Letters to the editor (May 7, 2020)
Online schooling
As a freshman in high school, I have had a memorable experience through the events of COVID-19. My school chose to continue classes online, but has not committed very much to it. I respect and agree with the governor’s decision to close down schools for the rest of the school year, but I’m left with a fraction of what I would be learning if schools weren’t shut down.
I enjoy learning new things, so it disappoints me to not have a normal freshman experience. I have enjoyed my time off of normal school, but I can’t help but feel like I have had an experience taken away from me.
Stimulus handouts
As if Harvard and Stanford Universities taking advantage of a pandemic — asking the government for stimulus handouts when their endowment coffers are swelling to explosion — isn’t gratuitous enough, now come the bankrupt states with hat in hand asking the taxpayer to bail them out of decades of bad governance.
Have we not learned anything about liberal politics and the bottomless pit of greed? We only have to look at Detroit and its 50 years of deterioration to know throwing money at bad politics will never make a strong economy.
Our children and our children’s children will be paying for our lack of intestinal fortitude. Time to call/write our legislators and Congress people (if ever they come out of sequester). Enough is enough!
Absolute power
Gov. Laura Kelly has unilaterally suspended the Constitution in the name of an “emergency.” She alone gets to say which businesses can stay open, what citizens can associate, and which churches can practice religion.
Well, I have some questions: Since when can she alone suspend the Constitution (the supposedly inviolable supreme law of the land) for any reason, no matter how dire? Since when can she essentially “seize” businesses without just compensation? Since when can she essentially place citizens under “house arrest” out of fear and panic? Since when can she deny citizens due process, a means to appeal her edicts?
If allowed to stand, when can government not suspend the Constitution simply by declaring an emergency?
How does Gov. Kelly propose to repay businesses, employees, and citizens for lost income, savings, credit ratings, and ruined lives? How does she intend to defend against the inevitable lawsuits seeking compensation and punitive damages for the aforementioned violations of constitutional rights? How does she propose to balance the state budget with reduced revenue?
Since when did the Constitution become little more than wall decor, applicable only when and if government finds it convenient? Where are all the defenders of the Constitution in the legal community, media and the Republican Party when we need them most?
It is one thing for citizens to voluntarily social distance and/or close their businesses, but something else entirely for government to suspend the Constitution and Bill of Rights, arbitrarily seizing absolute, tyrannical power out of fear, panic and hysteria.
Hospital heroes
Dear Doctors and Nurses,
Thirty-seven years ago this August will be our son’s birthday. He would not have lived and be here today if it weren’t for you. I went into labor at 27 weeks and spent time at the hospital in Great Bend before being airlifted to Wichita.
Very often I think about the many professionals who saved my baby’s life. While I realize the staff is not the same, I want you to know you are all greatly appreciated. Appreciate seems too small of a word.
Because of your caring staff, my family did not lose our baby. He is healthy, smart and successful. He has blessed us with two grandchildren. Our older son was able to love a brother. Your hard work, brains and love gave us the family we have.
During this COVID-19 crisis, I have been reflecting on the heroic deeds you continue to perform. I was a young lady then, 25 years old, so because of health professionals, I’ve had a lifetime of joy. My husband and I are grateful.