Letters to the editor (Oct. 20, 2018)
Prepare for cold
About two weeks ago, when temperatures were still in the 80’s, I took the opportunity to insulate the outside exposed water pipes. Various people thought I was crazy, but I don’t regret it. An Oct. 15 Eagle article noted that the 0.3 inches of snow was the earliest measurable snowfall since records began in 1888. The next closest record was previously set on Oct. 22, 1996. At that time, I lived at Rose Hill. Even then, I learned one thing that has become my mantra: “At the end of summer, if you catch a warm-ish day to insulate your exposed water pipes, do it.”
It’s also a good time to prepare for pets: Prepare their shelter, places out of direct wind, and prepare for regular food dispersing and methods to keep drinking water either warmed or able to be replenished with fresh water. I urge everyone to think the four P’s : Pets, Pipes, Plants, People. The latter includes checking-on elderly/disabled people to make sure they are safe and sound. Until spring 2019 comes, it would be wise for people to plan and prepare now.
James A. Marples, Esbon
Economics 101
OK, Mr. President, back to Economics 101. Interests rates are not going up because of the Federal Reserve. They are going up because inflation is up. Look, no bank in the country will loan money at 3% when inflation is 4% because they will lose money. Nope, when inflation is 4%, banks charge 6% so they can make money. And inflation is up. Case in point: When you were inaugurated, the average T-bill rate (the benchmark for government borrowing and great indicator of inflation) was 0.82%. Today, they stand at 2.67%.
Rates have more than tripled on your watch and as a result, interest payments on the national debt, for the first time ever, topped $500 billion during the just completed fiscal year. With the debt up to $21.6 trillion, each future 1% increase in interest rates could mean as much as $216 billion more going out in interest this year. Mr. President, you can do something about this. Veto excessive spending and moderate your inflationary immigration, tax, trade and defense spending policies. Last minute cramming won't help you pass this class, so please hit the books now!
Richard Vogt, Newton
Border security
Our Founding Fathers wrote that our rights include “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” That is why America is great. This is why others want to move here, to live here and to cross our borders illegally. Our country and our citizens are now in jeopardy of losing our lives, our liberty and the ability to pursue happiness because our country is no longer safe. Protection of property is a natural right. When we have property we want to protect it. We want to protect our families. Yet, liberals seem to think we should give up our guns.
The borders of our country need to be protected. We have clearly defined borders. We protect our borders between Mexico with Border Patrol agents. I am very much in favor of this. I will vote for Kris Kobach for governor because I know he will keep us safe. Kris knows the law and he will enforce the law. I support President Trump because I know he will keep us safe. I vote for Kris Kobach because he supports our president as I do. Let’s make America great again. Let’s make America safe again.
Sherada Collins, Olathe
Warren’s DNA
Elizabeth Warren claims minority status because eight generations ago, somebody contributed Native American DNA to her lineage. Apparently there’s no statute of limitations in such a determination. Anthropologist Louis Leakey discovered that all humans evolved from Homo Habilis in the Olduvai Gorge of Africa’s central rift valley approximately 1.9 million years ago. Nice to know that I can now claim African-American ancestry when I apply for that next government grant. Good work, Liz.
Michael Mackay, Mulvane