There are no words that can accurately express how angry and frustrated I am at what is going on in the United States of America. I have always been so proud to be an American — to have had the many benefits we have, as well as the opportunities I've had, in small ways, to serve that greater good. Then, I think of our three grandchildren and what their life experiences might be, and I find sleeping at night a real challenge.

Born in August of 1940, I do not have clear memories of Pearl Harbor, but I do have clear memories of what quickly followed with the United States' involvement in WWII. I grew up in a house that was forced off land to make way for the airbase built in Salina to train pilots. Later, I have very clear memories of riding with my Dad in our Ford ½ ton pickup to go over to the German prisoner of war camp just west of Smolan, picking up a prisoner to help during the day on the farm. 

There are now fewer and fewer WWII participants alive from what has been called our Greatest Generation — celebrated and rightfully so. Our most famous Kansan, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, led the way to much of the success in the positive end of WWII, along with thousands of Kansans serving in many ways. One of those was Bob Dole, severely hurt in his service to our country — later becoming our Senator and Senate Leader as well as a Republican Presidential candidate.

The result has been seventy-five years of challenges, yes. But nothing like a world war. Credit primarily goes to the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild Europe, the creation of the United Nations, and leaders from both political parties providing the leadership holding this country together and moving us forward. Fast forward to today, and it appears the world has been flipped upside down. 

Today is chaos, and that is being kind. When a new national administration comes to power, one expects change. After all, that was the message from the election. And change we got — but at a pace that made no sense with a team that would never have been part of any previous administration. The new group has been trying to operate as if we were totally ready. The truth is, however, that its actions have been marked by one chaotic and uninformed misstep after another. Beyond creating chaos within the country and mistrust with our closest allies, the new group has offered no hint that it is actually prepared to administer effectively and fairly the governmental functions of the United States.

Today, unbelievably, our leaders are partnering with Putin and Russia — or, perhaps worse, acting at Putin’s behest. Previously, leaders of both political parties had worked closely with Ukraine and NATO to stave off Russia moving on European nations, generally, and Ukrainian specifically. Our objective has been to foster European unity and Ukrainian identity and independence. Today, however, we seem to have embraced the Neville Chamberlain strategy — only this time we are appeasing Russia instead of Hitler. So what do we do? Well, to this point, certainly not enough — although the large turnout Monday in Topeka at the Capitol (and nationwide) is a beginning.

But now what can be done? We can agree that we are not going to change foreign policy from protests here in Kansas. But we can shout from the rooftops about what is already happening here in Kansas and the assumption that much more is to follow. You all have good sources on much of the specifics, so I do, so there's not a need to give you great detail in this particular post. 

But here is what I will say: Continuing to take away key markets (shutting down USAID and imposing tariffs on our closest trading partners) will not help farmers or the Kansas economy, and following that up with their plan to eliminate crop insurance, many farmers will fail — no question. The wild, thoughtless firing of federal employees goes way beyond the harm to the individuals impacted, although that too is significant. When they carelessly or ignorantly fire the head researcher on bird flu as well as many others, for example, there is no justification that makes any sense.

So, I am saying to anyone who reads this, and I am committing to doing my part as a citizen as well: We had better shout loud, clear, and often to our Congressional Delegation (access information to delegation members can easily be found online) on specific negative impacts. From bird flu to fired workers and any other senseless action that in your mind no previous Republican Administration would have considered, much less taken, gets the point across. Often, just speaking up makes a difference. The press takes notice when citizens raise their voices. And the people and institutions who need the courage to stand up for our Constitution will need to hear those voices too.

They have been more clear about the plan this time around; Project 2025 is laid out for all to read. It’s our job to oppose it at every turn — apply maximum pressure — and make it clear that no part of their anti-American vision will come without strong, documented opposition. Because the people of this nation are demonstrating our true values by standing up to a self-avowed dictator, and — in order to preserve the things we care about — that demonstration must continue until the page is finally turned on this dark era in American history. 

We have a long way to go, and we must keep supporting one another to continue the fight. I, for one, am not planning to give up on the American experiment anytime soon. It just means too much to me — and I know I am not alone.

​It seems like we're sleepwalking into a dangerous period in our history. Who will stand up for the Constitution — against the dismantling efforts of Project 2025?

Here’s my message to Senator Jerry Moran, from one Kansan to Another:

Senator, you have served Kansas’ economic interests well, bringing back to Kansas valuable assistance for worthy investments. It is very much appreciated. Now we need courage, too.

We are on the brink of a slippery slope as a country, sliding into a dictatorship. What has been happening nationally the last two weeks, at least, should raise concerns that lead to tough questions and maybe even voting “no” on the most extreme and under-qualified nominees being put forward for key positions within the government.

Just some highlights: The Wall Street Journal is saying using Tariffs are basically stupid at this time — and will mean real economic damage and huge price increases, firing FBI agents, more than a thousand because they were simply doing their job, without any evidence blaming flight controllers for the tragic crash of a helicopter and American Airline plane flying in from Wichita, and obviously charging ahead to implement Project 2025 — despite the President saying he knew nothing about the plan.

And speaking of that plan, eliminating Crop Insurance, as you well know, would be devastating to farmers and their capacity to operate. One thing that should be clear now is Project 2025 is real and being used to bring changes most Americans never dreamed would happen.

But maybe most frightening are leaders he is putting into place to carry out the plan. This next week, the Senate will take action on three cabinet level positions, Health and Human Services, FBI Director, and Director of the National Intelligence Agency. Anybody with any intelligence knows they are dangerous and unqualified, yet betting odds say they will be confirmed and put us further down the road to losing our democracy.

This leads me to where I started: Someone needs to step and display some courage. Is announcing in advance serious reservations, which might lead to others, too much to ask? At some point, we will have procrastinated for too long. Senator Moran, you could be that Patriot.

I’ve had many unbelievable breaks, just pure luck in my lifetime, but none has been more impactful than Jimmy Carter actually campaigning for President in Kansas.

My experiences with Jimmy Carter started very early in 1975. I was in my third term in the Kansas Legislature, still milking cows, and I was hearing more and more about this peanut farmer from Georgia thinking about running for president. Little did I know at that time how much impact he would have on my life and the many great opportunities that would flow from our first connection.

I was fortunate to be invited when then-Governor Carter of Georgia came to Topeka to meet with Democratic leaders and discuss his presidential campaign. For three hours, Jimmy shared his vision and answered questions. He was relaxed, open, and clear about what he wanted to do. At one point, he sat on the floor, without shoes, just talking to us as fellow Americans. But perhaps most exciting for us was that Kansas would be involved; we were part of his vision. This fact alone would leave a lasting influence on our state for the years and decades to come.

He came back to speak to the Kansas Democratic Party’s annual Washington Days gathering, and his son Chip returned later to campaign at an event in Pratt — all of this giving us more attention than we ever expected and motivating us to really work for him in the election of 1976. The result was huge Democratic turnout all across the state. And, while it didn’t carry Kansas’ electoral votes for Jimmy, it resulted in huge Democratic gains in the Legislature. The Kansas Senate ended up with 19 Democrats and, with a few more votes in the right places, could have ended in a majority. Meanwhile, in the Kansas House, Democrats went from 53 to 65, and I became the Speaker of the House.

Being Speaker, thanks to Jimmy, was the only reason I had any platform to run for governor. During the campaign, then-President Carter came to Wichita to help Dan Glickman and myself with a major fundraiser. Any review of that campaign would show the night in Wichita was the highlight of the campaign.

Carter was president during two of my eight years as governor. I was active in the National Governors Association and had the last two years of his term to connect with the White House, the president, and his key staff — almost all from Georgia. Looking back, I can see how more diversity and Washington experience around him might have served him better than the so-called “Georgia Mafia.” Despite this, he had a busy presidency that is just now getting some of the credit it deserved.

If I hadn’t been governor, again thanks to Jimmy, certainly President Bill Clinton would not have known me or had any interest in appointing me to be the eighth Archivist of the United States.

