Voice For Liberty

Month: August 2009

  • Eliminate all health insurance profits, and what’s left?

    Those who advocate government takeover of health care and the elimination of private insurance cite the “wasteful overhead” and “high profits” of health insurance companies. But: “Net income comes to just a few cents per dollar of premiums.

  • Eugene Robinson doesn’t get it

    “I don’t know if you’d call it passion or manufactured passion … the uproar at these meetings is counterproductive .. and it’s organized, which I think is the most disturbing part of it.”

  • Schodorf introduced bill to reduce notice of some bond sales

    Kansas Senator Jean Schodorf, who is considering a run for the United States Congress, doesn’t have much regard for citizens’ right to know of impending sales of municipal bonds.

  • Privatization of Wichita city parks

    In a post concerning the possible privatization of City of Wichita parks maintenance, I called for, in a rather oblique way, privatization of city parks. A commenter picked up on this and wrote “I’m wondering how the parks would be decided by the market. Wouldn’t the parks have to charge an entry fee in that…

  • Sebelius takes cover in loving union arms

    “Possibly to avoid any confrontation with concerned citizens who have read the proposed health care legislation in Congress, HHS Secretary Sebelius will hold a conference call on Friday with health care activists and SEIU members.”

  • Paygo rule meaningless, harmful

    In a letter printed in yesterday’s Wichita Eagle, Doug Ittner of Wichita promotes the benefit of a rule known as “paygo.” The purpose of this rule is to force budget discipline on Congress. As the Washington Post’s David Broder wrote in that newspaper in June: “[Paygo’s] key provision requires that any new tax cut or…

  • Tea party event planned in Wichita

    Kansans for Liberty presents An American Tea Party September 11, 2009, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Sedgwick County Park, Wichita, Kansas

  • Wichita budget hearing reveals fundamental problem with government

    At yesterday’s public hearing regarding the City of Wichita budget, the attitude of Wichita’s public employee union became clear: more tax revenue is needed.

  • Kansas open records examined

    Government transparency in Kansas is determined largely by open records and open meetings laws which state lofty goals but offer many loopholes and exemptions and few penalties for violations of the laws. The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) starts off well. “It is declared to be the public policy of the state that public records…

  • Nancy Armstrong memorial radio call-in show

    Tomorrow there will be a radio show in Nancy’s honor.

  • Someone in California understands TIF

    In California, they’re called redevelopment districts. In Kansas, we call them tax increment financing or TIF districts. By either name, they provide a way to channel money to politically favored developers.

  • Wichita needs a bargain on parks maintenance

    As the City of Wichita struggles to make its budget work, one proposal is to reduce the number of parks workers, replacing them with contract workers. The city believes it could save $1 million per year. Parks workers and the union officials that represent them are opposed to this plan. Taxpayers, however, should be relieved…