Opinion Line (April 21)

Douglas Hughes flew his little gyrocopter to Congress to try to do something about the corrupting influence of money on our nation’s government and the need for real campaign finance reform. He should be hailed as a hero.

We will find Hillary’s missing e-mails before we find those WMDs in Iraq.

The people of Wichita have spoken. They want the penalty for marijuana reduced. The state is saying “no.” The voters are saying the vote should stand because a majority voted for it. Well, a majority voted against gay marriage, and how is that working out?

Does anyone believe that legal alcohol is responsible for kids’ low test scores? No? Decriminalizing marijuana for adults is no different from legal alcohol. Decriminalize the one or criminalize the other. It’s called equal protection under the law.

How sad that three Sedgwick County commissioners can’t see their way clear to provide a small amount of assistance to FlightSafety after the tragic plane crash into its building. I hope the Wichita City Council will demonstrate our community’s tradition of support for one another after a disaster.

Instead of having the taxpayers give money to FlightSafety for the aircraft accident, why not just let owner Warren Buffett write a check?

For welfare, some people can’t be trusted to be responsible, so we have restrictions. That makes sense. When it comes to carrying guns, our lawmakers say that Kansans can be trusted to be responsible, without training or restrictions. That does not make sense.

Gov. Sam Brownback signs a law barring welfare recipients from using benefits at lingerie shops (requiring them to go commando?). The next day Frederick’s of Hollywood closes 94 stores.

Three questions for Wichita’s own Sen. Michael O’Donnell and his band of biased, judgmental, small-minded, insensitive henchmen (and women): How will welfare purchases be verified? How many personnel will it take to do it? And how will our impoverished state pay for any such verifications?

Richard Crowson’s Sunday editorial cartoon, in my view, showed O’Donnell trying to give a lifeline (hand up) to the welfare recipients who have been anchored down with handouts and are going under.

I worked with welfare recipients. Many of them smoke, have tattoos and play the lottery. Quit trying to elevate them to saints without money.

When I was a kid – because of my dad’s overreaction to a thunderstorm – I feared almost any cloud in the sky for a couple of years. I wonder now how many youngsters are going through similar experiences because of our overzealous, competitive meteorologists.

This story was originally published April 20, 2015 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Opinion Line (April 21)."