Letters on Ferguson, buying elections

Facts support Ferguson officer

Why has there been such unrest over the situation in Ferguson, Mo.?

The facts that are indisputable are: There was an adult male (yes, at age 18 males are considered adult) of large stature. He had recently committed a robbery and was walking down the middle of a road. When requested by police to move off the road and onto the sidewalk, he accosted the patrolman by reaching through the open window and striking the policeman.

Given these facts, removing all mention of age and race of the individuals involved, can anyone believe an officer in this circumstance is not within his rights in acting in self-defense to preserve his own life from an attacker and attempting to arrest the civilian who had attacked him as he sat in his patrol car?

As to all that followed, we will never know all of the details, including what either person said to the other. We will never know what Michael Brown was thinking; however, we do know he had marijuana in his system.

If people reviewed the facts of this incident openly, honestly and without knowing the age or race of either side, would they still believe the officer reacted wrongly? What if the ages and races were reversed?

To protest an incident in which an officer of the law is attacked and reacts in self-defense is to deny police the confidence they require to put themselves in harm’s way for the public’s safety every day.

Buying elections

“Corporate political spending pays off” (Nov. 28 Now Consider This) was correct in noting: “Corporations don’t spend money on politics because they are patriotic; rather, the companies expect a financial return.”

An estimated $4 billion was spent on the November elections. How much good work would $4 billion do? Hungry children fed? National debt retired? Jobs created? Nope, these corporations and individuals invested solely to increase their own profits.

Nationally, there are projects in progress such as petitioning the Federal Election Commission for disclosure of “dark money” by corporations. Sixteen states have already voted to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court decision that facilitated the massive money that is misleading voters and purchasing elections.

Locally, I understand that elections for the Wichita City Council underwent ideal, nonpartisan campaign-finance reform years ago, and that these limits are scrupulously practiced.

Another local project: a movie, “Pay 2 Play: Democracy’s High Stakes,” about big money buying just one election. It will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday at the Murdock Theatre, 536 N. Broadway. All elected officials, media and public are invited. The suggested donation is $8.

This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Letters on Ferguson, buying elections."