Letters on Wichita martyr, campus carry, financial future, Social Security

Don’t forget the sacrifice of martyrs

I offer this screed in defense of martyrs such as Wichita native James Reeb, the white man killed 51 years ago in Selma, Ala., marching for black voting rights, a right people today take for granted.

The last of Rev. Reeb’s alleged attackers, Namon O’Neal “Duck” Hoggle, died recently.

Though President Lyndon Johnson mourned Reeb’s death and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered Reeb’s eulogy, Hoggle’s hometown paper’s obituary didn’t mention Reeb or Hoggle’s acquittal by an all-white jury.

Few here know a monument honors Reeb in Selma.

Martyrs deserve better.

Our anger is little more than vapor these days – here and gone in a whisper. We’ve quickly exhaled the Philando Castile and Alton Sterling rage that drove so many protesters into the streets. King said America had a two-week memory.

We honor martyrs, on whose lives we build movements, not with outbursts, but with sustained, strategic engagement. If you can’t do that, perhaps you aren’t all that angry.

Witnesses said the club striking Reeb’s head sounded like the smashing of a melon. Other witnesses said the Selma hospital refused him treatment because he’d marched with black people.

Still, as horrible as his end may have been for him, forgetting his sacrifice is so much worse, for us.

Not only did we forget him, we let his killers get away with murder.

Students, guns

A recent Opinion Line contributor lamented the loss of college graduates who are leaving our state, largely due to the discriminatory culture and lack of support for education, health care and voting rights in Kansas.

Now add to the list the decision to allow students to carry guns on college campuses. Not only are we losing graduates, we will also be losing students, as many young people are thinking twice about attending Kansas public colleges because of the potential dangers of campus carry.

Unfortunately, college is often very stressful for many young people, and the incidence of suicides and drug and alcohol abuse is all too common. Developmentally, many young people are less mature, and some tend to be impulsive. Adding firearms to those problems will be just another tragedy waiting to happen.

Our local chapter of Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America is dedicated to fighting this senseless decision on the part of our conservative legislators. Although some of those who supported this law have been voted out of office, the fight is far from over.

If you agree with our mission to keep guns off college campuses in Kansas, please call your representatives and let them know you will not support legislators who agree with this irresponsible law.

Financial future

The surreal is now unfolding for pension funds (and savers) around the world as the inevitable result of 40 years of crony capitalist central bank policy finally rears its previously hidden head: Lenders are now paying borrowers for the privilege of lending them money – also known as negative interest rates.

This is a dream come true for banks, crony capitalists and debt-ridden governments. Now everyday depositors and savers will have to pay banks for the privilege of having an account. And the longer you leave your money with them, the less you will have when you need it.

The same is true for corporations and governments. Pension funds (many of which are already projected to be unable to meet their future payment obligations) will now have to pay corporations and governments for the privilege of lending them money.

For those who say this could never happen in America, you entirely miss the point. This has been happening in America for nearly 40 years thanks to the collusion of crony capitalists and Washington politicians with the Federal Reserve. Indeed, America introduced this financial perversion to the world. And it has finally reached an extreme that makes what was its real purpose all along completely visible once and for all: the massive and systematic transfer of wealth (via monetary policy) from the poor and middle class to a corporate/banking oligarchy.

Well your financial future is finally here, so take a look.

Selling cemetery?

In last Tuesday’s paper was notice of a delinquent tax auction scheduled for Sept. 27. Two of the properties scheduled for sale are a cemetery near 143rd on the north side of East Harry. Taxes and interest owed were $15,500 for 2011-2015.

As this sale is authorized by the Sedgwick County Commission, it would be interesting to hear what the commissioners have to say about their plan to sell a cemetery to a low bidder.

I personally don’t have a solution for this, but an auction sale has to be one of the worst.

Maybe old established cemeteries should be exempt from taxes.

Take a stand

Social Security had its 81st birthday in August. A birthday is a great time to both celebrate and reflect on the past and the present. It is time to get realistic about the need to keep Social Security strong for the future.

If our leaders fail to act wisely, future retirees may lose nearly 25 percent of their benefits.

A new analysis by AARP makes clear the stakes for Kansans if our elected officials keep kicking the can down the road and resist steps to keep Social Security financially sound. Average family income for people over 65 could plunge by $4,500 if cuts reach 25 percent. The poverty rate among older Kansans would soar by 51 percent.

AARP launched Take A Stand, a national campaign urging the presidential candidates to show leadership on Social Security. We need to hear more from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump about their plans, with specifics about how individuals and their families would be affected by any changes.

This is not just about retirees. Younger workers, our children and our grandchildren will all depend on Social Security one day.

Presidential candidates: Are you listening?

This story was originally published September 11, 2016 at 5:04 AM with the headline "Letters on Wichita martyr, campus carry, financial future, Social Security."