Letters on Farmers Union, Longwell, Williams, retail clinics, undermining education

Farmers Union is moving forward

Regarding “Farmers Union the ‘conscience of agriculture’” (March 14 Business Today): Some of the delegates at the National Farmers Union convention in Wichita may have been the great-grandsons and great-granddaughters of “populists,” but first and foremost we are farmers and producers in the 21st century. Rather than being an antiquated organization, we are a lasting, enduring and patient group of family farmers and ranchers who are moving forward, not backward.

Our mission is to educate, support and provide guidance to both veteran and beginning farmers. This support allows our producers to supply our country, and the world, with food to feed a growing population.

NFU, even though it is more than 100 years old, promotes the use of technology and modern farm practices so the individual family farmer can contribute to solving our growing hunger problem. NFU members also believe strongly in stewardship and conservation of the land. We believe that the family farmer is the best steward of land practices.

NFU represents all facets of agricultural production, but also works with other ag groups to present a collective message to Congress and a multitude of government agencies.

NFU will continue to work for effective farm policies and will remain an independent national voice on the future direction of American agriculture.

Respect Longwell

I’m pretty sure either person running for Wichita mayor can ably do the job, but I am endorsing and will vote for Wichita City Council member Jeff Longwell because of my personal experience with him over some years.

I’ve had the occasion to call Longwell for help with what most would consider smaller concerns. However, he never treated them as such. Every time I e-mailed him, I received a response the same day and in one case the same hour.

When Longwell responded, he didn’t put me off by saying he would look into my concern and get back to me. He took the time to contact the person who could help me, including me in the e-mail. He always asked for an update to make sure the issue was satisfactorily settled. In one case, he did have to look into a matter to get the whole story and subsequently sent me a complete account of what happened and what was being done about it.

In addition to being remarkably responsive and action-oriented, Longwell has shown himself willing, when necessary, to swim against the current of his fellow council members. This is the kind of man and public servant I admire and respect. This is the man I want to see in the mayor’s chair.

Williams needed

After much thought and discussion, we have chosen to support Sam Williams for mayor of Wichita. It is our belief that Williams would bring to the Mayor’s Office the type of vision, leadership and business acumen that Wichita sorely needs as we move into the future.

For a number of years, each of us served with Williams’ opponent on the Maize school board. Our experiences working with Jeff Longwell during the time he served on the board, as well as after he left, have us deeply concerned about his capability to move Wichita in the right direction. We are apprehensive about Longwell’s leadership abilities, and his integrity to make decisions that are in the best interest of the citizens of Wichita.

It is our strong belief that Williams is the best choice for mayor, and we urge your support for Williams in the April 7 election.

Clinic option

A growing number of retail medical clinics are popping up all over. They are getting patients in and out and feeling better.

According to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) play a significant role in making retail-based clinics a viable health care option for patients who might not otherwise receive needed care in a timely manner.

There has been a surge of awareness surrounding retail clinics in recent years. These services are made possible by qualified NPs who have advanced nursing and medical training. NPs provide full services such as treating acute to chronic conditions from simple sore throats to high blood pressure management. Consumers’ overall appreciation of nurse practitioners is extremely high.

Retail clinics are in Kansas and in your neighborhood. Broader awareness hopefully will connect those under the weather with an additional umbrella. You can search retail clinics online to find one near you.

Back education

When control of the people is needed, the first thing leaders do is close down education of the masses. Doesn’t this sound like what is occurring in Kansas?

Our leaders are cutting funds so that the uneducated do not know how to improve their lives or how to convince the few educated to improve conditions.

Perhaps it is time for the people of Kansas to let our leaders know they need to back education for the future of all.

What has occurred in the Capitol is that instead of increasing funding, as the court ordered, leaders have devised a new way of cutting even more monies from education.

This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on Farmers Union, Longwell, Williams, retail clinics, undermining education."