I live in Kansas. Ask Me Anything!

[Anonymous]

Do you think that all we are is dust in the wind?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that all we are is dust in the wind?

You sound like a wayward son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel about the fact that your state board of education substitutes religion for science?

When I was in school, we were taught the theory of creation and the theory of evolution. Our parents took it from there. Honestly, I think that's the way it should be. I am a Christian and I also have a science degree. I believe in God-guided evolution.

Really? Is that "theory" based on anything more than the Bible?

If you are what passes for a "blue girl in a red state," I think I see what the problem is. Even the "liberals" are conservative.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

To those of you who don't like what I said about creation/evolution in schools -

Listen, I'm not wanting to argue this at all, but I do want to expand on my comment. Like I said, I have never lived outside of KS, so I don't even really know how this is dealt with in other states. Do they just teach evolution and not mention creation? I'm not saying what's right or wrong. I will say that nobody I've ever known seems to have an issue with how it's taught here. I know there are certainly some people out there that are making a lot of noise about it, but I've never had to encounter any of them. Many of my friends are evangelical Christians, and even they don't have a problem with how evolution is taught. I also have friends who are agnostic and atheists, and they don't have a problem with how creation is addressed. Actually, it's a subject that seems to be a bigger deal to the rest of the country than it is to most of us who are actually here. When I said that we are taught the theory of creation, I guess that was misleading. It's more accurate to say it's presented to us. basically, they teach about evolution and then it is followed up with "Christians believe that..." I honestly don't see what the big deal is here. Our children should know whether or not they are Christian. If they are not Christian, they know that statement doesn't apply to them. Many would say that this is a country founded on Christianity, and evolution can actually contradict christian beliefs (unless you are like me and believe in God-guided evolution) so I don't see any problem with mentioning that this is not what many Christians believe.

Like I said, I'm not trying to start a fight. i just truly believe that this is one of those things that really isn't the burning issue that it's made out to be. I'm happy to continue discussing this, but only with those who aren't snarky/judgy about it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel about the fact that your state board of education substitutes religion for science?

When I was in school, we were taught the theory of creation and the theory of evolution. Our parents took it from there. Honestly, I think that's the way it should be. I am a Christian and I also have a science degree. I believe in God-guided evolution.

Really? Is that "theory" based on anything more than the Bible?

If you are what passes for a "blue girl in a red state," I think I see what the problem is. Even the "liberals" are conservative.

Really pisses me off when people seem to think that liberals can't be Christians. Read the Bible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

To those of you who don't like what I said about creation/evolution in schools -

Listen, I'm not wanting to argue this at all, but I do want to expand on my comment. Like I said, I have never lived outside of KS, so I don't even really know how this is dealt with in other states. Do they just teach evolution and not mention creation? I'm not saying what's right or wrong. I will say that nobody I've ever known seems to have an issue with how it's taught here. I know there are certainly some people out there that are making a lot of noise about it, but I've never had to encounter any of them. Many of my friends are evangelical Christians, and even they don't have a problem with how evolution is taught. I also have friends who are agnostic and atheists, and they don't have a problem with how creation is addressed. Actually, it's a subject that seems to be a bigger deal to the rest of the country than it is to most of us who are actually here. When I said that we are taught the theory of creation, I guess that was misleading. It's more accurate to say it's presented to us. basically, they teach about evolution and then it is followed up with "Christians believe that..." I honestly don't see what the big deal is here. Our children should know whether or not they are Christian. If they are not Christian, they know that statement doesn't apply to them. Many would say that this is a country founded on Christianity, and evolution can actually contradict christian beliefs (unless you are like me and believe in God-guided evolution) so I don't see any problem with mentioning that this is not what many Christians believe.

Like I said, I'm not trying to start a fight. i just truly believe that this is one of those things that really isn't the burning issue that it's made out to be. I'm happy to continue discussing this, but only with those who aren't snarky/judgy about it!

Yes, only evolution. Why? Because creation is about religion, not science. "Christians believe that..." is religious education - do they also teach, "Muslims believe that ..." and "Hindus believe that ..."? No, I didn't think so.

Religion is not taught in schools here.

My children know that they are Christian. They need not hear in school, "Christians believe that..." in order to self-identify as such. Nor do their Jewish or atheist friends need such a statement to know that the topic being discussed does not apply to them.

And FYI, *this* Christian does not believe in the creation story as depicted in the Bible - so the statement "Christians believe that" is not applicable in that regard to many, many practicing Christians. I am a Lutheran, raised Catholic, and at my church creation is taught as a Biblical story and not as a scientific depiction of how the Earth came to be. My children and I believe in evolution as a theory, just as we believe in gravity as a theory.

For the record: This is not a country founded on Christianity. Not at all - evangelicals like to say that, but as a matter of historical fact, it is simply untrue. Some of the founders were Christians, and many of those nominal Christians at best.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.
-Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, Dec. 6, 1813.

[Anonymous]

Here is the acid test:

Have you read Thomas Frank's "What's the Matter with Kansas?"

