Have you seen some of the headlines lately, coming out of our very Republican, Right Wing, wackjob state capitol and government? Here are just a few and from the past few days.
"A bill passed by the Missouri House would allow school districts to offer the Bible as an elective class."
Clearly not familiar with church and state being "separate", for starters. They'd be the first to criticize some Middle Eastern, Muslim country for having religion in government but boy howdy, do they want theirs in ours.
And this is just the beginning of their Right Wing insanity.
The election for a new one, after Sly James terms, is coming up, of course, April 2. Weeks away.
All I personally know is that there are at least several people running for the position. This is most of them, I understand
I've seen a few names. I've gotten some mail from a few but really, I've no idea who's running, who they are, what they stand for or what they say they will stand and work for.
I know Clay Chastain threw his proverbial hat in the ring. That's all I need to know about him.
And Jolie Justus. I know she's running and from where she's coming, mostly, since she's been around the area for some time.
I did a cursory Google search today and found this, thankfully, from our local NPR station, KCUR:
But if you go there, you'll see they are extremely brief descriptions of the candidates, of one small paragraph. That's it. It is also, brief as it is, the most complete description of these candidates I've been able to find. That's sad.
I don't think our Star newspaper has run articles on all the candidates yet. I don't see every daily paper but I do check in regularly.
There are a couple more links on the interwebs, from national sources:
According to that link, above, there are officially 11 candidates in the race. Six of those candidates are currently on the City Council. Three are on the Council for their first terms--Alissia Canady, Jolie Justus and Quinton Lucas. Two are second-term candidates--Jermaine Reed and Scott Taylor while Scott Wagner is currently Mayor Pro Tem.
This is helpful, of course, but it more tells of their fundraising than anything, of course. It's important, sure, but still doesn't tell what they stand for and say they're going to work for in the office. It is also an extremely brief article. If that tells us anything, it's that the one candidate, City Council member and candidate Scott Taylor has the most money behind him and by a long shot. (This may make him the defacto winner. We'll see, of course). Another interesting thing coming from that article is that it doesn't even mention Clay Chastain.
It gives the most perfunctory information, with links to the candidates own websites so again, it's up to you, the reader and voter to chase down any and all information.
So my question. Is any news media out there--KCUR, KCPT, the Star, Mike Shanin and his program "Ruckus", Steve Kraske and his, anyone, anyone doing any in-depth interviews and research on these people and who they are and where they come from and what they stand for and what they say they'll work for as mayor?
I surely hope there is. If someone's seen or heard something, please let me know. I want and need to know, before the election, just as we all do here in the area.
It's coming down to election time. We need to know.
With the Star having famously/infamously and recently slashed its staff, it seems unlikely we'll now get this kind of article and coverage, however important.
Seems like the perfect program for KCPT, doesn't it? "Meet the Candidates"?
KCPT? Thoughts?
Link:
Meanwhilere's the scary part. The honestly, deeply scary part.
So yes, first of all, this is going to be an open letter and it's to several entities so thanks for your patience and I'll do my best to be brief but first, an introduction.
Davis Hammet is a young man living in Kansas, Topeka, to be exact, who moved here--from Florida, I believe--because he felt like it was important and there was work to do. So move he did.
He was and is a political science student (not unlike yours truly) so he knows a bit of what should and should not and can and cannot happen in government.
So he came here and began his work.
His work is educating now-fellow Kansans on their state government at all levels, trying to get more "average people" involved and by so doing, getting to more justice, fairness and some equality in the state.
Noble goals.
With that brief introduction, the open letters.
Mr. Hammet,
Thank you, first, for coming to Kansas.
I don't know how you picked this state or how you came here but thank you and thank goodness you did. Your work, already, in the presumably short time you've been here has been pretty monumental. With your research and time spent at the State Capitol in Topeka and writing and videos you have gotten a great deal of information out to Kansas and Kansans they wouldn't otherwise have and in a very quick, informative, palatable and apparently complete format.
I thank you and I don't even live in Kansas.
What you're doing is extremely important---and helpful. You're making big changes and all for the people.
So now to KCUR, KCPT, Steve Kraske, The Kansas City Star and all the Kansans out there.
You media sources need to have Mr. Hammet on your programs AND BADLY. All one need do is see his brief, concise, very informative YouTube videos (see some below) on his organization, LOUD LIGHT, and you can tell he is a serious young man doing some terrific work and he's extremely informed. This man is headed places.
So please, please have him on your programs, Interview him, write about him, let him speak. He is a voice of the people. Whether Right Wing or Left, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent, it's difficult to be against someone who is merely reporting good, hard, timely information on the state government and who wants justice for his fellow citizens.
So again, Mr. Hammet, thank you. Thank you very deeply and sincerely. Thank you for your work, your energy and the information you give us. Thank you for your intentions. Thank you for coming to Kansas and the Midwest.
Missouri badly needs someone very like you in Jefferson City.
Heck, every state in the nation does.
And Kansas, you are very, very fortunate. Congratulations on your "acquisition." You are very fortunate indeed. You need to know and follow this young man.
Links:
Just some of his YouTube videos, reporting on the Kansas Statehouse.
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