The Emporia Gazette

Iraq War Finally Over

This should be a day to celebrate but instead it is a day of sadness. The thousands of lives lost, the wounded, the wrecked country for a war that was never needed. Thank you, President Obama, for keeping your word to get us out of Iraq. George W. Bush and his administration have been convicted as war criminals by an international court but yet they run free, without punishment for the crimes they committed.
Now, we the people, must remain vigilant as there are already Republican warmongers beating the drum for a new war with Iraq's neighbor, Iran. We must prevent this at all costs and no wars in the future should be fought without first activating the Selective Service system and passing a war tax. It is up to the people to monitor this. A great Kansan, Dwight Eisenhower, charged us with this responsibility.
"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together."

December 17, 2011 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Kansan for president?

With all due respect, I find it amazing how much you can determine from a photo of Kathleen Sebilius. The CIA could use your talents, perhaps. Brownback would not stand a chance on the national stage. Maybe Moran. Both he and Brownback are career politicians so I am sure they have developed deep pockets and connections pursuing their careers on the taxpayer dime. Funny how you can go into politics with a modest income and become rich.

November 8, 2011 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Follow the money

Barb,
Do you have a problem with the salaries of Bill Snyder, Bill Self, Frank Martin, or Turner Gill? These coaches of so-called amateur athletics are making at least 2 to 5 times what these university presidents or the governer make. All for coaching a kid's game. What do you say to that?

November 8, 2011 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Earthquake shakes Emporia

Seismic activity has been increasing in Oklahoma over the past two years, Blakeman said, and geologists are looking into exactly why that is. Data from the Oklahoma Geological Survey shows that there were 1,047 earthquakes in the state in 2010.

How much fracking has been done in Oklahoma? Could this be exacerbating/triggering the quakes. It's something that needs to be considered. Also, what effect would this have on the proposed Keystone Pipeline. Would this put the Ogallala Aquifer at more risk to the sludge this pipeline will carry. It would be naive to think our actions have no effect on the planet and the water we count on to sustain life. Man thinks he can conquer the planet but in the end, the only thing man will conquer is himself.

November 8, 2011 at 7:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Earthquake shocks felt in Emporia

My wife and I felt it for about 10-15 seconds in Olpe at apprix 10:56 pm. It literally shook the house. In our bedroom on the second floor, the blinds were slightly swaying, the floor lamp was rocking and the bed shook. My wife was accusing me of trying to play some kind of trick to scare her. You could feel the house moving. If it would have lasted longer, we were getting ready to get up and get out of the house. It was eerie! We had never experienced a tremor before last night. Can imagine the feeling one might get being closer to the epicenter. Didn't seem to do any damage, though.

November 6, 2011 at 7:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Reverend Grover

Peggy, it looks like the truth hurts. Bob's reasoned, well-researched article was an explanation, not an excoriation.
Your rebuttle is one based more on emotion, than reason.
And you had to whip out the war card! Give us a break, Peggy. If the best you can do is try to stand behind 2 needless, financially draining wars that we have no further business in, than please retire. Term limits, anyone?

October 26, 2011 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

The New Big 12

John,
The way I look at it, it's just sports. So whatever happens, happens. I don't care. This comes from a big sports fan. For me, money is ruining sports. The "amateur athlete" is a hypocrisy in major college sports. When college coaches make 10 times what the governer or even the President make, something is out of whack. Our priorities need to get correcetd. I understand from a sportswriters perspective, you may feel differently but I am checking out.

September 14, 2011 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Hope

Thank you for your posts, create, methusla, goodoleboy, doubt_it, scarlet01 and banshee. I was getting ready to post something very similar to Mr Walker and others on this post but you saved me the time.
Well said!

July 29, 2011 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

FHCHC works on saving money

I have several questions about the content of this article.
#1: Can someone explain how a Nurse Practitioner can be the Medical Director of a federally funded facility that employs and pays two physicians? Why is this necessary? This seems odd.
#2 How can a facility that has only made an average of approx. $8,500 a month sustain itself? Is this a long-term problem or something the center is just now experiencing?
#3 How much federal money does the center get and do they have to be accountable and transparent to the public because they get taxpayer money?
It would seem that since taxpayer money is received to run this facility, the public would be more interested in what is happening.

July 29, 2011 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

City leaders favor spending reserves over more taxes, layoffs

I realize the monument stones ticked off alot of folks, and rightfully so, but they are in place and it is time to put the issue to rest and look forward. Unfortunately, city leaders and the citizens of Emporia have some tough decisions to make and putting them off to a later date is not going to make them go away even under the most optimistic estimates. Layoffs will definitely affect the local economy as spending will be further reduced and unemployment benefits only replaces a portion of one's salary. Finding new employment in today's environment is very challenging even with good efforts by the unemployed. Unfortunately merit pay needs to go, if it means keeping your job.
There are business in this town that are losing money and not doing much to cut back expenses and keep going further in the hole. Look at the article about FHCHC in the same Gazette issue. They are losing money($44,000 in June) but they get federal tax dollars so lack the incentive to be efficient.
Again, a very difficult situation that is not going to be helped by sarcasm but by forward thinking leaders and citizens that will most likely have to face reality sooner than later.
Everyone is going to need to practice staying compassionate towards their neighbor and helping out in ways they can because I fear we have long road ahead of us that is going to cause more social change than we have witnessed since the Great Depression.
Many in our society(not all) lived beyond its financial means for a long time. Much of what is occuring today is a correction of the overspending by both individuals and government in the 80s, 90, and early 21st century.

July 29, 2011 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )