Voice For Liberty in Wichita

A Believer in Good Government Programs

wichitaliberty — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:51:13 +0000

Need I continue? Each government program Mr. Abbott mentions has severe problems, and most crowd out efforts by private enterprise to provide alternatives.

Wichita Public Schools as a Public Good

wichitaliberty — Sat, 31 May 2008 02:49:07 +0000

Supporters of the proposed bond issue for USD 259, the Wichita, Kansas public school district, portray Wichita’s public schools as a “public good.” Therefore, the entire community should pay for — and be happy to pay for — the ongoing operations of the schools, and should be willing to invest in a large bond issue to pay for capital improvements and new facilities.

But is public education a public good?

Wichita Public Schools: Open Records Requests Are a Burden

wichitaliberty — Sun, 25 May 2008 16:25:01 +0000

Wichita school district officials say they want to be held accountable. Responding to records requests is one way for them to fulfill that desire. But the district’s attitude when faced with requests filed by citizens reveals a different attitude.

http://wichitaliberty.org/node/686

How to Pay for Special Tax Treatment in Wichita

wichitaliberty — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:34:25 +0000

As long as this body is willing to grant tax abatements and other special tax favors, I propose this simple pledge: that when the City of Wichita allows a company to escape paying taxes, that it reduce city spending by the same amount

Haze Surrounds Wichita Smoking Ban

wichitaliberty — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:36:52 +0000

The problem with a smoking ban written into law rather than reliance on markets is that everyone has to live by the same rules.

Investment in Wichita Public Schools

wichitaliberty — Sat, 03 May 2008 03:27:20 +0000

A letter writer in the April 27, 2008 Wichita Eagle makes the case that investment in USD 259 (the Wichita, Kansas public school district) has a good return.

Consider the Alternative to a Public Library in Wichita

wichitaliberty — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:15:25 +0000

As Wichita considers the need for a new public library, a more central and fundamental question goes unconsidered: what is the role of the public library today, and do we really want one?

Wichita School Bond Issue: It’s not the $40, it’s the $1,749

wichitaliberty — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:46:12 +0000

There’s another number that bond issue proponents don’t publicize. In fact, I’m sure that many of them don’t have an idea of the magnitude of this number. But this number gives us insight into the size and impact of the Wichita school district, and helps us view the district’s spending in context.

Are Teachers Paid Fairly?

wichitaliberty — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:34:19 +0000

The school bond issue in Wichita and those occurring in surrounding districts overlook one crucial necessity: a fair wage for teachers. They are critically underpaid for all levels of education, service and abilities. (From The Wichita Eagle Opinion Line, April 27, 2008)

Wichita School Board Poisons Democracy

wichitaliberty — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:00:53 +0000

This action of the board of the Wichita school district poisons democracy. … We have to trust that when the Wichita school board passes a resolution declaring that an election will be held on a certain date, that this election will actually take place.

No Recycling Mandates in Sedgwick County, Please

wichitaliberty — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:07:41 +0000

Remarks delivered at a public hearing for the Sedgwick County solid waste management plan, April 24, 2008. Sedgwick County, Kansas, home to the City of Wichita, is considering a mandatory household recycling program. Or, perhaps people won’t be forced to recycle, but they will be required to pay for the cost burden that recycling places on communities.