The National Archives administers the Presidential Library System, and work on the Carter Library brought me back to having a connection again with Jimmy Carter. Interestingly, getting his attention to deal with the library was one of the most difficult challenges I had as Archivist. I initially thought I would see the president on occasion of visiting the library, but I learned quickly that his priority and focus was always on the Carter Center and continuing its phenomenal work around the world. This meant he and Rosalynn would be in Africa or other places across the globe when I visited. That work became central to the way we think about the Carters’ impact today. I did get his attention and some help when his library director position came open, and I needed his input to appoint a successor. But, overall, this speaks to the character of Jimmy and Rosalynn; they were always serving, and it was always about the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Today, both the Carter Center and the Carter Library stand as lasting reminders of the life and legacy of a great public servant. From his service in the Navy to his countless philanthropic efforts, Jimmy Carter was a model citizen in so many ways. History will be very kind to Jimmy. I say that because already historians have moved him into the top third ranking of all Presidents, which I learned from reading Jon Alter's excellent book on Carter. Him being decades ahead on understanding climate change and what needed to be done is an excellent example.

His post-presidency shows what contributions former presidents can make, and it clearly outshines all others. His and Rosalynn’s work on elections around the world, on key health issues in Africa and elsewhere, on Habitat for Humanity here at home and all the work the Carter Center he established has done — and will continue to do in the future — puts him in a unique position in the lineup of all presidents.

For 38 years, he and Rosalynn traveled the world, monitoring elections and helping countries in Africa deal with severe health issues. He stayed engaged with current events, and the Carter Center he established will continue his work into the future.

Yes, I was very lucky to have had experiences with President Carter. I will always remember that my chance to serve as speaker, eight years as governor, and ten years as Archivist of the United States would not have happened if Jimmy Carter had flown over Kansas during his campaign for president.

If there's one thing I hope today's Democratic Party will take away from President Carter's legacy, it would be the need to show up everywhere, listen, find common ground, work for every vote, offer folks a clear choice — and a vision that has the voters and their futures at the center of it.

Jimmy Carter gave his full life to public service, to helping those most in need, and always setting an example any mother would be proud of. His many positive contributions will live on for decades to come, and I will certainly never forget or fail to appreciate the impact he had on my life.

Portions of this blog post originally ran in the Kansas Reflector, and you can read it here.

Regular followers of my blog will notice, it's been a while since my last post. While I have slowed down my regular writing over the past year, I am no less interested and invested in the future of our state and country. I care deeply about the world we are building for my grandchildren and yours, and that has been the main purpose behind this website since the start. Another focus has been doing my best to provide my own perspective in order to advance conversation about important issues.

My story is just one part of a larger Kansas story. And it would not be possible without the support and effort of many individuals over the decades. With that in mind, I am pleased to launch a new effort in partnership with the Kansas Oral History Project and the Kansas Historical Society. We want you to share your story—​and contribute to a larger conversation about civic leadership.

So, I invite you to share your memories of working with me as well as your own leadership story. Preserving the lessons of leadership includes conducting interviews as well as sharing and scanning photos and documents that will be archived at the Kansas State Historical Society.

Learn more about the project and join the conversation here.

Jay Price, Professor of History at Wichita State University, is coordinating this project and will be following up with you to learn more about your story. This is a chance to help preserve a dynamic and important part of Kansas history and U.S. history, and I encourage you to be part of this project.

As has been my goal from the start, I want this to be an exchange—​and I want to advance a dialogue that moves us forward. So, I hope you'll reach out and let us know how you'd like to be involved. We will use your feedback to shape the digital tools and spaces that you prefer—​and that will advance and facilitate this exchange most effectively.

Leave me a comment or fill out our contact form here:

Without a doubt the big plus from November 8th is, at least for now, we still have a Democracy and the outlook for keeping our respect for the law and that every vote count across the nation is still intact. The 2022 election results do not mean that we are not now at risk and that we have won the war. Rather, we took a positive step and the results put us, for the moment, in a much safer spot but the risk of a reversal continues. Trump is still around. Election deniers seem to be everywhere. And the new Congressional House Majority seems clearly committed to only focusing on every creative excuse to investigate their perceived political foes with no plan for addressing any of our challenging issues. The narrow U.S. Senate majority remains in power, which provides a bright spot for some priorities, including on judges. But a divided government and constant investigations will certainly stall progress on a wide range of other challenges, as we enter an even more contentious political environment that will take us all the way through to 2024. 

So, election 2022, how did it go? Well, it depends on your priorities. And the same is true for me when I look at the results in Kansas.

In Kansas, for me, celebrating with enthusiasm was much harder. Yes, we had a fantastic re-election of Sharice Davids in the 3rd Congressional District. Winning by 14% in a district the National Republicans targeted and now getting real national attention and exposure is a huge plus for Kansas. This also puts her in a place of real leadership potential and with this district boundary protected for ten years, in a position to have a much less targeted campaign in 2024.

Beyond Davids’ success, yes Governor Kelly won reelection, which is certainly good for the state, but there is little else to feel good about. Governor Kelly’s close win was against a lackluster candidate, who ran a campaign few objective viewers thought was that special. Then there was the third party candidate that certainly didn't help the challenger. But, then add to that losing the Attorney General position to Kobach, missing other opportunities including no gains in the Democratic House, and a missed opportunity with Patrick Schmidt for Congress, there are many Democrats who worked very hard and really wonder what happened. How could we, with so many great candidates, have so little success?

Well, to me and many others the answer is not too complicated. For some very hard to understand reason, the campaign for Governor forgot that the August 2nd dramatic win for NO on state legislative control on abortion was obviously important to a strong majority of Kansans. Instead of dramatically using the right-to-choice issue to rally more votes for Democratic candidates, the campaign totally ignored the political topic that was most important, particularly to new and hard-to-get-out voters. In addition, I think the struggle of the State Democratic Party to play a positive role did not help. Combine that with another pretty much failed Coordinated Campaign (ask the Mann and Rogers campaigns) and maybe we are lucky to have the limited success we have. No surprise then, with abysmally low turnout, that only the campaign with most of the money survived, and the other campaigns were largely overlooked, despite Kris Kobach being on the ballot in another key statewide race. This is an issue that will continue to cause problems for Democratic candidates. If success on only one part of the ballot is all we can expect, it will certainly be harder to get the kind of support and legislative partnership that is needed by the candidates who do win office—​especially when it comes time to get important things done. So, again, it depends on your priorities.

The strategy employed in Kansas was also in total contrast to other Democratic Candidates for Governor nationwide, who learned from our vote in August, emphasized abortion, and raced to key wins including legislative progress all across the country. We now have a Democratic Caucus in the Kansas House who can not protect a Governor Kelly veto, which allows the Republicans to pass whatever they want, including another shot on another constitutional vote on abortion. Add to that having Kris Kobach Attorney General, and I find looking back on November 8th painful. 
 
So what happens next? I suppose for most of us Thanksgiving and all the holidays, plus following our favorite sports teams, will take us into spring and a break from politics. Now that is fine and normal if we accept the results and will just try harder next time. But that does not get better results, especially if we operate the same way with a similar strategy. 

I do not have the answers, but I do know new ideas or solutions do not just simply come along. Thinking and planning for 2024, if not already started, must begin very soon and maybe looking at some new ways to operate might help too. Seems to me we owe the State of Kansas and our fellow citizens giving this effort a try.

When the issue of immigration comes up now, and has for some time, the focus primarily for too many of us—​and Republicans in particular—​has been on the Wall and keeping out all those who they view as “undesirables'' from countries in Central America. Blatant, self-serving politics has so poisoned the well for action that making change to immigration policy seems far off, maybe impossible. Republicans love their position of attacking the current policy but offer no interest in working toward resolution because the status quo is politically to their advantage. So is there any positive way forward?

