CALL IN THE DOGS

                  "YOU WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH IT HAS
                          COST MY GENERATION TO PRESERVE YOUR
                                  FREEDOM.  I HOPE YOU WILL MAKE
                                           GOOD USE OF IT."
                                                         John Quincy Adams

  It is happening again!  This is the time of year to call in the dogs, cancel bowling, hug your kids.  The most dangerous time of the year. 
THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION!!!!!

     In Kansas late winter and early spring the capital is buzzing with all of the elected Representatives, Senators, and Lobbyists.  The annual attack on your pocket book and your emotions begins.  I listened to the State of the State address and the rebuttal afterwards and have concluded that things have not changed all that much.
     As speeches go I have to give the Gov. good marks on his presentation.  Also this is the first time that I have ever heard his opponent (predictably sounded a bit whiny), or even know who he is.  It has been a fact for many years even though the state is overwhelmingly Republican, the Republican Governors last one term and the Democrats last two.  To say the least this upcoming campaign will be interesting.
      I have not been enamored with either party and it is a shame that the things talked about during the election process are not about what most people want to hear.  It is a glaring truth that one side will whine about not funding education.  And another truth that no matter how much money is thrown at schools it will never be enough.
     The education system from top to bottom is a ripoff and disgrace to both the taxpayer and student.  The fact that we can be in the top ten states is not as shining as the fact that the country has dropped down on the level of some third world countries.
      It has been a constant that if you want to pass anything no matter how silly the first thing you have to shout is 'it is for the kids'.  Should it not bother anyone that the shining education system is actually behind the home schooled kids when the SAT's are in?
     There are so many other things that are being let go in the pursuit of taking more than 50% of the budget to put in schools.  I had a State Senator from the Kansas City region once tell me that "Kansas has the top roads in the country and has no business building any more".  HUH!!!!?
      They still build more roads around the KC area and they think that is good enough for the whole state!  The DOT budget has been the slush fund for the last three administrations.  Even though it was a campaign pledge that it would not be.  Highway projects that were on the drawing board when I got out of high school have not been finished.  KDOT (Kan be Done Over Time) has managed to turn projects that used to be finished in five years into multi generational projects.
     No matter what the letter behind the Governor has been the DOT goes out of its way to take the most expensive routes, takes out as many businesses as possible, builds through swamps, and keeps engineers busy for a career on two or three projects.  They build through historic places, grave yards, and build the European folly, the Round A Bout.
      The joke I have heard all my life is:  THE SUN WILL BURN OUT IN 1.3 BILLION YEARS.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?  THEY WILL BE BUILDING 54 HIGHWAY UNDER LIGHTS.
    The US 54 project announced by then representative Tiahrt is no where to be found.  The Southeast turnpike or interstate is a made up US 400 which is signs printed and put up along existing roads.  US 96 to the Northwest seems to be stopped around Hutchinson.
     The one thing I try to bring up every time I am around any of our elected ones is that Kansas does not stop at US 81 Highway.  It seems like a battle every year between the three metro areas (KC region, Topeka - Lawrence, and Wichita) and the rest of the state.
     Where do I stand? Well the Gov. sounded like a good speaker and the rebuttal was a bit whinny.  I could start taking either side more seriously if we were talking the Arts, EMS & Fire, making conditions ,really, to attract jobs, and start to seriously address why University Presidents have to be paid millions of dollars and Superintendents of the smallest school districts must make six figures.
      I can go on and on but I reiterate my warning.  Be very afraid the Legislature is in session.