Letters on Westar rate increase, Kansas governing tragedy, daylight saving time, fake protesters, sportswriting award

CURB has gone from watchdog to lapdog

Do not be surprised if your electric bill goes up another $4 per month in April to cover the reallocated transmission charge (“Westar seeking rate hike for homes, cuts for businesses,” March 9 Eagle). Or if our underfunded public schools see a 29 percent increase in their transmission charge as well. These increases are needed to fund reductions for businesses. Also, Westar Energy needs to assure its shareholders an 11.5 percent profit, recently up from 10 percent.

Do not expect the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board to intervene for you. CURB was originally a watchdog, but now it’s a lapdog. It has been neutered and defanged.

The late Margaret Bangs and I spent six years as consumer advocates for residential and small-business ratepayers, seeking a voice in the rate-setting process. Other states had such offices, and we felt Kansas needed one as well. It pains me to see that work come to naught, but that’s just the way it is in Brownbackistan.

Kansas tragedy

The political decapitation of moderate Republicans and the loss of Democratic seats has resulted in a stilted, destructive “governing” – and an economic and social death spiral for Kansas. Under such conditions, effective problem solving to address a failed economic program is not taking place.

Instead, education, social services, and the quality of life in Kansas are deteriorating to a potentially unrecoverable degree. Rationalization, smoke and mirrors, an ostrich head-in-ground approach is being used, along with the scapegoating of the Kansas Supreme Court, rather than addressing the governor’s self-inflicted funding wound. Denial and deflection were obvious when the budget was not mentioned in the State of the State address, which the governor used as a forum to attack President Obama rather than consider local problems.

What companies will want to move to Kansas, where teachers are persecuted, stressed by diminishing resources, and health care in both rural and urban areas is faltering?

It is important that Kansans recognize that these difficulties will continue and get worse if individuals are not elected in November who will attempt in a nonpartisan manner to work together and address a mainstream agenda that will befit the majority and not simply the very wealthy or the very connected with those controlling our Statehouse.

We can watch as our property taxes grow to make up the state funding shortfalls and our state’s credit rating declines, and wave at those who can choose to leave, rather than paying the price of living here and enduring the tragedy that is becoming Kansas.

Crying over time change

Once again, and at least twice yearly, the cry is raised to do away with daylight saving time.

Yes, it disrupts the human race, but just a little. It takes about one day to adjust, twice a year.

For those who complain, including the highly learned Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover: I truly hope none of you will ever travel outside of the Central time zone. If you do, you are bringing on the same (purported) health crisis as when the clock is changed in March and November.

There is also the argument that it disrupts farm animals. If someone can show me a chicken wearing a wristwatch, I’ll buy into that one. Until then, just admit that the animals don’t know anything more than the track of the sun, and good stewards of the animals will adjust accordingly.

Fake protesters

I’ll never forget something I experienced 50 years ago when I was a freshman at Wichita State University.

I was at a local beer place close to campus having a few. I met a guy, and he told me he was a protester. He said he was headed to Kansas City in the morning. I asked him why. He said to protest. I asked what he was protesting. He replied, “Whatever they tell me.” The money was good, and cash.

It made me realize how fake most causes with protesters are.

This is something I experienced back then and we’re experiencing at present. Do your homework before making choices.

Chadwick deserving

I was pleased to learn the Kansas State High School Activities Association had bestowed its 2015-16 Oscar Stauffer Award for excellence in sportswriting on The Eagle’s Joanna Chadwick (Feb. 11 Sports). This honor was long overdue.

Chadwick has been covering the young men and ladies of the Wichita area, and those across Kansas, for two decades with great distinction. Her articles are clear, concise and grammatically correct, and always paint the coaches and student-athletes in the most positive light possible.

I have had the privilege of watching Chadwick operate for the past several years at the KSHSAA state track and field championships. The energy this lady exudes in her never-ending quest to bring readers of The Eagle and VarsityKansas.com the most complete coverage of the nation’s largest high school championship event is phenomenal.

As a former Oscar Stauffer Award recipient (2006-07), I am very pleased Chadwick has finally become a member of this elite club. It is obvious she has learned very well from the other Oscar Stauffer Award winner on staff – the one and only Bob Lutz.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on Westar rate increase, Kansas governing tragedy, daylight saving time, fake protesters, sportswriting award."