Letters to the Editor (Nov. 24)

Guns and elections

Although I am a mentally ill person, I sometimes suspect I am one of the few sane people in our sick, violent society. I do not own a gun, nor have I ever served in the armed forces, and I find it extremely unfair that I have to be cautious when I leave my apartment.

When people run for office brandishing firearms, it disturbs me to the point of nausea. If politicians are going to sink to this level to get themselves elected, I have cast my final ballot.

Work for honest representation

In political races across the country, candidates campaigned against behind-closed-door dealings. Sedgwick County commissioner Richard Ranzau recently spoke forcefully against influence peddling. Harassment, sexual and otherwise, is commonplace.

There is however, a positive side. Last spring, a bipartisan legislative coalition crafted a tax plan, reaching consensus and gathering support before bringing its work to the floor. Their approach restored balanced taxation and changed Kansas economic trajectory. Others worked in the same way to garner support for education funding.

How do citizens encourage ethical decision making? We need information from savvy investigative reporting, such as the recent Kansas City Star series. Get to know decision makers. We need honest, trustworthy individuals with opportunity to work for our collective good in the private and public sector. Most importantly, when something is wrong, we must all address it in a way that fosters change rather than simply fuels anger.

Sweeping information under the rug and making deals for personal or corporate profit will not create an end that is good for all. We all have a part to play if we are all to be represented fairly and honestly. It is time for all of us to get to work.

Sealing records in death doesn’t help

Justice is a wonderful thing, especially for children. Three-year-old Evan Brewer was found encased in concrete in his house Sept. 2. The judge decided to seal Evan’s files. The records should be made public to help prevent an act as heinous as this.

This information can help us understand what could have caused such a crime. To hear Evan was under a protective order because he was in danger makes me wish they would have looked into this more. Perhaps if the files were unsealed it would allow us to better understand why the father was not able to obtain custody and keep the child safe.

I hope that when they find out the cause of death that they let us know.

Deer whistles can help prevent accidents

The Nov. 12 accident that killed three Kansas women because of a deer running onto a highway is a reminder that deer whistles can be effective. A deer whistle, mounted to a vehicle, makes a high-pitched noise that only deer can hear. the noise alerts the deer to steer clear of the noise. You can clip it to the front bumper of your care and it’s available at auto shops or supermarkets.

Buying deer whistles or your vehicle protects people on the road an the wildlife that might want to make a beeline toward the road and your car.

The smell of Tyson’s chickens

Before the Tyson train leaves the station, I think that consideration should be given to the source of the chickens. I am sure that the processing plant itself is not that much of a problem, however the growers can be.

I worked in the San Diego area for several years and had friends in Valley Center, Calif. There was a chicken producer about 10 miles from their house, and intermittently the smell from the producer’s property would reach them. The stench would drift for miles and was eye watering. It would typically last more than a week.

Apparently, this producer was in full compliance with all regulations. I would think this would be a serious problem in the Wichita area. The winds were typically light compared to Kansas; the odor would cover a much larger area.

The environmental foot print of the proposed plant would be much larger than the plant itself. Environmental consideration should be given to the entire Tyson supply and distribution chain before any approvals are given.

This story was originally published November 24, 2017 at 4:55 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (Nov. 24)."