Letters to the Editor (July 19)

Undocumented tuitions

Kris Kobach states in a gubernatorial campaign ad that we are letting undocumented students attend state universities at resident tuition rates and says he will make sure they start paying the out-of-state tuition rate. He says it is costing the state $4 million in tax dollars a year to let them attend.

No, I think if he raises the tuition cost they will find another university to attend. Then the universities will start whining that attendance has dropped.

At my granddaughter’s recent graduation from Minot (N.D.) State University, I commented to my daughter-in-law that there were a lot of Canadian students graduating. She said they pay in-state tuition and added that the university probably wouldn’t be operating without the Canadian enrollment.

In what way are taxpayers paying for student tuitions? Kobach is wrong in that it’s costing the taxpayer. He is not looking at the revenue that the undocumented students create. Does he really think they are choosing Kansas universities because they provide such an outstanding education? I assume they attend because of the tuition cost.

A libertarian’s mission statement

I recently heard a man describe a think tank as conservative/libertarian and I cringed. As a libertarian, yes, some of my beliefs coincide with the conservative viewpoint. Concepts like smaller government, low taxes, reduced regulations, gun rights and increased personal responsibility are supported by both groups.

But libertarians also believe in lower defense spending, reducing foreign entanglements, legalizing marijuana, shrinking our criminal code and letting all citizens equally enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I agree with the Supreme Court on Roe v. Wade, Citizens United, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby and Obergefell, for the simple reason that in each instance, the Court emphasized personal liberty over government decree. Try finding a conservative who agrees with all four.

I would reduce restrictions on immigration. I believe in local control and don’t think states should tell cities what they can do. Nor should a state force a non-union employee to pay union dues.

Oh, and I like what both the ACLU and Charles Koch stand for.

Nobody will confuse me with being a conservative, or a liberal for that matter, and I hope that this explanation will clear up some of the confusion.

The flag at KU

I wish The Eagle could have shown other pieces in the “Pledges of Allegiance” exhibit at the University of Kansas (“Art project sparks debate over what makes a flag ‘desecrated’ ”, July 13). Were there altered, defaced or desecrated flags representing other nations, or was the American flag the only one shown in such a manner?

Do you suppose if it were, say, the Mexican flag altered in much the same fashion, that KU would have been as willing to make it a part of this exhibit? Maybe there were numerous country’s flags in this display that were defaced.

If that were the case, even though it’s distasteful, the exhibit should have been left alone. However if it was only the American flag shown in that manner, I’m glad it came down.

It only takes 20 seconds

In the June 30 Eagle story “Almost everybody is washing their hands wrong before eating, health officials say” it was astounding to read where 97 percent of people failed to clean their hands before eating.

As the article noted, that leaves the door open for bacteria being spread throughout the kitchen, and for food-borne illnesses to spread a make people sick, just by one person’s ignorance or hastiness. The report clearly noted that people should wash their hands a full 20 seconds, preferably with hot water and plenty of effective soap.

One point often overlooked is to dry your hands using clean towels. When I was growing up, my mom had lots of Ajax, Comet, Bon Ami and other powder cleansers around the kitchen and bathroom to make sinks, counter tops, and utensils clean. Even today, I have a bottle of Ajax liquid soap that is suitable for hand washing and I wash my hands for the full 20 seconds.

It strikes me as foolish for someone to cut corners. Their own health depends on it.