Opinion Line (May 7)

I’ve always been proud of my WSU alum status and enjoyed WSU’s contributions to the community, especially the fine arts programs and the athletic teams. Current administrative policies, coupled with the enormous emphasis on athletics, are a serious deterrent to the university’s purpose and mission.

I am glad to see WSU women’s basketball coach Jody Adams staying in Wichita. It’s not often that those doing the work have a louder voice than the whiners. I will gladly renew my season tickets now that she is staying.

The mayor says that a transit fix is needed now. How about starting by parking those big buses that are running around empty? This would save money and reduce ozone pollution.

Michelle Obama could do more to help our youths by getting physical education back into all schools. Instead, she takes food away. Physical education will do more to help kids do better, feel better and stay in shape while using all those calories.

Baltimore politicians and the media are ignoring the fact that three of the six police officers involved in Freddie Gray’s arrest and his subsequent death are black. So how was that a racial incident?

Your Kansas Republicans: Give a huge tax break to businesses, watch tax revenue crater as a result, then vote to raise property taxes on everyone to try to get out of the hole.

The bill to eliminate the homestead exemption would cost us nearly $100 a year extra in property taxes. Why should the responsibility for the small businesses’ tax exemptions fall on anyone’s shoulders but their own? We’re all going to pay the price for Brownback’s business welfare.

Less taxes, less regulation – Kansas is being set up as a business paradise. But have you hugged your workers today? I didn’t think so. Always remember to keep your workers happy.

Now that Uber has been ousted from Kansas and the big fight continues over selling more than near beer in grocery stores, what other noncompetitive measures will the state enact to keep Kansas in the dark ages?

Watch the movie “The Bone Collector” and you’ll know why all ride-sharing and cab companies need to be vetted and overly insured. If Uber can’t get that, let it take its temper tantrum and silly little app and leave.

Kansas Republican Party executive director Clay Barker’s cruel, demeaning and thoughtless comments toward the young Topeka waitress should be grounds for his immediate firing. No, wait – he does represent many in today’s Republican Party, doesn’t he?

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Opinion Line (May 7)."