”?

Need regulating

A commentary by Ed Cross, president of the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association, was full of anti-government venom (“Independence key to America’s prosperity,” June 30 Business Today). The oil and gas industry has been unable to see a need for outside control, assuming it can do anything it chooses. If I didn’t love a world of clean air and clean water, I would agree that creating more and more pollution is the best way to look at the future of this country.

Building a world of solar and wind energy does create some pollution, but only a fraction of what gas and oil does. Investment in sustainable energy is just as capitalistic as gas and oil, so why not help clean up the mess we now see around us?

Gets the job done

I support Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, for re-election to the Kansas Senate.

Having heard Masterson speak at a recent Wichita Pachyderm Club meeting, I was impressed with his knowledge of the state budget and his loyalty to the people of Kansas. He reminded the group that conservatives have only been in leadership of the Senate since the 2012 elections. Making changes in a huge bureaucratic organization like state government takes time and perseverance.

Unfortunately, the news cycle and social media echo chamber focus only on the negative headlines and controversy rather than on the many positive results that have been produced. He emphasized that the truth is out there, encouraged each of us to find it, and to find ways to share these facts with others. My research tells me that Masterson is the candidate who has and will continue to get the job done for all Kansans.

This story was originally published July 6, 2016 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Letters on rewriting amendments, Benghazi, think tanks, Masterson."