Letters on same-sex marriage, Brownback, Crowson cartoons

Society abandoned traditional values

“Marriage ban may fall” (Oct. 7 Eagle Editorial) was a good editorial in that it did a good job outlining a viewpoint so prevalent in society today. But it was a sad editorial in that it reminded us of yesterday, when there was a countrywide consensus accepting Christian moral values that were prevalent in our laws and in society. It was these moral values upon which our country was founded and that enabled this country to become great and a wonderful place to live.

In my opinion, this country will rue the day society abandoned our traditional moral values in favor of individual ideas of values that can mean anything or nothing. The family, based on marriage between a man and a woman, was created to propagate the human race and to provide children with love and a stable environment. The family, thus defined, is basic to the continuing stability and good of society. Redefining this truth by legal fiat will destroy all that our forefathers fought to preserve for so many years.

Liberty, properly defined in the political sense, is freedom to act within the parameters set by law. Freedom to act in any way the individual desires results in public chaos.

Failed ideology

While the Davis-Docking campaign has clearly presented how Gov. Sam Brownback’s irresponsible tax cuts have created a financial crisis in the Kansas public schools, many other programs and government initiatives also struggle as a result of his failed ideology.

County and municipal governments have seen a decline in their state funding, which is forcing some cities to raise sales taxes. Brownback rejected a Medicaid expansion, denying health care to thousands of uninsured Kansans, and he advocates state control of Medicare. He also eliminated the Kansas Arts Commission and replaced it with a private foundation, which he promised would raise private dollars for the arts. Both he and the foundation have broken that promise.

A quality of life – which included excellent schools, good roads, access to fine medical care and effectively run government – brought my family to Wichita in 1974. Today these things and more are in jeopardy.

While Brownback tells us to ignore the facts, Democrats Paul Davis and Jill Docking know the truth of the state’s ongoing decline. They are exceptionally well-qualified to reverse this decline and to work toward restoring Kansas to the successful, progressive state it once was. I urge you to vote for them on Nov. 4.

Move cartoon

I buy the Sunday Eagle for the book reviews, some sports and the funnies. Occasionally, when I haven’t had any recent reasons to be concerned with my blood pressure, I scan the Opinion pages.

I wonder if The Eagle would consider changing the format and moving Richard Crowson’s editorial cartoon more to the middle of the page. My cat keeps missing the paper.

This story was originally published October 13, 2014 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Letters on same-sex marriage, Brownback, Crowson cartoons."