For me to see the possibility of change, I think we need to add some practical and honest elements to the debate. And that’s what I’d like to get across with this blog post. We have to introduce new narratives to this issue, and frankly, as many narratives as it takes to make progress. For many, the brutal human cost of this problem is enough to motivate them toward action. But one angle that I think will resonate with those of practical mind on the Republican side is the real economic cost to not having a serious and realistic approach to immigration. At a time when we have serious labor shortages and soaring inflation, this country simply cannot afford to kick the immigration issue down the road any further.

Apart from Native Americans, everyone here is a descendant of immigrants. Immigrants have built this country from the start, and that must and should not stop. Whether one looks at who puts most if not all new roofs on our houses or the growing diversity of the medical community, it is just insane not to appreciate the value of immigrants. They are huge contributors to growing our economy. Just think about where Garden City and Dodge City would be economically today without immigrants.

There is a reason here in Kansas that the livestock industry and particularly the packing plants depend almost exclusively on immigrant labor. American citizens are not standing in line for such work. How do you think the crops we enjoy eating that require workers to hand pick are going to get harvested? Second generation Americans and beyond have or are moving up the ladder, seeking a better life for their family, thus requiring new immigrants who will take these essential jobs. If you enjoy the relatively low prices and the quality of life we have here in the United States, you should accept the fact that new people and cultures will be seeking to contribute and prosper from the economy and market that we have here—​the largest in the world. This is what keeps our country dynamic and our economy growing.

With the status quo on immigration reform continuing, along with our declining birth rates, the population labor force numbers will soon just not work. Look at all the “help wanted” signs and job opportunities just not being filled. For those of you who think or know of others that believe that this problem would go away if only the lazy people who feed off of social programs would work: That logic has two big flaws. Those numbers do not begin to satisfy our needs and, secondly, the vast majority of people who need assistance (such as the eldery and those with disabilities) would be, for the moment, of little value in the workforce as it exists today. Complicating this further is the accelerated retirement of the Baby Boomer generation that we are beginning to experience.

So how does such a divisive issue ever get addressed? I’ve always bought into the belief that major challenges often require a real publicly understood crisis. And that crisis point could be coming soon. A couple key issues and potential turning points to watch in the headlines will be the court fight over Title 42 and the growing responsibility to take in refugees, especially from conflicts the United States has engaged in throughout recent decades. Both are opportunities to demonstrate—​and reclaim—​the values of our nation. Asylum-seekers would bring more capacity to the workforce and contribute in diverse ways to our economy, including through innovation and expertise they’ve gained in their home countries.

Whether it is in weeks or months, or in the next few years, we simply and obviously will not have enough workers. This must and should give Washington the push to enact immigration reform. Because, in a real crisis, the pressure to do something gets so intense that doing nothing is not an option. There will be immediate demand for action. Hopefully, in the current insane Washington environment with most Republicans politically crazy, that pressure will make the difference.

All this points to the necessity for a modern, up-to-date immigration policy that truly serves the best interests of the American people. At the outset, this policy should clearly communicate that “opening the borders” is not the direction being advocated. Instead, it must be well funded, efficiently operated, deal effectively with legitimate border security, and could even set limitations on numbers based upon workforce needs that are justified and specific. All of that could and should garner bipartisan support. This would not just help our economy but maybe show that having folks in Washington who work together does have some merit. Now is the time to bring practical energy and momentum toward real solutions to this complex and immediate issue. Our country’s future depends on it.

Since writing my blog earlier this year on the challenges our form of government faces, not a day goes by without further crises emerging to make our future even more at risk. I wrote then about my concerns that too many Americans do not see this high risk, and those concerns have only heightened. In my post, I asked for thoughts from you all, which I would use to write this follow-up blog. On the day I published that, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. So, rightfully, many of the comments on the blog and Facebook post expressed concern over the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, which is certainly getting the attention of almost all Americans given the 24 hour news coverage. The timing of all this should cause us to ask: Do we understand the link to our own security risks and how our own democracy is really being tested?

Let's start with a theme that's at the core of both, whether we're talking about our domestic challenges or the situation in Ukraine: Disinformation. One thing that has been clear after one month of the conflict is that Putin has used an array of lies and falsehoods to justify his brutal invasion of a sovereign country. He's counting on people worldwide to believe this fake information. This isn't new at all for his regime, but perhaps what we didn't expect is that he would find allies within our own country—​and even in Congress—​to support his lies. 

We have folks right here at home who are accepting Putin's narratives, rather than supporting our republic, its interests, and its values. The real question is: Why? Unfortunately, Putin and Donald Trump seem to operate from the same playbook, and both are willing to use lies to assault free and fair elections and democratic institutions. This includes Trump's peddling of "the big lie" to drum up support for more restrictive voting laws and, of course, to justify a physical attack on our nation's capital.

Trump lies to serve his own interests, and Putin does it to undermine the western powers. Taken together, they constitute an all-out war on democracy. The real danger is, their most fervent supporters will believe anything that either of the two autocratic strongmen say—​without using their own critical thinking skills to verify or, especially in the case of Russia, simply not having access to correct information. But the stories and images of their suffering neighbors are sure to get through eventually, just like the horrific images of January 6th, 2021. The generation-defining question now is: Will those horrific images motivate folks to seek more facts, stand up for the truth, and take action where needed to push back against authoritarianism?

So far, here at home, we aren't making much headway. On the Select Committee investigating the Trump Administration and their involvement January 6th, we really know little more, as inquiries continue and Ukraine obviously dominates the news. Their work is important because they will document who did what, when that action was done, how those actions were coordinated, and who provided the leadership that brought about the tragic happenings at the U.S. Capitol Building that January 6th. With those facts, individuals at all levels can be held accountable and our system takes a very important step to survive. But how all this informs voters and their resulting actions at the polls in November will be what heavily influences the status of our democracy in the longer term.

The huge disappointment to date is no action at the national level on solid Voting Rights legislation. Democrats have gone almost silent on the topic and maybe given up. This inaction has been further elevated to crisis level because of all the continued state legislation that has passed. Many states now, including Kansas, have new laws being proposed to limit the time and ease of voting, making it their clear purpose of limiting some populations' access to help increase positive results for those pushing such change. The ultimate is the move of three states allowing the party that controls the legislature to declare fraud and change the results of the public vote. All this action could negate any hope of 2022 being a good year for our American democracy.

Then hearing the National Republican Party officially call January 6th, 2021 “civil discourse” blows my mind. I know some people would say in real terms my mind was blown decades ago, but this is unbelievable. Landon, Eisenhower, and Dole have to be turning in disgust in their graves. Given the National Republican Party has now for the last two Presidential elections chose to have no (zero) party platform positions, one has to assume this statement gives us at least some hint where they stand.

Democracy is clearly running amok when political parties work to change the Constitution to enhance their own political advantage, when blatant gerrymandering is tolerated and advanced by either party, and when access to voting is clearly designed to favor more positive results for those who had the political muscle to write the law.

What motivates me to speak out? My grandchildren and what their future might be like—​and also the real possibility of pissing away what the Greatest Generation sacrificed for and all those who followed in their footsteps (active-duty and veterans).  

Our Founders made clear to us all that we would have to fight to sustain democracy. The question now is: Will we step up? Will we the citizens wake up, accept the fact we have real risks to our democracy, and become more willing to take appropriate actions? 

What can we do? Take this seriously. Learn more, read, listen, be willing to speak up, share your concerns. Make it clear you are going to vote on saving our democracy and work to help candidates who understand how important this is. Support candidates that seriously back democracy and the rule of law—​and not just in words but in their deeds. All this, we should be able to agree upon. This is not deciding tax policy, immigration reform, or dealing with climate change. Supporting our democracy should be pretty easy if we understood the need.

I close with this thought: If the wonderful people of Ukraine, dying by the hundreds and risking everything, can continue on fighting to save their democracy, surely we can all take this challenge we have much more seriously and take our own actions.

