WARNING: Political Thoughts About My Kansas
June 8, 2017
I love this state. From the suburban sprawl of Kansas City to the Flint Hills to Chalk Pyramids. I was born and raised here (Well, technically I was born at St Luke’s in KCMO but got out 3 days later.): Katherine Carpenter and Cherokee Elementary, Broadmoor Junior High, Shawnee Mission West and then on to drop out at KU. Although I lived away for 18 years I returned here in 2004. I believe in our people, our grit, our independent streaks and our fairness. Kansas was born of bloodshed to protect the rights of those that didn’t have a legal right to protect themselves. This state elected the United States’ first female mayor in 1887. And this state, aside from its national perception, has had remarkable balance in the Governor’s office the last 50 years with Democrats holding the office 7 terms and Republicans holding office 6 terms.
To be clear, I lean Republican. And to be clear, I am pleased that this state’s legislature finally overrode a majority of the 2012 tax cuts that have helped to erode our state’s economy.
My reasons? Well, first, you cannot spend more than you have. That is a basic tenant for your personal life, your business life and yes, government. Secondly, there was precious little left to cut. Our Supreme Court has ruled our education spending to be out of bounds. And don’t even get me started on our social services. We actually have leaders of our Department for Children and Families advocating for LOWER hiring standards for the people that protect those that cannot protect themselves! (1) – see footnote below
As a business owner and the leader of hundreds of real estate agents in Johnson County, Kansas I do not believe in waste or fraud or mismanagement. I also do not believe that I, as a business owner, should be paying a smaller effective tax rate than those that work for me. I do not believe we should share wealth equally through a punitive tax code. I also do not believe that the higher income brackets should be given tax benefits that are not available to lower income tax brackets.
This tax cut roll-back will not solve all of Kansas’ problems. I have real concerns for the family farmers of this state who will feel this tax cut roll-back the most. Our state’s agricultural economy has been in recession for a few years now and we do need to look at how we can help increase the demand for Kansas agriculture. In addition, the “real” small businesses (2-50 employees, myself included) that have budgeted and planned based on the current tax bracket will be set back as they adjust. And lastly, local municipalities statewide have raised sales taxes exponentially to make up for revenue lost. Will they now lower the sales tax rates? I seriously doubt it. This should be a battleground in the next city elections but sadly, I don’t think most of the electorate will put 2 and 2 together.
I do celebrate the tax cut roll-back for our schools, our children’s services, our physically and mentally challenged and our state’s infrastructure.
This political decision, and frankly my statement about it, will have reverberations and consequences. I know some of you to agree with me. Some will vociferously disagree. I fully expect the Democrats to look at this as opportunity in the State of Kansas and go after now somewhat vulnerable State and Federal seats in the next election. And therein lies the beauty of what we have done here in Kansas and in the United States.
We have given our people the right to vote, to discuss and to debate. Say what you will about President Trump and Governor Brownback but if nothing else they have caused political discussions with a frequency that I have not experienced since I was a child growing up in the ‘70s.
When the elections of 2018 come please educate yourself and vote. But please, educate yourself. Turn off CNN, Fox News and the like and instead read, research and think. Put aside your (R) or (D) and vote for your future, that of your kids and the future of our state as a whole. With great rights come great responsibility.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. I know you have your own. We don’t all have to agree on everything but we all do have to work for viable solutions rather than blame. The time for insults needs to pass. The time for advancement in the common good of opportunity is here, now.
*The thoughts and opinions stated herein are mine and mine alone. They are not reflective of any beliefs held by my employees, partners, employers or affiliates. They are free to think how they choose.
(1) I received the following from a source I trust…
I noticed you wrote about DCF officials advocating for lower standards for hiring. This is something that I thought, too – I even posted an article about it. However, I was able to have a meeting with Secretary Gilmore a few weeks ago and I learned that is not actually true. She felt she was misquoted in that article. What she told me is they have the money and the open positions to pay social workers, but not enough people are stepping up to apply. She wants to change the licensing process so that people from other degree fields (ex. psychology) can be certified and hired as case managers too. Once I heard what she said it made a lot more sense.
I do appreciate that individual reaching out to me privately. And I am happy if that is the case. Sadly, I could go down a list of other reasons I am worried about this particular department. Just do your own research in to happenings of the last year or two that all tie back to this department and make your own decisions. The point of this post was not to pick on any one person so I won’t go down a list. The point was/is the money needed to fund basic government for the citizens of Kansas regardless of age, ability, race, religion… The basic services.
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