Opinion Line (June 7)

Conservative lawmakers say the state, like Kansans, should live within its means. But people borrow to buy houses, put stuff on credit cards and get second jobs if need be. What we don’t do is quit our jobs, a la those income tax cuts, and then seem shocked when we can’t pay our bills.

Perhaps we should have a simply written law in the U.S. that says that anyone who doesn’t want to pay taxes will be exempt from paying taxes and, of course, will also be exempt from U.S. citizenship.

Why do so many criticize those that create jobs as “greedy” businesses? The short answer is our school system, which cannot figure out that paying hundreds of millions into its retirement plan is taking money that could go into the classroom. Without business, there is no tax money.

It’s becoming more painfully obvious every day our governor and legislators care more about their personal beliefs than the welfare of the people who put them in office. Is this the best Kansas has to offer? If so, God help us.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court decided that companies are “people,” the Kansas Legislature has certainly been representing at least some of the people of Kansas.

The reason Kansas unemployment is so low is that people are fleeing this Republican oligarchy for states that actually are a democracy.

Republicans are for: “Get a job. Pay your own way. Stop being a moocher.” Democrats are for: “Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme” – as long as it doesn’t come out of their pockets.

If “Obamatrade” is so good, why haven’t we heard a peep out of Jerry Moran or Pat Roberts?

A tax needs to be put on all water users, including the largest player – farmers. The revenue would go to recharging our underground water sources, developing more lakes, etc.

It took only two months to get a new Wichita mayor, so why is it taking a whole year to get a new police chief? How much is the city paying the consulting firm to find a new chief?

In the newspaper and on air, I did not see the real mover and shaker in developing Eisenhower Airport featured anywhere. Where was former Mayor Carl Brewer? Was he even invited to attend the event?

I believe it is morally wrong to give medals to soldiers for killing people.

From Dobermans to rottweilers to pit bulls, the dogs get blamed. When will they start blaming the human owners?

If the electronic signs on westbound Kellogg tell you how many minutes to downtown and the airport, shouldn’t the signs going eastbound tell you how many minutes to Costco?

Make sure your affairs are in order before you encounter on-street intersections on your bike in Wichita. The disregard for motor vehicle rules of the road is unbelievable. I was nearly hit twice in east Wichita in two days, and drivers look at me like I’m doing something wrong.

It seems like every time a parking lot gets re-striped, the spaces get narrower. Kind of like a 12-ounce “pound” of coffee.

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