Letters to the editor

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Oct 28, 2008

We deserve better

I am writing in response to the article Oct. 8 about Lynn Jenkins' attendance -- or should I say lack thereof -- at KPERS board meetings.

I don't doubt for a moment that running a campaign for Congress can be distracting, but even so, Kansans expect their state treasurer to keep an eye on their investments.

Yet Lynn Jenkins missed every single KPERS board meeting last quarter as the pension fund suffered a billion-dollar loss.

These are very, very difficult economic times. We work hard for our pensions. And our hard-earned income from tax dollars should receive the same attention that we as state employees bring to our jobs.

We don't make much money, but we make Kansas work and pay taxes, too. KPERS board members are expected to be trustees of our retirement fund as well as keepers and advisers of important tax dollars paid by all Kansans. It's times like these when sound leadership and close oversight are most important.

Showing up for work is not only a part of the job description, it's a minimum expectation. Hardworking Kansans deserve better.

LISA OCHS,Topeka

Out-of-district interests

I live in the 18th Kansas Senate District. Laura Kelly, the incumbent, has been an excellent senator. She has represented me well by listening to me and my issues and taking them forward to the Senate. During the past four years, the 18th District has had someone willing to work with the constituents.

I am tired of out-of-district money trying to impose its agenda on this campaign.

During this campaign, Sen. Kelly has mailed to our home three postcards/flyers, all paid for by the Laura Kelly for Senate campaign. We received three mailers from her opponent, Jim Zeller, in a week. One was paid for by the Kansas Republican Committee and two by Americans for Prosperity.

To whom will the next senator be beholden?

I have volunteered for Laura Kelly by going door to door and talking to voters in the 18th District. Sen. Kelly has numerous volunteers helping her campaign. When someone knocks on your door, ask, "Are you a volunteer or a paid worker, and who is paying you?" If the person is a volunteer for Sen. Kelly, he or she is speaking from the heart. We have a relationship with our legislator.

CHRIS HUNTSMAN,Topeka

Trust in McCain

I'm voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin on Nov. 4.

Why? First of all, I trust McCain more than Sen. Barack Obama on the economy. Do you think someone with more than 20 years of experience in the U.S. Senate has more of a grasp of the national and international economy than someone whose experience is as a community organizer, eight years in a Statehouse and less than three years in the U.S. Senate?

McCain also has what it takes to ensure America is protected. I don't want a "hug-it-out" diplomacy with foreign dictators. Sorry for the sarcasm, but Obama's words on foreign policy show a high degree of naivete.

I want a president who will appoint judges who believe the ability to change the Constitution rests with the people and the amendment process.

I believe McCain will make wise choices.

On the issue of life, Obama's supporters should embrace the fact he is a strong proponent of abortion on demand. McCain has demonstrated a solid record on life -- with the exception of embryonic stem cell research.

Finally, I don't want to see America run by the triumvirate of Obama-Pelosi-Reid, and I don't think most Americans do, either.

JIM RYUN,Lawrence

Keeping money at home

After reading the Oct. 17 article, "Who's got the money?" I was curious to learn where candidates for the 2nd Congressional District seat were spending their campaign money, so I went to CJOnline to check it out. It seems that, despite her commercials saying how much she will do for the people of this district and how important her local roots are, Lynn Jenkins prefers to spend her campaign money out of state.

Some examples: Her campaign flyers came out of Lexington, Mass.; her campaign banners and yard signs came out of Houston; and a firm in Alexandria, Va., provided the following -- commercial broadcast buys, media placement, commercial production, television ad artwork production -- and even conducted a voter attitudes survey.

It would seem to me there must be some companies in the 2nd District capable of at least producing campaign yard signs.

On the other side of the ticket, Nancy Boyda has spent her campaign money here, with companies in Topeka and Lawrence supplying her signs, commercial ad production, advertising placement, media buys and graphic production. I like the fact that a candidate wanting to represent me in Washington, D.C., is spending her campaign money with local businesses, especially in this time of financial stress and difficulty for so many business people.

SUSAN D. CHAN,Topeka

Beware of change

It is time to vote for change. A vote for Barack Obama is:

- Freedom: He wants to take away our right for freedom and justice for all life from conception to natural death, our most fundamental right. He wants to give us the freedom to kill our children, our elderly and sick. He wants to deal with and meet with terrorists unconditionally and freely.