Opinion Line (Oct. 17)

I don’t know if any lawmakers are swayed by lobbyists buying them food and drink. It concerns me more that few seem capable of being persuaded by conscience or common sense.

OK, can one of you legislators please explain again why it is that if poor people get free meals from the government it makes them dependent on the government, but if you get free meals from lobbyists it does not make you dependent on the lobbyists?

Give it up, Davis Merritt (“Brownback’s new campaign dividing Kansas,” Oct. 13 Opinion). As much as you hate it, elections mean things. Those in the “minority” who elected Brownback do not wish him to represent the views of the losers.

Rep. Tim Huelskamp and the so-called Freedom Caucus: Lead, follow or get out of the way. If you can’t govern, then go home. If you can’t compromise, you can’t govern. You are not dictators. Saying “no” to everything doesn’t work in a democracy.

The next time you think that just because the majority votes for something it must be right, think again. Fidelity to one’s principles, if they align with the laws of God, is the only thing that matters. The positive effect on our country will follow in due time.

If we cut welfare and Social Security, the casinos will die.

The NRA seems to believe that Americans would be disenfranchised by any new gun laws. If one is too busy or the application process is too complex or whatever, you probably are similarly not responsible enough to own a gun.

In 2013 more preschoolers (82) were shot to death than police officers in the line of duty (27). Would the NRA give toddlers guns to protect themselves?

Nothing – no background checks, laws or signs – stops a madman from taking guns on campus to commit mass murder. As we have seen, the only thing that stops the murdering is someone killing the madman, or cornering him so he commits suicide. Policy should follow this truth.

Who added some seconds to the red lights all over town? How many did they add? Why?

Bicycles should be banned from public roadways.

I once heard that the most difficult language to learn is the English language. It must be so, since most Americans can’t learn it in a lifetime.

What is this fascination with taking one’s picture? I can barely stand to look at myself in the mirror.

My social media pet peeves are pucker poses and pictures of feet and food. The majority of us do not want to kiss you, and most of us have no desire to see your toes or the meat loaf you made for dinner.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Opinion Line (Oct. 17)."