This year will have much to do with whether or not our democracy and our form of government survive. I know many of you might be thinking as you read that sentence that the date must be April 1st. But the truth is that this year is still in its early stages, and the threat to our republic is as strong as ever and not slowing down. I would love to start the year focused on progress and all the huge potential there is for success, and I am not saying everything is doom and gloom. I am just saying that there are a few real problems that demand our attention and action, or there just might be real catastrophic consequences. In saving our democracy, the ball game is now here in 2022. In this blog, I highlight the very real threats to our democracy and next time, influenced by the comments you write here, will share what we can all do to help. 

We can not save our democracy permanently. There will always be challenges in a republic like ours. But for now we must avoid losing our system of checks and balances, and with proper actions we can get on that path. Key will be the work of the Select Committee on investigating January 6th, 2021 decisions by the Justice Department in dealing with individuals responsible for and participating in the Capitol assault, how effectively these actions are communicated to the American people, and, most importantly, how the 2022 elections go, which will heavily be influenced by whether election reform is passed into law. 

I always remember the old line about how timing can be everything, and the application of this saying certainly applies here. With the exception of the election date (i.e., General Election will be the first Tuesday of November) all the key issues I raise have a serious timing issue.

The talented House Select Committee investigating January 6th is clearly busy, working hard, and bipartisan as realistic, but if some hearings are not made public soon and if the results are not public until late summer, the Committee’s conclusions and recommendations will not effectively get the public support needed to positively impact the fall elections. If the report is released closer to the election, it only makes the report appear more partisan. Congresswoman Liz Cheney, Republican, has been unbelievably strong and effective, but the fact that Republican leadership despises her reduces her effectiveness to some degree in the end.

Understandably, given the seriousness of the legal issues involved, the United States Department of Justice is heavily responsible. Because I am not a lawyer, I will make no comment on any specifics. What I will say is once again timing will play a serious role (Oath Keepers prosecution and Supreme Court action is a start). I say that because, as with the Select Committee, the closer to the election the Justice Department’s work becomes public, the more those actions look political. I know they must “dot their i’s and cross their t’s,” but they have the resources to make the maximum effort. And they need to start making real decisions soon.

Maybe in the end the biggest and most important challenge will be whether election reform is passed in the United States Congress and soon. Allowing some states, with their one-party political stronghold on their legislatures and Governors, to do any crazy thing that will keep that party in power simply does not fit a democracy. States are effectively disenfranchising some voters, making voting for certain populations more difficult, and—​clearly the most absurd—​giving the legislature the power to overturn the election if they do not like the results.  

If the timing is not right on these issues, the end result of the 2022 elections will much more likely be having the Majorities in both Houses controlled by members loyal to Donald Trump, who if not in total agreement are certainly scared to say the truth. That result will give Trump what he wants. That is, the power as an autocrat to run the government if not from day one, certainly with this momentum after the 2024 elections. If this happens, ultimately, losing our democracy will be a very real possibility.  

Bottom line is this: Come November, if the radical Trump Republicans take over the Congress, we will have taken a major step in destroying our democracy. I am sure there are many Republicans in Congress who do not want this to happen, but to this point they have not shown the guts to stand up to Trump’s obvious total disrespect for the rule of law and our Constitution.

So that is where we are, and the stakes could not be higher. I do really wish I was just seeing problems where they did not exist, but something tells me—​on this—​I am right. Let me know what you think.

As we continue this season of reflection and gratitude, my thoughts go out to the countless Americans who have sacrificed in service to our country, our Constitution, and our way of life. The task of preserving our democracy continues to take on new forms in our challenging times, and today, I am grateful for all those who will rise to the challenges, respond in new ways, and ensure that our nation's ideals persevere and continue to provide hope and opportunity to a new generation.

Thanksgiving week brought Lynn and I to Washington D.C. and a great time with our three grandchildren and extended families. One of the real highlights was the trip to Arlington National Cemetery with my daughter Lisa’s husband Seemesh Anandan, who took the photo below on our visit that day. Seemesh was born in India and is now a global executive with a major pharmaceutical company. The weather was perfect and, arriving early ahead of the crowds, we had a fantastic experience.

This was a solemn, peaceful, and reflective time. Being there, one could not help but think about all the men and women who have served this nation in the military, many giving their lives in defense of our democracy and the rule of law. Men and women of all colors, creeds, and backgrounds responded to the call to serve at times of crisis, and they did so for the benefit of us all as well as generations that would follow.

One of the highlights for us and for many visitors to the cemetery was the gravesite of former President John F. Kennedy and the eternal flame. Memorialized in stone are six quotes from his Inaugural Address on January 20th, 1961. I selected this one to represent my thoughts and concerns on that special day.

In the long history of the world
only a few generations have been granted
the role of defending freedom
in its hour of maximum danger.
I do not shrink from this responsibility.
I welcome it.

The question for us is will our generations rise to the occasion, defending our democracy, our freedom, and the rule of law? For starters, do we even understand that this is really what is at stake today and not down the road for others to respond? If not, what would have to happen to not just get your attention but move you to action, to understand what is happening, and to be a part of the solutions that must be achieved?

Why has January 6th not been a huge wakeup call to all Americans? That in no way was a celebration of our democracy. Yes, there are flaws in our system. That has always been the case, but in previous times, the bulk of our focus was on positive changes that needed to be made, not on ways to blow up our system.

But that is not true today, and there are reasons why. Fake news is far too dominant and has a significant influence on folks that have little time to connect with what is going on. Fox News, not alone, makes little or no effort to tell the truth but instead are clearly aiding and abetting the enemies of democracy. This is especially true as it relates to their long campaign to downplay the significance of an attempted insurrection against our government.

As the U.S. Select Committee to investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol are revealing, viewing this as just a rally that spontaneously got out of control does not hold water. Thanks to Congresswoman Llz Cheney, this bipartisan effort I believe will lay out the facts of who was responsible for planning and funding that tragic day—​and might be a significant step towards getting our democracy back on track. But if Americans don’t in large numbers see the Select Committee’s work as factual and helpful, then what?

Do we teach so little world history that we no longer really understand what happens when tyranny prevails? Most folks I fear have little or no understanding of how our system of government works and should function to serve the best interests of all our people. So today, we need heroes—​not just one, but millions—​rising to the challenge in new ways to make our system work. And to prove it still holds promise for a brighter, more just, more peaceful, more prosperous world.

I close with this quote on another stone at the Kennedy gravesite.

Now the trumpet summons us again
not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need
not as a call to battle, though embattled we are
but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle
a struggle against the common enemies of man
tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

The challenge for us is here and now. If and how we respond will determine our future.

Senator Bob Dole’s passing is an opportunity to reflect on his life of public service and forty years of many experiences we shared. Although I was aware and certainly followed his public service career, it was not until my second term as Governor that we established the value of really working together. Following my reelection in 1982, I made my decision public that I would not challenge Senator Dole for his reelection in 1986 to reduce politics in our working together as well as with Republican leadership in the legislature.

My first real connection with Dole was somewhat by accident and was not in person. When the community of Smolan finally switched from the old ring down pre dial system of telephone communication in 1976 (only three left after us in the entire country), I was asked as the local state legislator to take the first call. Local leaders had arranged for Senator Dole to make that call, and I have always wondered, when the decision was made, if his staff knew a Democrat would answer.

Probably what stood out most for me about Senator Dole was his commitment to not let partisanship get in the way of serving the people. I will always remember his comment many years ago, following a fall election that “now we have eighteen months to do the people’s business and then six months for election campaigning,” and he meant it and it was true. Today, campaigning for the next election starts the very next day, if not earlier.
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One of his major legislative achievements and one I have used many times in class, was his working with very liberal Senator George McGovern to pass the Food Stamp program. It was a time when you looked for win-win compromises. Then McGovern got his food help for the poor and Dole got more demand for agricultural products, something that had to be put together to get the votes to pass.

On reflection, Dole was a model Senate Leader, particularly compared to Mitch McConnell. I can not believe Majority Leader Bob Dole would have done what McConnell did to stop President Obama from making a Supreme Court appointment or would have said publicly that he would do everything in his power to make Obama a one term President. He would not have refused to send over 400 bills to Senate Committees, sent over from the Pelosi House, even though many had strong public support and a few were very similar to bills introduced earlier by Republicans. That would not have been Senator Dole.
  
