Both chambers in the state Legislature have passed a strict ban on smoking in buildings open to the public. The days of smoking in bars and restaurants in Kansas are gone, starting this summer.
Yea
Neither local elected official, Kelley nor Abrams, supported this bill. Although Kelley said she supports a ban, but no this one. Read the story to find out why.
Ark City will not have to vote on the issue, unless they want to impose more strict rule against smoking.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Stubborn facts cont...
Leonard Pitts laments the loss of accepting "facts" in political discourse today. This has become a campaign of his. It was the theme of a speech he made at KU after receiving the William Allen White journalism citation award.
He's on to something. If you show me some cold stone facts that refutes my opinion or point of view, I should at least concede the point. That doesn't mean an entire argument is lost, just that perhaps the other argument has validity, too.
But today is seems like people aren't interested in truths. We are interested more in shouting out our world view, even making stuff up (like death panels) to poison the debate and drown others out.
It's like a video game where total destruction is the goal.
He's on to something. If you show me some cold stone facts that refutes my opinion or point of view, I should at least concede the point. That doesn't mean an entire argument is lost, just that perhaps the other argument has validity, too.
But today is seems like people aren't interested in truths. We are interested more in shouting out our world view, even making stuff up (like death panels) to poison the debate and drown others out.
It's like a video game where total destruction is the goal.
Rainy Day Fund
Should the state ad a constitutional amendment to create a rainy day fund, or reserve fund that sets aside a certain amount of revenues?
Sounds like it's worked pretty well in Okla., where they have a $600 million banked for emergencies, and are going to use some of it to avoid more drastic cuts to services.
The one thing about changing the constitution is that voters would have to approve it. Why couldn't the lawmakers pass a law requiring them to do it and not go the trouble of messing with the constitution? Probably because they might find away around the law .......
Sounds like it's worked pretty well in Okla., where they have a $600 million banked for emergencies, and are going to use some of it to avoid more drastic cuts to services.
The one thing about changing the constitution is that voters would have to approve it. Why couldn't the lawmakers pass a law requiring them to do it and not go the trouble of messing with the constitution? Probably because they might find away around the law .......
To text, or not to text?
That is the question state lawmakers are debating in a bill that bans texting while driving.
Makes sense to me, especially for teenagers, who can't drive anyway. Some will cry "nanny state," but if were up to them, we'd not have seatbelts, baby seats, or airbags.
Makes sense to me, especially for teenagers, who can't drive anyway. Some will cry "nanny state," but if were up to them, we'd not have seatbelts, baby seats, or airbags.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
More stubborn facts
The CBO, a non-partisan government accounting agency, on whom both Democrats and Republicans cite to evaluate legislation, concluded that the stimulus has worked, in that it's created jobs and helped economic growth.
And yet, the American public thinks it's been largely a failure. The word "stimulus" has blended with the bailout of the banks and in general with the overall loss of jobs to the economy. Political opponents of the President and Democrats have very effectively conflated these issues, while supporters have a hard time convincing people that "things would be worse" without the stimulus.
But economist after economist says the stimulus, which is both tax cuts and spending, has had its intended affect.
You could find probably dozens of jobs in our area, from teachers to city workers to nonprofit agencies to small businesses employees who got low interest loans, that show successes.
Certainly there are good arguments to be made that we could have gone a different route — nothing but tax cuts to stimulate growth. Or do nothing and let things take their nature course. But to say the stimulus didn't create or save jobs, or help spur economic growth, is just flat wrong. In today's world though, where facts get in the way of justifying our pre-conceived ideology, or promoting our political agenda, lies and spun reality take the place of stone cold truth.
And yet, the American public thinks it's been largely a failure. The word "stimulus" has blended with the bailout of the banks and in general with the overall loss of jobs to the economy. Political opponents of the President and Democrats have very effectively conflated these issues, while supporters have a hard time convincing people that "things would be worse" without the stimulus.
But economist after economist says the stimulus, which is both tax cuts and spending, has had its intended affect.
You could find probably dozens of jobs in our area, from teachers to city workers to nonprofit agencies to small businesses employees who got low interest loans, that show successes.
Certainly there are good arguments to be made that we could have gone a different route — nothing but tax cuts to stimulate growth. Or do nothing and let things take their nature course. But to say the stimulus didn't create or save jobs, or help spur economic growth, is just flat wrong. In today's world though, where facts get in the way of justifying our pre-conceived ideology, or promoting our political agenda, lies and spun reality take the place of stone cold truth.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Town Hall
Rep. Kasha Kelley and Senator Steve Abrams will host a town hall meeting Saturday, sponsored by the Kansas Chamber. Kelley will speak about the budget and Abrams will focus on vocational education, but all topics are game based on audience questions.
Town halls this summer became a place for frustrated citizens to vent at lawmakers, especially democrats. Things at the state level are a bit more civilized — the partisanship and political divide isn't as bitter.
But certainly Kelley and Abrams represent the budget hawks, less government the better wing of American politics, which has some wind under its wings with the growth in government at the federal level.
But at the state level, a good debate is taking place about whether the state should make further cuts and/or raise some revenue (tax increases) to prevent further cuts, especially in education, corrections and medicaid.
Town halls this summer became a place for frustrated citizens to vent at lawmakers, especially democrats. Things at the state level are a bit more civilized — the partisanship and political divide isn't as bitter.
But certainly Kelley and Abrams represent the budget hawks, less government the better wing of American politics, which has some wind under its wings with the growth in government at the federal level.
But at the state level, a good debate is taking place about whether the state should make further cuts and/or raise some revenue (tax increases) to prevent further cuts, especially in education, corrections and medicaid.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Wingnut of the Week
Goes to .... lots of choices this week with the conservative conference, CPAC, going on in Washington, D.C. But Liz Cheney goes off the deep end in a deadly serious way by saying Obama's "incompentence" is getting people killed.
If Obama is incompetent fighting the war on terror, then her Dad and his boss George Bush would be what? "grossly negligent""terrifyingly terrible" "utterly awfully" — Iraq war, letting Osama bin Laden get away, allowing Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan. All of which costs thousands of lives.
Obama is, literally, tasked with cleaning up the messes her father left behind.
If Obama is incompetent fighting the war on terror, then her Dad and his boss George Bush would be what? "grossly negligent""terrifyingly terrible" "utterly awfully" — Iraq war, letting Osama bin Laden get away, allowing Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan. All of which costs thousands of lives.
Obama is, literally, tasked with cleaning up the messes her father left behind.
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