Ann Coulter’s GOP plan needs work
Ann Coulter was a speaker at a meeting of conservatives Friday and unveiled her plan to solve one of the main concerns of Republicans: what to call the bulk of those people whose occupation is writing or speaking about politics. The plan: Call them the NFM. That stands for Non …
KC’s bigness comes with a big cost
Mayor Sly James included lots of big numbers in last week’s budget message to Kansas Citians. The highlight was his $1 billion proposal to repair the city’s aging streets, bridges, sidewalks and neighborhoods. But tucked inside James’ message was a much smaller number — 1,460. That’s the number of residents … Read More ⇒
2
Pursue more criminal charges in financial scandals
Since the financial collapse of 2008, the government has pursued fraud charges and civil regulatory actions against several Wall Street banks, recouping hundreds of millions in settlement proceeds. But criminal cases against individuals have been rare, which is why it’s worth noting a recent indictment against three former bond traders. … Read More ⇒
2
Clinton is cool, but Kennedy is cooler
When it came to naming America’s coolest president, I used to go with Bill Clinton. A teacher I know agreed with me. She said that several years ago, when she was discussing Clinton’s impeachment with her seventh-grade history class, one student asked, “Just what did he do, exactly?” She told … Read More ⇒
4
Help for struggling homeowners meant to kick-start stalled housing industry — again
It’s important to view the latest Obama administration help for foreclosed and struggling homeowners in the same way that people saw the stimulus money for first time homebuyers. Each was designed to get the housing industry moving again. Qualifying first-time homebuyers three to four years ago got tax credits of … Read More ⇒
5
Can Fire Chief Smokey Dyer meet this challenge?
Chief Smokey Dyer now has the responsibility to cut $7.6 million out of the KC Fire Department’s budget, at least as far as Mayor Sly James is concerned. “Let the chief figure it out, and then let’s hold him accountable” for his plan, James told me Friday. So how’s Dyer … Read More ⇒
5
Greece: the consequence of no regulation and irresponsibility
When you think of Greece, you think of the birth place of Olympic Games, the classics, the great Greek mythology, Apollo, Zeus, etc. Today, Greece shows no trace of its ancient glories. Instead, Greece today has become the land of forced austerity, bankruptcy, threatened sovereign default, violent riot, fire, clashes … Read More ⇒
1
Honor fallen citizens, be they service member or contractor
From this article today in the New York Times,entitled “Risks of Afghan War Shift From Soldiers to Contractors” by Rod Norland: “Last year, at least 430 employees of American contractors were reported killed in Afghanistan: 386 working for the Defense Department, 43 for the United States Agency for International Development … Read More ⇒
6
African Americans should take pride in their role models
Joelouis Mattox said something that I had never heard before about African Americans. It’s important particularly now as the country celebrates Black History Month. “We’re living in the promised land,” said Mattox, 75, a local historian, writer and independent scholar who can be found most days at the Bruce R. … Read More ⇒
0
This eye-testing mandate for kids looks bad
For an ugly vision of how Missouri’s Capitol operates, look no further than the current push to renew an expensive and unnecessary mandate requiring eye exams for children entering public school. This mandate has been around since 2007. But families are allowed to opt out, and most do. Exams by … Read More ⇒
1
Pass ban on earmarks
Missouri Congressman Todd Akin got $3.3 million in federal earmarks for improvements to a highway near nine acres in suburban St. Louis that he’s planning to develop. Now, there may be nothing wrong with this. After all, it’s inevitable that with 535 members of Congress, some will occasionally suggest projects … Read More ⇒
2
Mayor’s budget plan charts bold course for KC
Mayor’s budget plan charts bold course for KC Sly James promised to be a bold leader as Kansas City’s mayor. Good news: So far, he’s sticking to that pledge. Last week James announced a $1 billion plan that would be financed by higher property taxes to rebuild aging infrastructure — … Read More ⇒
2
Sinquefield’s loose lips, and gifts for Nixon