I went to Abilene when he was on his final tour of all 105 Kansas counties and had a really good visit (pictured below). The event took place at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, which of course bears significance as it relates to Senator Dole’s military service, and it’s also a facility I had the privilege to work with as Archivist of the United States—​a position I was honored to hold, after being nominated by President Clinton and introduced to the U.S. Senate by Senator Dole.

The event at the Eisenhower Library was an opportunity to thank Senator Dole for his service in general, but also to thank him for all the hard work and successful leadership he had put into funding the WWII Memorial and more recently the Eisenhower Memorial, both important additions for public visitors to the Mall. But his respect for his fellow WWII Veterans by showing up at the WWII Memorial to greet fellow WWII veterans being flown in from all over the country to see that memorial may, in some way, to me, highlight and sum up his life of public service best. He was an extraordinary and committed servant to this nation, and we are in desperate need of more like him today.

Regardless how your local elections for school board went, there are serious take away lessons that far too many supporters of public education do not understand yet. On top of these lessons, for almost all of us, tragically this was our first experience with partisan politics in our local school board member elections. In most cases the local Republican Party with direction from the National Party made their choice candidates clear from the very start, pushing the Democrats to basically match that move in many cases.

For starters, the crazy and scary experiences that school boards have faced this year (for example, the police were called to one meeting in Manhattan when things got heated among attendees) all the way through the election season, have happened all across the country and they are not just going to go away. That is guaranteed because the current National Republican Party sees these so-called cultural issues, including masks and critical race theory (which is not taught in public K-12 schools) at the local level, in particular, as their bread and butter for future election success. The Republican Party in my opinion focuses on culture wars to cover the fact they have no real platform for leading positive change.

Leaders in public education need to understand that many potential supporters are not on board yet because they fail to connect the dots. The problem starts with folks not even thinking about off-year elections until scrambling at the end to decide who they should vote for and too often many just don’t finish the effort by casting their vote. This is despite local elections having a more direct impact than state or national elections on the issues citizens face every day. 

Not understood and not used is that more and more businesses want to locate and expand in communities where the quality of public education is high. Why? Because the bulk of their employees as well as ones they are recruiting, especially those that have or will have kids, want quality public education. This would apply as well in any community with a public school of higher education and to some degree even with private. 

Because anti-public education issues have gained traction, politically speaking, finding the right message, the right words, to respond successfully is essential. Not taking this specific challenge seriously as we look to the future only guarantees greater problems and a deteriorating environment for what most of us want. Framing the message correctly, that is avoiding “Defund the Police” mistakes, will make all the difference in the world.

Our public schools exist to make sure every single student gets a fair chance to succeed. But behind much of the anti-public school effort, especially from the Republican Party, is their opportunity, as they see it, to promote private education. Now they are not really thinking about private education replacing or taking over. They want more "quality" (as they define) kids with resources, pushed by their parents, drifting to private schools, expanding their numbers, lowering the cost per student, and at the same time very likely continuing their lack of state support for public education. While those already at the top may succeed in such a system, we would be failing the vast majority of the next generation.

So, what needs to be done? To begin with, we need supporters, official and unofficial, of public education to understand the dilemma we are in and appreciate that we must start right now working on a plan to restore strong support for the education of our children and their futures in Kansas. There will be positive lessons learned from other communities around the country that limited and discouraged such negative action, which could help. But in the end motivating leaders at all levels to step up, join hands, and respond to this challenge will be what has to happen. It will take good people speaking out, organizing, and getting involved in new ways.

We must, because this was no one shot deal. Using cultural wars to meet objectives is here and not leaving because, for now, the concept is working.

I close with a quote from Clay Wirestone in an opinion piece in the November 4th issue of Kansas Reflector. “If you want to know what is coming, read the memo from the 1776 Project PAC. In short, every single debunked bit of irrational absurdity we’ve heard over the last few months in Kansas and nationwide, will be repeated ad nauseum.”

As we move from fall to winter and Biden’s approval polls slide, a little sanity and practical facts need to be inserted into the dialogue about how our President is really doing. I am amazed at Washington veterans in the press corps who just accept and report on the poll numbers without adding some context. Obviously, there are real problems for not just the President but the Democrats in Congress as the 2022 midterm election approaches. 

Now, I’m not here to argue that a 35 to 40% approval rating is no problem. What I want to do is put these numbers into some perspective, taking into account some challenges that few, if any, Presidents had to face in their first year in office.

For starters, no incoming President until Biden has had such a crazy transition from Election Day to Inauguration Day. Because then-President Trump fought the results of the election all the way to January 20th (and still considers the results false), his administration offered no help given they believed they were still in office. Not getting the traditional assistance during the transition certainly hampered the early days of the administration.

Keep in mind Biden inherited probably the worst mess of any incoming President in history. For example, the pandemic that was under Trump’s management for the first year was mishandled in so many ways. Yes, Trump pushed for warp speed action on getting vaccines, but more than off-setting this effort was his instilling in his supporters that the virus was not that big of a problem. Then after acknowledging the negative impact of the pandemic, Trump proceeded to tell his supporters that taking the vaccine was not smart. All the while, Trump was activating his army of supporters in opposition to just about everything the government was pushing to help address COVID-19 challenges. 

Here is another example. Biden inherited a civil service team that had been brutally treated. President Trump had no respect for professional public servants. At every opportunity, he placed inexperienced political hacks into positions where there had been career professionals who often had worked under several administrations. In addition, there were voluntary exits from civil servants who could not tolerate an environment so counterproductive to serving the best interests of the nation.

Also getting key positions filled that require Senate confirmation slowed things down. The Republicans in the Senate took almost every opportunity to stretch out the process for weeks and in some cases months. In the first fifteen days they had only confirmed five of Biden’s fifteen Cabinet selections. For comparison, the Senate had confirmed 90% of the Cabinet secretaries for Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama combined during a similar transition time frame. The bottom line is that Biden is still filling some key leadership positions including ones that Trump never saw fit to fill because he really didn’t want the government to work efficiently.

Biden has received little or no help from Republicans across the board, even on issues they really want Congress to deliver for the American people. I have no doubt that many of the Republicans who will be voting ‘no’ on all Biden’s major proposals including infrastructure will find ways to take some credit back in their states and districts even if these proposals are successfully passed by only the Democrats. As well, in time, when key projects on climate change get done and public support grows, these Republicans’ message will be that progress could not have happened without their support.

Observers of Biden’s first nine months often compare his results with that of previous administrations. The logical focus is with Lyndon B Johnson who also pushed major initiatives and with great success. Pundits often ignore the fact Johnson had strong Democratic majorities in both Houses. Biden has little or no margin for error, and the Democrats are struggling to find consensus on almost everything.

Yes, Biden has made mistakes. All Presidents do. But given the hurdles he has had to overcome, drawing conclusions this early in his term of office does not fairly represent where things really are. The keys for more success going forward are how much has been learned so far and how much getting the full team on board will make a difference.

In the end, Presidential polls are interesting and for the moment give a sense of where things appear to be, but to project conclusions for months and years down the road makes no sense. Things do change, and that includes for the better.

Tuesday, November 2nd, is election day in Kansas. This is the last day to vote and express your support for the candidates you want on your local City Commissions and School Boards. But between now and then there are other key dates to remember, such as the last day to register to vote on October 12th and the last day to register for an Advanced Ballot by mail on October 26th. Early voting starts by mail October 13th and in some counties in person voting can be done at your County Courthouse. Voter participation, or lack thereof, will significantly shape the future of the community in which you live.

Why is this so important and maybe more important than ever before? Because we have gone through and continue to experience major change that demands more attention. Businesses and people are more mobile than ever. Quality health care will be even more important coming out of a pandemic. Competitive public schools are often a key factor in family and business location decisions. The younger generation sees things much differently and are much more likely to see their future somewhere else. That future comes down to retention and attraction of residents and explains why in this competitive world, electing the best candidates to local leadership positions is so essential.

