Letters to the editor (March 1, 2020)
Plastic bags
I don’t understand the fervor behind getting rid of plastic bags. I was in Tanzania recently on vacation, and they have banned single-use plastic bags. If a country in the middle of Africa can do it, I’m pretty sure we can. Last year I also took a trip to Hawaii, another place that bans plastic bags. Do you know how nice it is to look at the beautiful scenery and not see a plastic bag stuck in a tree or a fence? How about a different type of story, such as the one where I was scuba diving off the coast of Florida and detangled a plastic bag from coral 75 feet below the surface?
I’ve been using reusable bags for seven years. I keep them in my car. It took a month or two to get used to it, but then it became second-nature to grab them out of my car on the way into the store. What you carry in four or five plastic bags can usually fit into just one or two reusable bags. I have a feeling if people were to give it a try, they’d see that going without plastic bags is easy.
Medicaid expansion
I join the 76 Catholic nuns who have signed a letter to Kansas legislators urging them to pass Medicaid expansion now. As a Catholic, I recognize the courage of their stance, given that Kansas Catholic bishops have endorsed a Republican right-wing effort to hold hostage the bi-partisan bill allowing Medicaid expansion by including wording that would allow medical workers to deny services to LGBTQ patients, install work requirements, and block the use of state Medicaid funding for abortions.
The provisions were written so that the entire plan would be killed if any component was rejected by the legislators. The bundling of this bill with these controversial issues will prevent the passage of expansion, which is the apparent goal. Since Medicaid does not cover abortion, the right-wing Republicans are playing games that cost Kansans’ lives. Now Republican Susan Wagle has even held up other bills until the wording is included. Enough.
Eighty percent of Kansans favor expanding Medicaid. Medicaid expansion would save lives, save hospitals and boost the economy. Also, Kansas taxpayer money is helping pay for health care in the 36 states where Medicaid expansion is now in place rather than helping Kansans. Tell your legislators we want Medicaid expansion now.
Convenience fees
A recent article about a case involving Riverside Cafe (“Wichita restaurant to pay more than $60,000 for overcharging customers using credit cards,” Feb. 25) is another example of the hypocrisy of government. A government agency can charge a “convenience fee” when a citizen uses a credit card to pay a bill, but a business cannot. I say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander!
Trader Joe’s
After reading a recent article about Trader Joe’s, I was reminded what a stupid state Kansas is.
I shop at Trader Joe’s all the time when I go home to California and shop at TJ’s in Kansas City, Mo., as well. But Kansas got stuck in the era of prohibition and has never been able to move on. You can’t by a bottle of “Two-Buck Chuck” at Trader Joe’s in Kansas; you have to waste time, gasoline and money to go to a liquor store if you happen to be a civilized person who wants wine with dinner.
As your Grandma might say, “This is why we can’t have nice things.” I am spending more and more of my time and money — and paying sales tax — elsewhere because Kansas is still a stupid state.