Letters on Wichita’s economy, state economy, limiting spending, Medicaid expansion, outsider as police chief, pope’s words, Boy Scout statue

Cheap housing, no traffic not enough

It’s admirable that James Chung came back, Harvard degree in hand, to explain why so many things have gone south in his home city (“Analyst presents sobering view of Wichita economy, community,” Sept. 23 Eagle). If I want to hear this from anyone, it’s the generation that will replace the old guard of the 55-and-overs like me.

But good luck getting what he recommends done in a climate of tax cuts and an every-man-for-himself attitude that is so often on display by city and county leaders, not to mention those folks in Topeka.

Half the people running things understand we need investment, and that means money, but they have to butt heads with an equal number of folks who think life should only be about getting up, going to work and hitting the sack – quality of life be damned.

If we want to attract entrepreneurs and the young in general, we have to offer more than no traffic and cheap housing. They want a climate of job creation mixed with a vibrant art and entertainment scene.

Not all of our problems are the result of some backward-thinking city leaders. A lot of it is a shrinking manufacturing base led by the constant selling of the biggest employers, such as Boeing and the other plane manufacturers, replaced with lower wages for doing the same job. But such is the plight of workers across this country; it’s just more acute in Wichita.

But that’s no excuse not to invest.

Economic spin

It’s said that there are three types of falsehoods: lies, damn lies and statistics. I was reminded of this while looking at a pamphlet that was distributed at Gov. Sam Brownback’s booth at the Kansas State Fair.

This pamphlet was full of misleading charts and statistics concerning job growth and education funding in Kansas. For example, the scale on the vertical axis of the job growth chart was artificially expanded so that a small increase looked like a large increase. The Eagle recently noted that job growth in Kansas is lagging that of our neighboring states and is the fourth worst state in the nation (Sept. 22 Opinion).

Disastrous revenue shortfalls have necessitated borrowing from highway funds and cutting support for education and other essential services. It is now clear to any objective observer that the Kansas economy is not getting a “shot of adrenaline.” Totally eliminating state income taxes for 330,000 small-business owners was a serious mistake.

I suppose it is hard for the governor to admit that his Kansas “experiment” is an abject failure. That may explain the reason for creating and distributing such a misleading pamphlet.

All or nothing?

Columnist Davis Merritt wrote about the “corrosion” caused our constitutional governance by those who would dare be against the existing manner by which the legislative branch appropriates our taxes, and how he sees the Founding Fathers’ “legacy” at risk rather than our livelihood (Sept. 29 Opinion).

Why has governing become a choice matter of funding everything anyone wants or shutting it all down? Why is it not common sense to prioritize what we do with our limited resources by appropriating what we have on an individual basis? Since when is speaking against profligacy an affront to common good and something with which to disparage an ideology opposed to too much spending resulting in too much debt?

While the founders indeed embedded in the Constitution a most enduring form of governance, it was first, foremost and always intended to be one that would consistently sustain the social, political and economic sovereignty of individuals. What has placed the actual legacy at risk is the disrespect too many elected members of the legislative branch have for prudence and the prudent, for vigilance and the vigilant.

Anemic patient

Kansas is an anemic patient whose physical and mental health is suffering. This is due to having its economic lifeblood sucked away by Gov. Sam Brownback’s failed economic policies and ideological choices.

Risks were taken to help business and the rich, but will not be taken to expand Medicaid and help the uninsured – in spite of indications that other states are benefiting from such expansion. The resultant loss in revenue strains hospital systems and costs health care jobs, further worsening our deteriorating employment and economic situation.

A portion of the uninsured will simply die without proper health care, or have their health deteriorate to such an extent that they must seek services at an emergency room, placing further strain on a failing health care system.

The argument that we don’t want to trap the 150,000 uninsured in a cycle of dependency on government is profiling and patronizing, as well as conveniently denying them services. It ignores the economic survival difficulties that many of the working poor have and the objective obstacles to obtaining greater economic security in Kansas.

There are better economic and moral choices to be made. The question remains: Why isn’t this governor making them? The anemic patient needs help.

Pond among best

Much of the opposition to hiring an outsider for Wichita police chief seems to focus on former Chief Rick Stone. Though I agree that Stone was a bad hire, I consider another outsider to have been one of the best police chiefs, if not the very best, to ever wear a Wichita police uniform.

Eugene Pond came to Wichita from Kansas City, Mo., in 1957 and served citizens in all parts of Wichita well for the next 11 years. Pond inherited a police department that lacked the trust of its black and brown citizens. He immediately instilled in his officers the attitude that all communities were to be treated equally and fairly by members of the Wichita Police Department. He made himself available to community leaders and members of the clergy, as well as some of the “bad actors” at the time. Pond established the “northeast patrol” at a time of crises in the community.

During Pond’s tenure, larger cities around the country emulated Wichita’s police force. Fort Worth sent representatives to Wichita to learn about the monitoring system that Pond had installed. Pond traveled to other cities to educate them on how to best utilize the K-9 units.

When Pond ended his 11-year tenure in Wichita, trust had been restored, “transparency” was the word of the day, and Wichita had escaped most of the rioting and violence that many other cities experienced.

Pope’s words

I have beautiful memories of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States last month. He spoke often of the family and how it is the foundation of our country.

“Without family, without the warmth of home, life grows empty, there is a weakening of the networks which sustain us in adversity, nurture us in daily living and motivate us to build a better future,” the pope said.

May we think of these words of Pope Francis each day.

Community effort

On behalf of the executive board, Scouts and Scout families, thank you to all who participated in the recovery and return of the eagle statue that was stolen from the Quivira Council Boy Scouts of America office (Oct. 2 Local & State). Though the theft was shocking, the tremendous response from the community was very heartening. From the citizen who provided the tip, to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Wichita Police Department that worked together to recover it, to the media that promoted the story to raise awareness, it truly was a community effort to bring it back. We are thankful and appreciative to all for your efforts.

This story was originally published October 3, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on Wichita’s economy, state economy, limiting spending, Medicaid expansion, outsider as police chief, pope’s words, Boy Scout statue."