Now, if by chance you do not give a crap who makes decisions for your local population, that is your choice but don’t yell and scream when your community suffers from leadership that has failed in key areas, leaving you with higher taxes and lesser results. There is a direct connection between electing real leaders that are engaged in the community and having a community that can compete in these challenging times. 

These upcoming elections are officially non-political but very unfortunately in practice are already becoming more partisan. Why do I think getting political parties openly engaged is bad? In my opinion, the importance of electing quality candidates who will serve the community well is far more important than political parties pressing for their preferences to be elected on political party biases. Voters tend to see the political fight and miss the candidates' positions and real qualifications for local leadership. In the end, political parties get their successes at the expense of what the community really needs. 

Just think… If President Biden’s Build Back Better plan gets adopted and the potential infrastructure investments become available, there will be huge opportunities for communities that have quality leadership to take full advantage. November 2nd results will significantly play a direct role in how your community responds to the many challenges we face. Please do your part in helping make that future what your community needs to compete in these fast changing times.

The line about strategically sticking with the same old game plan and expecting better results, for me, fits with where we are as Democrats in Kansas as we look to 2022 and beyond. Because we play Pro-Choice against Pro-Life, this allows the Republican Party to use abortion very successfully as a wedge issue. This must stop or at the least we must reduce their success significantly. Because when we leave the issue of abortion to be the battle in a very conservative state and, particularly in the more conservative areas of the state, we can’t even recruit candidates.

Today going forward, I believe we must clarify and expand what life issues should be under the banner of Pro-Life. We must present life in a much broader context. In contrast to most Republicans whose focus is all about the fetus, where Democrats share concern is our belief that the health of the expectant mother is also a life issue. As important life issues go forward through birth, early childcare, and all the way through aging issues as well, the support for key programs leans heavily on Democrats. Take funding of expanded Medicaid as an example where the fight for positive action is overwhelmingly led by Democrats. 

Think of all the programs that are key to quality life that we Democrats support, which really make a difference directly for the family involved but also for the larger society as well. Sex education for young adults, prenatal care for expecting mothers (e.g., regular doctor check-ins, vitamins), the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program that provides healthy food and immunizations are just a few examples that make real differences in the lives of Kansans.

Our country’s record on infant mortality (2019 stats show 47 countries or territories with better infant mortality rates than the USA) is embarrassing and needs to be addressed by Republicans and should demand more attention from Democrats. Additionally, there are endless studies that show how important the first three years are in the development of the child’s brain, much of which cannot be corrected in later life. Preschool, quality child care, education in general, and all the challenges that we all face as we grow older, it is we Democrats (although we used to have a lot of Republican friends who were likewise concerned) who are primarily supportive or at least open to more wisely investing in life. And for what it is worth, investing early and wisely will bring dramatic returns over time, including better education results, a healthier society, and a population less dependent on government services.

In addition, we must change how we deal with the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice issue within our own Party. I don’t suggest we should oppose Pro-Choice policies or candidates. I am Pro-Choice and will remain, but politically, we must move towards a bigger tent that includes within our Party folks who are what I call “sane Pro-Life.” Our current Democratic Legislators who are Pro-Life vote consistently against the crazy, unconstitutional Republican ideas as well as support all the other truly Pro-Life programs. Also just a reminder, without a significant number of high quality Pro-Life Democratic Legislators, neither myself or Marvin Barkis would have been Speaker of the Kansas House. With their support, we were able to utilize our elected positions to bring about more positive action for Democratic issues. Bottom line, we should not paint all Pro-Life supporters with one brush.

Texas is currently leading the way in terms of passing extreme restrictions that the majority of Americans see as unacceptable and go too far. And, if we're not smart, compassionate, and strategic, Kansas is at risk for joining the sad momentum against a woman's right to make her own health care decisions.

Not to mention, we're in the midst of a pandemic that has further revealed—and, in fact, amplified—the level of hypocrisy present among the so-called "Pro-Life" party.

The truly Pro-Life position would be to respect and respond to an urgent public health threat through responsible actions that keep more people in our communities alive, which you might think would be an obvious for someone with a staunchly "Pro-Life" position. Instead, folks on that side of the argument seem to be all for freedom of choice, unless you happen to be a woman. People can see through these hypocrisies, and this creates space for Democrats to recognize the nuance of the issue and carve out a principled position that voters can understand and trust. 

In the end, when Democrats focus on abortion with in-your-face tactics to defend the right of choice, we lose support for all the other key life issues because we can’t elect enough Democrats. Look at where we are in the current Kansas Legislature. We can’t even protect a Governor Kelly veto without Republican support, which we seldom get. With this broader definition of Pro-Life, we would be in a position of electing Democratic Legislators outside the current seven counties where our two caucuses reside today. 

Bottom line, many Republican elected officials are Pro-Life primarily for votes and campaign money. They are almost like “bye, bye fetus, you’re on your own.” We Democrats are clearly the Party that is by far most concerned about life issues. Why not just go public and be the Real Pro-Life Party in Kansas?

In today’s fake news environment, where getting any clarity and agreement on the actual documented facts surrounding any news story is often impossible, the fact that we have American citizens all over the place on the core facts of almost any story should be no surprise. As long as we have news outlets with very limited commitment to the truth, we will continue fighting without the results that are needed for the best interests of our nation, all the way down to local government.

Conflicting news stories is not novel and probably one can make the case that there have always been news outlets with some limited focus on the truth. Having said that, the current problem with fake news is off the charts and is seriously compounding the challenges of dealing responsibly with the major issues we face. With all the doubt of information shared in the public to build support, progress on issues like the economy, climate change, and a broad-based infrastructure plan may not move forward.

So why is very questionable reporting and disinformation off the charts? Why is fake news now so dominant in the daily news cycle and the impacts so dramatical? The answer is quite obvious. Former President Trump, in the last five or so years, has put his stamp of approval on the use of false information, twisted conclusions, and downright acceptance of lies as part of today’s dialogue. To add insult to injury, he has successfully used his showman skills to attract a following that enthusiastically buys into the lies and false messages, making him a political force despite not holding an elected position. 

Because of Trump’s style, much of the Republican Party, particularly office holders, toe the line and salute the outrageous actions primarily to get re-elected. These politicians count on the Fox-like news outlets for getting their message out to the voters who they need to win. This partnership is certainly financially positive for both Trump and Republican candidates, and with money being so important in today’s politics, we should not be surprised that truth tends to be the forgotten player. 

But it is not just Fox and Newsmax folks that are at fault here. The more liberal outlets could help if they could find a way to separate the news from their positions and beliefs that would fit better as editorials. The way it is now with news and opinions meshed together, I understand why folks with more conservative views turn off MSNBC and CNN, seeing these news outlets as guilty as anyone and, naturally, staying loyal to the conservative version of the daily news. 

Clearly, Public Radio and Television do the best job at providing objective information as they present the facts as clearly as possible. Proof of their objectivity is the year-after-year effort by Republicans to shut these news outlets down and take away any government support for the truth being presented. Volunteer contributions are the lifeblood of public-funded news, and thanks to all who do support their efforts.

Major newspaper outlets like the Washington Post and the New York Times do a much better job of separating the sharing of the news in a factual way from how they personally feel about the direction of whatever policy issue is at hand. I find the Wall Street Journal to directly share the facts on the news side of the paper and, yes, on the editorial pages they clearly represent their very conservative views of how things should unfold. But too few people today read newspapers in depth or possibly at all, and many people are fine getting their ‘facts’ from anonymous sources like QAnon.

So where does that leave us? How does this clearly wrong set of actions continue to prevail? What can be done? It isn't really complicated. Winning elections would really help. Complaining alone will not get it done. As long as lies have huge political impacts for some elected officials, the lies will continue. We who prefer the side of truth to win out need to adopt the Stacy Abrams philosophy of an intensive ground game, starting early and often on mobilizing voters—​which actually works, as demonstrated in Georgia—​and get to work. 

