Small, slow government is great. Jefferson City’s gridlock is a leadership failure
Don’t do nothing
Legislative gridlock is the friend of supporters of small government, to a point. Insurmountable disagreements among lawmakers can slow and stop bills that expand government power or raise taxes. To the extent gridlock keeps government largely out of the market and out of your wallet, it’s probably a good thing.
But allowing for gridlock the way the Missouri Senate did during this year’s legislative session — killing countless reforms and initiatives demanded by the public, including a Parents’ Bill of Rights — is not a testament to “limited government” but indicative of a failure to actually govern.
The principle of limited government isn’t just a fancy way of saying “not governing.” Legislators are elected to exercise the public’s will within the limited scope of what government should be allowed to do. That’s what limited government is, and it’s an important distinction that legislators in both chambers should learn sooner rather than later.
As Yoda says, “Do, or do not — there is no try.” But to the detriment of Missouri taxpayers, it’s not clear whether the state legislature generally, and the Missouri Senate specifically, is even trying anymore. They must do better.
- Patrick Ishmael, Director of government accountability, The Show-Me Institute, St. Louis
Keep it open
What is happening to the Mid-Continent Public Library is wrong. (June 7, 7A, “Mid-Continent Public Library shutdown ahead?”) Mid-Continent has been a shining example of excellence in public library service for decades.
Do you value your library and are concerned about its possible closure? If you want to do something to avert this shutdown, contact your board members and show up at the June 10 board meeting to let your voice be heard. Click on the “Board of Trustees” link at the library’s website at mymcpl.org
Public libraries across the country operate under one overriding philosophy: A public library exists to serve all the people, not just a select portion of users. Libraries are excellent stewards of public tax dollars.
I write on behalf of 11 retired Missouri public library directors from across the state. We challenge anyone to find another public entity that is able to get more bang for its buck. Throughout our careers, we worked closely with the Mid-Continent Public Library. Disruption of service to Mid-Continent’s system and library community would have a devastating impact locally. The turmoil in this award-winning, nationally recognized library would have state and national implications as well.
The future of your library is in your hands.
- Carolyn Trout, Retired director, Joplin Public Library, Joplin
Drying up
If the water situation is not resolved for the southwest United States, you can expect a major economic burden, as the people would have to move en masse to nonarid areas of the country. This would mean a major project at a major expense.
Please create buzz about the problem.
- Tracy Wiegert, Salina, Kansas
Cooler voices
The discussion about guns would be easier if the fringes of each side would stop making wildly exaggerated claims about the positions of the other. I have conservative friends with veritable arsenals at home who would be appalled if children and felons had the right to purchase guns. On the other side, I have near-communist friends who at least understand the need for farmers to keep shotguns to protect their chickens.
Despite the hysteria from both sides, no one I know wants a total ban on private ownership of guns, nor supports unrestricted access to any type of weaponry by anyone.
In short, people of all political stripes support reasonable, effective regulation of guns. The argument about what is “reasonable” and “effective” is contentious enough, but it would help if we would all take a deep breath and remember our differences are a matter of degree, not kind.
- Larry Stice, Kansas City
Not in the USA
I’ve really enjoyed watching the celebrations around Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. Huge crowds around Buckingham Palace are sharing the celebrations peacefully.
It pains me to think that if this had happened in America, some loner with a machine gun would have ruined everything.
- James Mercer, Kansas City