Archive By Section - Viewpoint
Voodoo economics still doesn't work
Reaganomics, supply-side economics, or voo doo economics as called by the first President George Bush didn't work in the 1980s and still doesn't work.
Unhappy trails
Once again Gov. Sam Brownback has opted out of a federal grant as a part of the Recreational Trails Program. Only two states have opted out, Kansas and Florida.
Dry times
Another hot and dry year has us thinking about water – yours, mine and ours. We need it for crops and livestock; we need it to stay alive. We want it for recreation, and for pretty green lawns.
Taxpayers ordered to pay for transgender surgery of prisoner
Shame on federal judge, Mark Wolf, in Boston who ordered the Massachusetts Department of Corrections to provide sex-change surgery to a transgender inmate serving life in prison for murdering his wife in 1990.
Not so marvelous
This month members of the American Federation of Musicians picketed the Screen Gem studios in Wilmington, N.C., where Marvel (a Walt Disney Co. subsidiary) is shooting "Iron Man 3."
Develop Santa Fe Trail
The development of the Santa Fe Trail is a good idea. It passed through Barton and Pawnee County during the 1800s as a major wagon route to the west.
Gun control
Police in Port St. Lucie, Fla., are looking for a "burglar" who stole a gun and knife from Mike Maisonneuve's unlocked car in his driveway. But the act sounds more like an intervention than a crime. Even the victim is treating it as a wake-up call, according to the story as reported by WPBF-TV.
CDC says boomers should be tested for hep C
ATLANTA - All baby boomers should get a one-time blood test to learn if they have the liver-destroying hepatitis C virus, the Center for Disease Control has recently stated.
Good investment
It's been a little over a year since the Great Bend City Council accepted a $500,000 gift to purchase the Convention Center that had been part of the Highland Hotel. The new hotel owner is settled in, and it's time for the city to move forward.
Compromise is a must for leaders
Compromise is defined as a settlement of differences by mutual concession. Or a more common sense definition would be that compromise is when both parties walk away unhappy.
Back to school
Great Bend teachers are already back at school, and next Wednesday most of the students will be, too. Many years ago, schools followed a calendar where classes didn't start until after Labor Day. And for many more years, classes didn't start until the end of August. Now that has been pushed back to the middle of August, with classes starting on the 15th. It's not too early to think about driving a little slower and ...
Internet sales tax a must
The Internet has grown exponentially before our very eyes. It is hard to believe that wide-spread usage only began 17-18 years ago and even harder to believe that we could function without it.
The case for capital punishment
While many states and countries have abolished capital punishment, some crimes are so heinous that death seems the only appropriate sentence.
Rain gauge
A visual gag being forwarded on the Internet shows a bottle cap as the "new Kansas rain gauge." Wednesday night's downpour of less than two-tenths of an inch won't stop the cyber commentaries and won't change the news that across the nation, this year's drought is being called the worst since the Dust Bowl days in the Depression.
Evil is not new
Human beings are capable of both great evil and great good. This country recently had an example of the evil humans are capable of with the shootings in Aurora, Colo.
Articles by Section - Viewpoint
Ironic freedom
On Thursday, Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill that establishes "Celebrate Freedom Week" during the week of Sept. 17 and requires schools to teach students about the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence in grades K-8 each year during that week. (Sept. 17, 1787, is the date the U.S. Constitution was adopted in Philadelphia.)
Copper recycling
Copper recycling can be a good thing coming out of old air conditioning or plumbing during replacement. Copper is a non-renewable resource, and apparently recycled copper is worth nearly as much as new copper.
Lack of supervision is cause for concern
Perhaps a Congressional inquiry about the Internal Revenue Service providing extra scrutiny targeting political groups should not be a surprise.
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is a founding principle of our country. Freedom of speech also comes with responsibility.
Cool/Not Cool
The Imagination Playground is coming to Great Bend and will make its public debut during June Jaunt. The portable playground is a set of oversized blocks, lightweight but sturdy enough to build with. They were designed by award-winning architect David Rockwell, who was inspired by watching his own children play.
Time to grow up
Challenges. All of us have them. And, it is easy to sit around and point fingers and blame others for our failures. It is easy to throw out exaggerated or incorrect information and hope people will listen and take up our cause because of the passion behind our words. It is easy to become caught up in distracting and destructive banter. It is easy to become a fool.
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