Opinion

OPINION – Midterm voters hoping for a ‘Blue Wave’ should brace for a wipeout

GUEST COLUMN, J. Basil Dannebohm

The frustrated populace, hoping for a “blue wave” at the midterms, will likely have to continue their collective lalochezia for the foreseeable future. As they face the lowest approval ratings in more than three decades, the only thing Democrats seem to agree on is their disdain for Donald Trump. But that alone won’t be enough to persuade independent voters.

“Over time, the increase in the percentage of independents has come more at the expense of Democrats than Republicans, which might be expected since Democrats were previously the largest political group,” Jeffrey Jones, Senior Editor for Gallup, observed.

OPINION – Conversations require ability to listen even when we disagree

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

In the past few weeks, Liberal has seen an increase in discussions about immigration. It’s good to have these conversations. Only by having a dialogue can we truly understand the challenges and the solutions.

Kathleen Alonso and her organization called New Frontiers has visited at the last two USD No. 480 School Board meetings.

I researched New Frontiers and found on its web site that it advocates to elect people who “look” like “our community.

Alonso responded to my column on the issue and felt I should have reached out to her.

OPINION – Almost there

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

Everyone will tell you that when you sell a book, you don’t get to pick the cover. I know this, and I am fine with it. I don’t know much about selling books, and my publisher does nothing but sell books, so I trust they would know what makes for a good cover. But I was flattered when they asked me for ideas about what I’d like on the cover of my book, and I knew right away: Emily Anderson.

Providing info. on commissioner authority a good thing

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

At last week’s Seward County Commission meeting, Chairman Scott Carr used the final 10 minutes to review the Kansas statutes that outline the role of county commissioners as well as the role of the county administrator.

It’s good information even though the reading of the rules didn’t refer to any specific commissioner. Perhaps it was just a general statement, but it would seem strange to just read the rules of being a commissioner without a reason to do so. They were intended for someone.

Since Carr made the statement, I wanted to provide the community as a whole some of those statements and perhaps clarify them.

Corn sweat and August

GUEST COLUMN, Greg Doering, Kansas Farm Bureau

According to recent reports the summer heat is causing corn to sweat in the field. Is it the corn’s profuse perspiration causing the issue or maybe the county fair is the party responsible?

More likely it’s just summer in early August. There are two options, hot and humid or hot and dry. Either way, the corn is still sweating, with each acre pumping up to 4,000 gallons of water into the air every day. Kansas’ 6.4 million acres of corn pumps out enough sweat each day to cover a football field in more than 15 miles of water.