Letters to the Editor (July 29)

Amendment warranted

There has been much discussion about the Kansas Supreme Court’s decades-long involvement in determining state public education funding. Those in favor of it continuing argue on the grounds of the balance of power. Those who oppose the court’s action see it as usurping the responsibility of the Legislature to appropriate funds.

But we have the effective balance of power the framers of the Kansas Constitution intended. It’s called the ballot box, and we’ll have the opportunity to use it this year on Aug. 7 and Nov. 6. If the Legislature funds education insufficiently, the governor can veto their school plan, or the entire budget. If enough of them disagree, they can override the veto. If the citizenry believes the Legislature isn’t doing its job, they can vote not to rehire them every two and four years. Power is balanced.

The only unbalanced power happens when the unelected judiciary declares that they aren’t satisfied with school funding. Then 165 legislators and one governor are left to ponder how much will satisfy them.

Let’s return to the judicial restraint that allows the balance the framers intended.

Turnpike’s future

Regarding increased tolls on the Kansas Turnpike, it’s interesting that we are still operating a major highway that predates the interstate highway system and continuing to pay tolls since the Kansas Turnpike Authority made a tidy profit in 2017.

Does anyone remember people drowning due to culvert overflows? How close is the KTA to meeting interstate requirements, and is that even a goal? Does KTA intend to exist and collect tolls forever? Is there any long-term plan for incorporating this into the state or federal system and dropping the tolls, dismantling the booths and KTA headquarters while reassigning toll takers and maintenance personnel? The feds already know how to operate rest stops.

Does anyone consider the KTA to be an anachronism, or maybe even a boondoggle in this day and age? Are we not even bothering to ask?

Although I do not have a local address, I grew up in Wichita in the 1950s and ’60s and return there often to visit family. I cannot be the only person who wonders about these things.

Bad for Kansas business

Kansas voters who elected President Trump and all of the Republican senators and representatives need to quit lying to themselves about the economic and public policies coming from this administration.

Kansas farmers, and the businesses they support, would have markets all across Asia if a Democrat was making economic policy. Now they have none.

More Kansans would have health-care coverage if a Democrat was in charge of Kansas or the United States, and small-town hospitals and clinics would not be closing.

Local rural economies are built around farming and health care, yet these rural areas continue to vote for Republicans and their policies that are destroying them economically. It doesn’t make sense to me.

Unethical lawyers

I can remember when lawyers did not advertise. They thought it unethical and unprofessional.

Today, when lawyers have to choose between ethics and money, some choose the big money. They are trying to be the richest person in the graveyard. Don’t be surprised if someday you see a Brinks truck leading the funeral procession.

Am I the only one in Wichita that is sick and tired of seeing lawyers on TV all day long, day after day? When my lawyer was retiring, I called his office and asked his secretary if she could give me the name of a good lawyer. She told me they did not recommend lawyers. I am still trying to figure that one out.