Letters on same-sex marriage, true charity, sales tax referendum

No one’s business but their own

I heartily agree with “All should have the right to marry” (Oct. 10 Letters to the Editor).

The growing visibility and openness of gay and lesbian persons reflect a long-overdue demand for acceptance, respect and dignity as fellow human beings. The homosexuals I know seek not to impose anything on anyone. They simply wish to enjoy the same freedoms as all other law-abiding citizens.

Their desire to love whom they will, and to share a lifelong commitment with that love, is about “relationship.” It is a hope to live an open relationship that will be acknowledged as valid, and protected under the law like any other such relationship. That their intended relationship is between same-gender persons shouldn’t be anyone’s business but their own.

As concerns Holy Scripture, I’ll stand with the Lord Jesus and His Gospel manifesto to love one another as He loves. I try to love others as I know He loves all of us. I’m not pure enough to sit in self-righteous judgment of people different from me who have done me no harm. I simply intend to afford them the same respect I gladly extend to others. I’ll let Jesus be the judge of all of us.

Support equality

Columnist Cal Thomas appears to believe anyone supporting marriage equality is working “diligently to attack structures that have preserved cultures for centuries” (“Supreme Court wise not to rule on marriage,” Oct. 15 Opinion). Would he accuse those who fought against slavery, those who fought for the right to vote, those who fought against segregation of attacking cultural standards of the day?

Supporting equality has never led to “social anarchy,” as he says we should now expect. Equality is something that is “true for all time, regardless of the age.”

True charity

Those who use Christianity to bolster social assistance through government taxation should realize that it is the individual, not the government, who is commanded to charity. Using government to force citizens to give to charity never works well. It creates government dependency and destroys the incentive to create a better environment of personal support for those receiving it. And the efficiency of private charity versus government charity is well-documented.

This government plunder detracts from the message of charity. The contract of social unity is broken when the government is substituted for individual and private organizations. And that is where the problem lies with using taxes as charity. People would rather default to taxation than give time, effort and money to charity.

This secular social cancer of taxation has been going on a long time and has dwarfed the size of personal philanthropy. With the country and states now in a financial squeeze, the last thing needed is more taxes. In the end, the government will recede from this control and leave the taxpayers broke and the needy without any support at all.

Secure water

Water is what Wichitans are seriously concerned about. We now have an opportunity to prepare our city for years to come with a plentiful supply of water.

Many areas of our country are worried how their water needs will be met. Wichita has a chance to meet its water needs for our future.

Vote “yes” for the sales tax on Nov. 4.

Doesn’t add up

I’ve closely followed the sales tax issue, and I’m opposed for a variety of reasons. This additional tax means more money taken out of the pockets of hardworking citizens. As a business owner, I am concerned that it could also mean a decrease in sales.

City leaders are requesting $400 million with little accountability. Plans they have shared lack detail, and many are continuations of programs currently failing. “More money” is not the answer.

The “yes” crowd has said that there’s abundant oversight and that even “you” could be on the committee. But there are a limited number of seats and criteria for filling those. Elected officials who may serve on the committee aren’t experts in business growth, expansion or startups – especially considering their need for an economic therapist to “provide a framework for how we might decide as a city to allocate some of those sales tax funds,” as one City Council members said (“City, county leaders weigh growth plan,” Sept. 24 Local & State).

I thought they said there was a plan? The sales tax doesn’t add up. Vote “no” Nov. 4.

Plan available

I fail to understand why The Eagle keeps printing letters from people who insist that the city has no plan or hasn’t communicated its plan for using the proposed 1-cent sales tax increase. The information these letter writers claim to lack is available for free right at the top of the city’s website, wichita.gov. The letter writers are either inept at basic research or willfully deceiving voters in order to defeat the initiative.

When I smell willful deceit during any political campaign, it makes my job as a voter much easier, as I choose not to side with the deceiver.

This story was originally published October 16, 2014 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Letters on same-sex marriage, true charity, sales tax referendum."