Opinion

Unleashing prosperity: A bold blueprint for Kansas tax reform

GUEST COLUMN, Vance Ginn, Kansas Policy Institute

As Kansas gears up for a special legislative session in two weeks, the state stands at a pivotal point. Governor Laura Kelly’s call to reconvene the legislature after vetoing three key tax relief bills this year, let alone what she vetoed previously, indicates the struggle to pass pro-growth policies. For Kansas to thrive, it must pursue significant income tax reductions complemented by responsible budgeting.

Despite an appealing low unemployment rate of 2.8 percent, a deeper look at Kansas’ labor statistics reveals significant challenges. The labor force participation rate, the share of residents either working or actively looking for work, has dropped to a historic low of 66.1 percent since 1977, and the workforce has been flat since 2008. This stagnation points to a need for reform policies that do more than temporarily boost employment numbers—they must encourage sustainable work and investment.

The Revelation of Jesus: future songs and events (Part 2)

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

We concluded last week’s study of Revelation chapters 4-11, full of songs in heaven, with the seventh trumpet sounding and the announcement that Jesus is king. However, the final defeat of the enemy will not occur until chapter 19. This week there are two more songs mentioned from heaven, while in the meantime John shares his awful vision of the spiritual struggle between good and evil. The warfare begins in heaven, but comes to the church on earth, resulting in a final climactic victory.

Satan’s rebellion against God is outlined in chapter 12, as well as his hatred for the people of God. It includes the attempted murder of a child, an attack on heaven, and efforts to destroy the church. A “woman clothed with the sun” and wearing “a crown of twelve stars” is with child. This could be Mary, but there are broader implications of Israel as the mother of the Church (God’s people born by faith). See Isaiah chapters, 7, 26 and 66; and Galatians 4:26. The suffering of the woman in childbirth reflects the travail of Mary, Israel, and the Church of Jesus as they bring spiritual birth to the world’s people.

Asking for help

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

My dad doesn’t like asking for help.

He told me this recently when he asked if I could help him put out the dock. His knee was bothering him, and the dock was pulled up on shore at a steep incline. The dock frame was rolled into the water and then the boards of the dock were laid into place. It was a good job for two people and two sets of hands, especially since my dad’s knee is bothering him and he’s been legally blind for a number of years.

How will Democrats react to lithium found in fracking?

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

One of the biggest problems with making the move to the all-electric vehicle dream is the need for lithium, and there are two major drawbacks to it.

For one, lithium is in very limited supply, and tow, a lithium mine is a major scar on the Earth that is worse than any strip mining operation I’ve ever seen.

The process to obtain lithium so far has led to child labor in third world countries along with some toxic processes.

Chasing wheat

GUEST COLUMN, Kim Baldwin, Kansas Farm Bureau

Wheat harvest is just around the corner for many in Kansas. The transformation of fields from vivid green to a beautiful gold have occurred and now we wait for the wheat to ripen.

Conversations at the local gas station, cafe and public library are now regularly including predictions of when the wheat will be ready.