To put this in historical context, I share this message from Ulysses S. Grant, key General in the Civil War and later President of the United States. “If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon, but between patriotism and intelligence on one side, and superstitions, ambition, and ignorance on the other.”

It's been just over six months since January 6th—and just days after we celebrated our nation’s Independence Day—and the anti-democracy movement in this country continues to grow.

With Republican Governors and State Legislators doing everything possible to limit Democrats from voting, and the Democratic Majority in Washington to this point unable to take steps to at least reduce if not eliminate such action, keeping our democracy is up in the air. How can we in any way assume that this democracy we have is secure and not vulnerable to the actions taking place? If we allow January 6th to be forgotten, consider it no big deal, and on top of that fail to stop the voter suppression so blatantly taking place in states all across the country, the core fundamentals of a democracy are lost and will not simply return.

January 6th, 2021 was not just another day of citizens visiting their Capital and seeing their democracy in action as some politicians are trying to peddle. That day saw American citizens storm the Capital, aroused by Impeached President Trump, to very clearly try to reverse the outcome of the November election. This was done despite all the court denials of any fraud, including from Trump-appointed Judges and the certified results from Republican Secretaries of State declaring President Biden as the rightful winner. If the storming of the Capitol and reversing the presidential results had been successful, the United States would no longer be a democracy.

Minority Senate Leader McConnell is without a doubt the most un-American Congressional leader this country has ever had. I wonder how much things could be different with someone else leading the Republican Caucus. He bluntly and publicly states he wants to do everything possible to keep the Biden Administration from getting anything done, and with the archaic Senate rules, he is well on his way to success with our Senator Roger Marshall right at his side. I want to make it clear there are a few sane Republican members of Congress who publicly state more responsible positions and vote accordingly. There are just not enough of them.

The continuing and crazy hold that Trump still has on so many elected officials is hard to believe but very real. Take our own Republican Congressional delegation. Following Trump’s lead not a word of concern from them in denying January 6th any real bipartisan investigation as if it was not really a big deal.

Topping off all of this, which should horrify any and all Americans, is the action taken in Georgia and Arizona (and spreading to other states, including here in Kansas) that just in case all their voter suppression actions do not deliver the results they want, a new law will allow the Republican controlled legislature to overrule the certified count. Now that is way beyond the pale and one does not have to have any legal training to know that is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and would certify we no longer have a democracy.  
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So how does all of this get stopped and turned around? There are bills introduced by Democrats in Congress that would generally reverse much of this craziness, but getting such legislation passed will not be easy. Given the close partisan makeup of Congress, the very few, if any, Republicans that would help, and the crazy rules of the Senate, success can be achieved but not without strong leadership, all hands on deck, and President Biden’s ties helping in the Senate. 

Maybe most important will be whether the American people wake up to the potential loss of their democracy and make clear such action will be a voting issue come election time. This is not just another partisan fight like we’ve been through many times before. This is the ball game, the whole enchilada, and there will be no second act. Wake up Americans, and together we just might keep our democracy.

My last couple blog posts have centered around infrastructure. It’s an issue I had the privilege to work on and support during my years in public service, and it’s something I feel just as strongly about today—​as one of the most important things we can do to set our future generations up for success.

What needs to be made clear now is that infrastructure goes far beyond roads and bridges. Throughout the course of our history, that definition has changed—​and should continue to change—​over time as our needs evolve. In the late 1800's, the transcontinental railroad connected the country, and it laid the foundation for rail infrastructure development that continues to move people and goods efficiently from coast to coast. In the 1930’s, rural electrification was an infrastructure investment that provided an important utility, improved quality of life, and opened the door for more development in all areas of the country. In the 1950’s, infrastructure meant the Interstate Highway System—​which supported transcontinental travel and commerce. Today, infrastructure must include broadband, housing, elder care and, yes, childcare. Investments that promote more engagement in the economy—​​and support the workforce that makes things happen—​should be what meets the definition of modern infrastructure, needed for growth today and into the future.

I understand why the Republicans are taking the position that President Biden has a lot of “non-traditional” infrastructure in his plan before Congress. Given how, recently, Republicans often live in the past, taking that position should not be a big surprise. They frequently don’t see the big picture, connect the dots, and combined with their typical response of opposing any and all Democratic proposals, we should not in any way be surprised.

I expect there are Democrats who are a little puzzled about the Republicans' resistance given the last major Infrastructure plan was with President Eisenhower and the Interstate Highway Program back in the 1950’s. That effort was focused almost exclusively on much of the concrete we drive on today—​and for the cross-country connections made and the positive impact on the economy.

What makes today so different is all the changes that have happened in the last sixty years to make today very challenging and the demand for new approaches very real. Today, broadband (for which there is some Republican support) has to be part of any infrastructure package because fully connecting the country takes much more than just roads and airports. Combined with our climate change challenges, dealing with the advancement of electric cars, and in concentrated urban areas much more efficient rail transportation, shouldn’t we be pleased that Biden rightfully looks at infrastructure needs more broadly?

Look at all the countries that in one area or another have caught up with us on infrastructure just in the last 30 years. China obviously leads the pack. But to put that in perspective, if you go back to the 1980’s when our Interstate Highway System was complete, on my 1982 visit to Henan Province, we rode on several dirt and sand roads that connected population centers. In fact, support and partnership on infrastructure from the Kansas Department of Transportation was included as an original component of our Sister-State relationship with Henan Province, which was established during our visits in the 1980’s. Now, contrast that with today, where China has surpassed us with very modern transportation systems that include high speed rail and airports that put ours to shame.

But much of the real investment Biden wants to make is in families as part of this program, which is much more than just raising some folks out of poverty and paying a fair wage. He knows that our current education system needs an upgrade to provide a quality workforce with the skills needed for us to compete in a fast changing world. He also knows that the availability of high quality childcare will be a must for many families to participate in the workforce of tomorrow.  

Fortunately, there are communities stepping up to take some action on their own. I call your attention to what Lindsborg, Kansas is doing. They knew in many ways that they had a very attractive community with much of the extras that make the quality of life high. But they learned from their research the problem holding them back from growth was the lack of quality child care. Located between McPherson and Salina they knew the jobs existed but the families who were looking to locate in Lindsborg wanted the quality childcare that currently was not there. More detail can be found in an article “Nurturing Prosperity” in The Journal, published by the Kansas Leadership Center in Winter 2021. It provides a great example of how a community can step up to help meet needs, improve quality of life, and enable more growth.

Maybe what surprises me the most, not really, is much of the corporate community and particularly the wealthy who don't want to help pay for Biden’s plan, when in the end they will be the ones who likely benefit the most. Remember, they got the big Trump tax cut and now with Biden’s plan, yes, they will pay more but not fully back to the level prior to the cut. Adding salt to the wound, the previous administration cut the Internal Revenue Service budget so much that they do not have the staff to collect all the taxes that are due. Now combine that with some of the most wealthy, including corporations, who currently pay no taxes. Chew on that for a while.

Biden’s package for building back better is non-traditional but reflects his understanding of the changes and the challenges we face—​and what we must do to have the future we want for coming generations. Hopefully, those who are savvy, investment-wise Republicans can send a message to their elected Republicans that infrastructure is not partisan and that the time is now to do what is smart, period.

I know talking about the good old days comes across often as just talk. But there are clearly documented examples that we need to remember before we just assume that the often stupidity of our current times becomes totally acceptable. For example, I am old enough to clearly remember the late 50’s when Republican President Eisenhower, working with Democrats LBJ and Speaker Sam Rayburn, created the Interstate Highway System—​the last, yes the last, major infrastructure package. Now, today, the Biden Administration has a bold, modern package on the table that takes major first steps to get us on the path to a well-structured future. 

President Biden has had Senators from both Parties over to the White House to try to find common ground on his infrastructure package. There have been positive Republican comments about the effort, but clearly they want a much smaller investment and one focused on concrete and asphalt, that ignores how far behind we are. This old thinking is out of touch with modern needs. There is Republican support for broadband expansion, something desperately needed, but only as part of a much much smaller package. Then there is Senate Minority Leader McConnell, who in the end will likely want no Republican support for any package that the President wants.

