Letters on matrimony, breakfast in classroom, eliminating Kansas House, Kobach, insurance premiums

Language evolved on matrimony

The writer of “Matrimony about becoming a mother“ (Nov. 21 Letters to the Editor) informed us that “the term ‘matrimony’ is derived from ‘mater,’ the Latin word for mother.” He then theorized: “It describes the situation where a young woman seeking to become a mother bonds with a man who will make her a mother.”

Because the term “mater” is Latin for mother and “pater” is the Latin term for father, one might assume that patrimony describes the opposite situation. However, the two words are not symmetrical. Patrimony refers to property inherited from one’s father or male ancestor.

Clearly, languages evolve. While matrimony to the ancient Romans referred to property inherited from one’s mother, in modern English it simply refers to marriage and so does not by any means describe “a young woman seeking to become a mother.” Indeed, many couples – both heterosexual as well as homosexual – do not have plans to bring children into the world.

The writer eventually ventured down the slippery slope of predicting that “society may suffer an irreversible blow and slowly deteriorate.” Similar predictions were made to uphold the miscegenation laws that prevailed in our country from 1664 until 1967. Today, contrary to similar predictions made by segregationists, one out of 15 marriages is interracial and society is still intact.

Bad precedent

It may be documented through research that children who eat breakfast are more alert, behave better and perform better on standardized tests than children who skip breakfast. If true, what puzzles me is how so many parents and students attending Wichita public schools cannot be interested enough to do this for themselves. Buying a reasonably healthy box of cereal and complementing it with an apple, banana or maybe a few raisins (perhaps already with funding assistance) does not take culinary skill.

Students also apparently cannot be motivated to get up in time to eat a free, already prepared meal before the beginning of classes (“Kansas eligible for Breakfast in the Classroom program,” Nov. 24 Eagle). Asking teachers to make space and take time in the classroom is just ludicrous to me. Providing food and shelter are parents’ primary responsibilities.

I feel sorry for future employees. They will probably find it necessary to provide wake-up calls and free breakfasts on company time for this generation. If people are hungry enough, I like to think they will become smart enough to figure out how and when to find free food.

This taxpayer votes “no” for classroom breakfasts, and I don’t really care how many other cities and states might be doing it successfully. It sets an awful precedent.

Dump the House

Gov. Sam Brownback and his political cronies are looking for ways to close a $1 billion budget shortfall by finding “efficiencies.” Well I have an efficiency: Dump the Kansas House of Representatives and adopt the Nebraska model of a unicameral, nonpartisan legislature.

Getting rid of the Kansas House would reduce the number of politicians in the state by 125. In addition to saying the pay and per diem expense for each day of the legislative session, we would save on the legislators’ pension and other benefits. The operating expenses of the House and its committees could also be returned to the general fund.

With the elimination of the need to reconcile House and Senate versions of a bill, the overall length of a legislative session likely could be cut in half. And at election time, Kansas voters would be subjected to half as many lie-filled mailings clogging their post boxes.

There also would be 125 fewer political souls for the special interests to buy, and Rep. Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, wouldn’t be speaker of the Kansas House any longer.

The Kansas House chamber could be put to more productive uses, such as a new casino or and indoor flea market.

Kobach meant it

I love these politicians, such as Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who say something and then later say they did not mean it (“Kobach dismisses reaction to ‘ethnic cleaning’ remark,” Nov. 22 Local & State). I believe if you say something, you mean it.

Thanks a lot

I just got the premiums for my wife’s and my health insurance for next year. My wife’s coverage was canceled last year, and she went on the gold policy for $453 a month. The new price is $552 – a more than 20 percent increase.

I was using an health savings account policy. My premiums were $217 a month. The bronze policy that I was offered is $353 a month – more than a 60 percent increase – and the deductible has gone from $5,000 to $6,500.

I just want to say “thanks.” I know that our leaders are just looking out for us workers. I know that I needed maternity and mental health coverage for a long time. Thanks for making my wife and I carry it now.

At $905 a month, our health insurance is more than our mortgage. The only thing I hope is that the Kool-Aid drinking liberals take it up the kazoo as hard as I just did. After all, it’s about spreading the wealth.

This story was originally published November 27, 2014 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on matrimony, breakfast in classroom, eliminating Kansas House, Kobach, insurance premiums."