Gifts that keep giving It’s been a good week for Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. First, he gets $41 million dropped into his general fund as part of a settlement with big banks over unscrupulous mortgage-lending practices. Facing escalating and deserved criticism over his proposed 12.5 percent budget cut to colleges … Read More ⇒
3
What my father’s list sadly didn’t cover
My father is a list maker. As such, I was raised in a household of lists and apprenticed in the practice of this venerable organizational tool. I am my father’s son and grew up secure in the belief that any item affecting my life, from the mundane to the grand, … Read More ⇒
5
Cold War Letters redux
In April of 1962, Thomas Merton (Father Louis to his Cistercian Order brothers) was ordered by his abbot, Dom James Fox, via the Abbot General of the Cistercian Order (O.C.S.O.) in Rome, to stop writing about war and peace. What instigated the controversy was an article Merton wrote for The … Read More ⇒
20
Obama puts a lid on the birth control controversy
President Barack Obama’s exit strategy from the great birth control controversy is pretty simple. Catholic schools and hospitals and charities that object to paying for contraceptives in their employees’ insurance policies don’t have to. But if the employees want access to no-cost birth control projects and services, insurance companies must … Read More ⇒
5
The residue of an ongoing bad war
War can turn good people into monsters. The latest example — and there have been many — is a Marine Corps sniper team in Afghanistan posing in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of a Nazi SS unit. That flag traces back to an awful period of … Read More ⇒
10
More climate-change pratfalls
All that ice in the Himalayas that was supposed to be vanishing because of climate change? Never mind. The Guardian reports that a recent study found no such loss. From the story: “The world’s greatest snow-capped peaks, which run in a chain from the Himalayas to Tian Shan on the … Read More ⇒
2
Kansas lawmakers can be smart
Kansas lawmakers were right to back away from Gov. Sam Brownback’s misguided proposal to post teacher evaluations on school district websites. That provision was pulled from a Kansas House education bill on Thursday. Who could have imagined that it would have sparked statewide outrage? Politicians and people in general should … Read More ⇒
0
Gordan Lamb, courageous scholar and administrator, dies at age 77
Gordon Lamb’s time as president of the University of Missouri system was short but eventful. The courtly professor and administrator stepped in after Elson Floyd resigned in April 2007, and served as interim president until Gary Forsee took over in 2008. Those months, though, marked the height of efforts in … Read More ⇒
1
Why Steve Jobs was insanely great
A lot of people don’t like January. They say it’s too gloomy and cold and too long. But I never have a problem with it. I’ve found a system to beat it. After the New Year, and all the football games, I check out a library book. The next thing … Read More ⇒
1
Mayor James: ‘I’m 100 percent behind pension reform’
On Friday, the day after his budget message, Mayor Sly James chatted with me about several points. One that KC taxpayers should be especially glad to hear: “I’m 100 percent behind pension reform.” That’s good to hear, because there’s all kinds of pressure - especially from the state-run Police Department … Read More ⇒
20
A special message for KC’s 3,300 cops, firefighters
Hundreds of Kansas City’s cops and firefighters showed up at City Hall this week to protest how they are being treated. Part of it was intimidation, to show Mayor Sly James and the City Council they aren’t happy. Part of it was the normal bargaining process, an expected way to … Read More ⇒
2
Colleges and universities are overrated
This is not meant to demean institutions of higher learning. I think that great things, great learning, great habits start in high school. Higher learning begins there. A column below celebrates an honor bestowed by a survey company (publically-traded) to UMKC for a “best value” rating. That’s nice. It’s award … Read More ⇒
0
If Kansas Speedway Casino is to be a winner, we’ll need losers
Pardon me if I sound like an old fart, but is the opening of the new Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway really something to get excited about? Last Friday our local government officials joined the casino owners, NASCAR bigwigs and girls wearing red feathers in a grand opening hoopla, beaming … Read More ⇒