Trying to put this in context with history, I share three historical examples, leaving you to see where we might be tomorrow without major investments being made now. If President Eisenhower had thought like Republicans of today, his highway infrastructure package might have been the creation of passing lanes, fixing potholes and, of course, no interstate highways. If President Truman had not successfully sold the Marshall Plan, playing a major role in rebuilding Europe following WWll, how much bigger and more powerful would Russia be today? And if President Kennedy had not pushed the space program, think of all the technology advances we would have at least delayed for decades.  

I am obviously not suggesting that the minority Republicans in the Senate should just accept the fact they are the minority caucus, admittedly by a thread, and roll over waiting for their return to the majority. What I am suggesting is that they consider voting somewhat along the line of what Republicans back home want. National polls now show strong support from Republicans for Biden’s Infrastructure plan to help the economy and build it back better. There are 50 Republican Senators and, at the moment, not one supports the package-all because of McConnell, their crazy tie to Trump, and their loyalty to the richest Americans. 

I know from my own experience how important bipartisan support is for leading significant change as well as creating new directions that benefit the state’s overall interests and serve individual and family needs. Success for Kansas came in the 80’s from having both Democratic and Republican support for proper funding of public education, approving a major state infrastructure package, reforming the state banking system, creating a state water plan, implementing the first state effort on business development and job creation with a new Department of Economic Development (now called Commerce), and giving the citizens the opportunity to vote on several key constitutional changes that passed overwhelmingly.

So how did we lose our willingness to put the state and country first? I suppose when wedge issues became such a key to Republican strategy things changed. Abortion, gun control, and immigration today tend to dictate Republican strategy, not because they should lead the agenda, but because they divide people and lead to Republican political success. 

As a wild example of how far Republicans in Kansas have changed, when the Equal Rights Amendment was sent to the states for approval in the early 70’s, I was there in the legislature. Kansas was a very early adopter and approved the amendment—yes, led by Republican leadership. That simply would not happen today.

So what needs to happen to have hope for common sense to return and take the first significant steps towards addressing the challenges we face? My only thought that makes any sense and could possibly happen is for Biden’s package to get passed by whatever means possible, that the public reaction is quite positive, that the Democrats hold both Houses in the 2022 election, and Biden is reelected in 2024. That might get the attention of Republican leaders. For, as long as wedge issues prevail for the Republicans, I see little chance in the near future of any real progress being made on climate change, infrastructure, and the other endless challenges we face. I know this reads partisan but, for me, without Biden succeeding, these key changes and investments will not be made, and the price we pay will set us back dramatically for decades.

Given that the last major national infrastructure package was the Interstate Highway System under President Eisenhower, partnering with Speaker Sam Rayburn and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, both Democrats, one would think that President Biden’s infrastructure package just might be needed. These are needs that, if not addressed, will have huge negative consequences and particularly for states like Kansas, which do not have the resources to go it alone.

When it comes to maintaining infrastructure, we know there are higher costs down the road when we are not regularly reinvesting, and as a nation, we are falling behind on basic transportation needs as well as the important infrastructure of the future, like Broadband. This means the total price tag of such a bill will be high, but that is largely because it is clearly past time for national infrastructure investment.

The Republican-led Kansas Legislature has done some good on infrastructure, but there has been no help in Washington from the Republican members of our delegation.

Republicans in the Kansas Legislature have generally been positive about the Kelly Administration's efforts in Economic Development, and this includes another ten-year infrastructure program, the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Plan. Of particular significance is the investment for Broadband, which is built into that plan for highways and bridges. No question, that is positive for many of our rural areas and small towns that are today without Broadband. But to really deliver on our total demands for Broadband, we need what President Biden is proposing in his infrastructure plan, and our Republican Congressional delegation needs to find ways to help.

Given the recent investments the state has made on Broadband, it's clear that from the state-level, Kansas is ready to put these dollars to work right now, in order to improve internet access statewide.

The value of expanding access to Broadband cannot be overemphasized for the best interest of Kansas collectively but most seriously for those areas not now served. Quality of public education, particularly in sparsely populated areas, can really be enhanced. Likewise, in delivering needed health care, Broadband would make a real difference. But maybe most important is the value Broadband will be to existing businesses and attracting startups that are likely non-starters without it.

We should not let our Republican delegation in Washington get away with hiding behind any concern about raising taxes or, God forbid, raising the national debt given their record on both issues in recent years. Their lack of consistency is off the charts. They had no problem borrowing a couple trillion for Trump’s pandemic package not that long after cutting the taxes of the richest individual taxpayers as well as corporations that often find ways to pay nothing and will further benefit financially from implementation of the Biden Infrastructure plan. But, despite all this, Republicans have already vowed not to cast a single supportive vote to address our clear infrastructure needs.

So why is this contrast with Republicans between D.C. and Kansas so hard to understand? I have given it some thought, and I am down to just one possibility. Maybe the explanation is tied to the actual measurable distance between the constituents and those representing them. D.C. is so far off that the real needs of the people do not rise to the top of priorities like they do in Topeka. I feel confident that most rural Kansas Legislators have constituents raising Broadband deficiencies as a critical priority.

Now, let’s get to the real message. I accept the fact that my making these points directly to our Congressional delegation (with the exception of Congresswoman Davids who is on board) in D.C. has no value or return. So I am reminding all of you who are reading this message that your direct contact by text, email, or phone message, just might get their attention and make a difference. Your efforts would particularly be effective if you can share a specific community or location that would significantly benefit from Washington Broadband help. The need is undeniable, and the time to act is now.

As I look back on our collective pandemic experience, when we return to something like the old normal, the one thing I might miss most will be the extraordinary amount of time I have had to read books. This was new to me because, up until the pandemic, work dominated. One book I really enjoyed was John Alter’s, “His Very Best," about former President Jimmy Carter. I share in this blog why I found the book so timely, as well as a direct connection to what I was doing in Topeka during the Carter Administration.

Having lived through the late 70’s and 80’s and, in very modest ways, participating in those historical times, I saw some of the ups and downs of the Carter Administration up close when I was on the Executive Board of the National Governors Association and when I spent time in D.C. Reading Alter’s book, it was fun to be reminded that, on reflection, there is much more good than bad about President Carter and his record. In fact, today, after first placing Carter in the bottom 1/3rd of Presidents, historians now have him in the top third.

Part of the book covers the Camp David Accords, the 13-day effort in 1978 to bring peace between Israel and Egypt after four major wars starting in 1948, a peace that remains today. During this experience, President Carter’s patience was frequently tested in keeping Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egypt’s President Anwar el-Sadat at Camp David and from just leaving and giving up, which was frequently close to happening. After about seven days, Carter decided they needed a break. He chose to take them to Gettysburg and the famous battle ground from the Civil War.

As they were walking around the memorial, Begin, a few feet away from Carter and Sadat, started reciting “Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that "all men are created equal." He went on to flawlessly complete the entire Gettysburg Address.

My first reaction, after some shock, was how President Lincoln’s words would fit right into the many challenges we face as a country today. Polar opposite positions on everything from dealing with the pandemic, to the economy, infrastructure, immigration, and election reforms, puts Lincoln’s message “a house divided cannot stand” to the test.

My next thought after reading that reflection was how I knew someone who worked for me who could also recite the Gettysburg Address flawlessly. Henry Hollie at Cedar Crest, the Governor’s residence, could at any appropriate opportunity likewise perfectly recite the Gettysburg Address. Henry Hollie was my everything at Cedar Crest. From greeting and taking care of guests, to making sure events came off smoothly, to helping improve my pool game, to making sure I left Cedar Crest to go to work in a freshly pressed suit. My success as Governor can be attributed to incredible staff, a powerful talented cabinet, and maybe most importantly to the thousands of talented civil servants who in the end delivered the goods. Henry Hollie was a valuable part of that team.