Opinion Line (April 12)

The biggest city in Kansas voted to lower penalties for first-time marijuana offenses. The results follow the national percentages of marijuana approval. Instead of listening to the voters, our elected leaders want to fight what the people voted for and want.

What do the Koch brothers, ACLU and majority of voters in Wichita’s last election have in common? They recognize the tragic waste of lives and money caused by criminal prosecution of poor people for possession of small amounts of marijuana. If only our state leaders would enact rational laws on pot.

When the new Topeka politicos defy Washington, it’s great fun and a source of pride. When common folks in Wichita do the same to Topeka, not so much. Go figure.

I attend a Wichita high school and know numerous individuals who smoke weed. They are not all lazy, and many will be successful in life. Use our tax dollars to put the real criminals behind bars.

Our new mayor received a little more than one vote for each of the 20,000 jobs lost in the past few years, or equal the attendance at two Shocker games. The return of jobs to Wichita will be the only true measure of success.

Jeff Longwell, as well as the others who were elected, are part of the problem and not part of the solution.

It’s wonderful to know that money can’t buy every election.

In the spring elections I saw no voters younger than 55. Instead of looking for fraudulent votes, maybe the secretary of state should try to determine how to get more young voters interested in our government. Maybe they’re not voting because they plan on leaving this GOP-controlled state.

So the NCAA punished WSU for receiving improperly discounted merchandise. Isn’t it time to punish the NCAA for improperly discounting the lives of young men who are exploited by the NCAA and its members for financial gain?

Is anyone really upset that welfare money can’t be used for cruises, tattoos, gambling and lots of other nonessential stuff? It shouldn’t be news you can’t do this. It should be news that it ever was allowed.

It’s comforting to know that in Kansas welfare recipients will be able to buy guns with their benefits, but they can’t take their kids to the swimming pool.

Why are the poor being singled out for how they spend money? What about bankers, farmers, oil company executives and others who receive government handouts? Shouldn’t they have to live with the same restrictions?

Liberal judges and attorneys general have shoved gay marriage down the collective throats of the American populace. Religious freedom laws are push-back against this usurpation of democracy.

Jesus taught “Love thy neighbor.” Thy homeless neighbor, thy Muslim neighbor, thy black neighbor, thy gay neighbor, thy white neighbor, thy Asian neighbor, thy disabled neighbor….

I still have the poster from Exploration Place’s opening weekend 15 years ago. My kids were in college then. Now I’m taking my grandkids. Happy birthday, Exploration Place.

This story was originally published April 11, 2015 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Opinion Line (April 12)."