[Anonymous]

You're so chipper! I think you'd be happy in NoVa, not the district. (Please, for the love of god, not D.C.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

To those of you who don't like what I said about creation/evolution in schools -

Listen, I'm not wanting to argue this at all, but I do want to expand on my comment. Like I said, I have never lived outside of KS, so I don't even really know how this is dealt with in other states. Do they just teach evolution and not mention creation? I'm not saying what's right or wrong. I will say that nobody I've ever known seems to have an issue with how it's taught here. I know there are certainly some people out there that are making a lot of noise about it, but I've never had to encounter any of them. Many of my friends are evangelical Christians, and even they don't have a problem with how evolution is taught. I also have friends who are agnostic and atheists, and they don't have a problem with how creation is addressed. Actually, it's a subject that seems to be a bigger deal to the rest of the country than it is to most of us who are actually here. When I said that we are taught the theory of creation, I guess that was misleading. It's more accurate to say it's presented to us. basically, they teach about evolution and then it is followed up with "Christians believe that..." I honestly don't see what the big deal is here. Our children should know whether or not they are Christian. If they are not Christian, they know that statement doesn't apply to them. Many would say that this is a country founded on Christianity, and evolution can actually contradict christian beliefs (unless you are like me and believe in God-guided evolution) so I don't see any problem with mentioning that this is not what many Christians believe.

Like I said, I'm not trying to start a fight. i just truly believe that this is one of those things that really isn't the burning issue that it's made out to be. I'm happy to continue discussing this, but only with those who aren't snarky/judgy about it!

Yes, only evolution. Why? Because creation is about religion, not science. "Christians believe that..." is religious education - do they also teach, "Muslims believe that ..." and "Hindus believe that ..."? No, I didn't think so.

Religion is not taught in schools here.

My children know that they are Christian. They need not hear in school, "Christians believe that..." in order to self-identify as such. Nor do their Jewish or atheist friends need such a statement to know that the topic being discussed does not apply to them.

And FYI, *this* Christian does not believe in the creation story as depicted in the Bible - so the statement "Christians believe that" is not applicable in that regard to many, many practicing Christians. I am a Lutheran, raised Catholic, and at my church creation is taught as a Biblical story and not as a scientific depiction of how the Earth came to be. My children and I believe in evolution as a theory, just as we believe in gravity as a theory.

For the record: This is not a country founded on Christianity. Not at all - evangelicals like to say that, but as a matter of historical fact, it is simply untrue. Some of the founders were Christians, and many of those nominal Christians at best.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.
-Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, Dec. 6, 1813.

Bingo! Christianity, Scientology, whatever- it is all mythology (a belief system without evidence), and should be taught as such. When they include EVERYONE'S mythology, separate from a science course, then fine.

[Anonymous]

I am a science teacher who works in DC. Yes, of course I teach evolution and do not mention "creation". Why would I? I'm not a religion teacher. I don't consider what Christians or any other religion thinks about any other scientific theory when planning lessons. Why do we need to consider it when teaching evolution? Does. Not. Compute.

(FWIW, I am Catholic.)

[Anonymous]

Why are there 2 Kansas Cities? Do you eat the barbecue there every day? I would. Does anyone actually live in all of the cool Frank Lloyd Wright homes that dot your state?
What is it about Kansas and Missouri that you produce so many Hot men like Brad Pitt and Jon Hamm are from there? Why are kansasans? so good at baseball?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that all we are is dust in the wind?

You sound like a wayward son.

There'll be peace when you are done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

To those of you who don't like what I said about creation/evolution in schools -

Listen, I'm not wanting to argue this at all, but I do want to expand on my comment. Like I said, I have never lived outside of KS, so I don't even really know how this is dealt with in other states. Do they just teach evolution and not mention creation? I'm not saying what's right or wrong. I will say that nobody I've ever known seems to have an issue with how it's taught here. I know there are certainly some people out there that are making a lot of noise about it, but I've never had to encounter any of them. Many of my friends are evangelical Christians, and even they don't have a problem with how evolution is taught. I also have friends who are agnostic and atheists, and they don't have a problem with how creation is addressed. Actually, it's a subject that seems to be a bigger deal to the rest of the country than it is to most of us who are actually here. When I said that we are taught the theory of creation, I guess that was misleading. It's more accurate to say it's presented to us. basically, they teach about evolution and then it is followed up with "Christians believe that..." I honestly don't see what the big deal is here. Our children should know whether or not they are Christian. If they are not Christian, they know that statement doesn't apply to them. Many would say that this is a country founded on Christianity, and evolution can actually contradict christian beliefs (unless you are like me and believe in God-guided evolution) so I don't see any problem with mentioning that this is not what many Christians believe.

Like I said, I'm not trying to start a fight. i just truly believe that this is one of those things that really isn't the burning issue that it's made out to be. I'm happy to continue discussing this, but only with those who aren't snarky/judgy about it!

In fact, you are wrong. This really IS a "burning issue." I went to a lecture by the science teachers from Dover, Pennsylvania who were ordered to teach "creation science" as part of their curriculum. They fought back. If they hadn't been tenured, they would have been fired for insubordination. There is scary stuff happening all over the country concerning teaching "creation science" or "intelligent design" or whatever BS term they're using these days. Read about the book "Of Pandas and People" if you want to know more about how this is a "burning issue." Just because no one you know decides to question it doesn't mean it's okay or right.

[Anonymous]

What do you think of the new tax policy?

"Proposed Kansas Tax Break for “Pass-Through” Profits Is Poorly Targeted and Will Not Create Jobs
PDF of this report (6pp.)
By Nicholas Johnson and Michael Mazerov
Revised March 26, 2012
RELATED
More States Propose Reverse-Robin-Hood Tax Policy
RELATED AREAS OF RESEARCH
State Budget and Tax
Taxes
Kansas is seriously considering a new, unprecedented state income tax break — at a huge cost to the state budget — that would benefit large corporations and passive investors, and reward tax avoidance, while failing to meet its stated objective of job creation.  The tax break was first proposed by Governor Brownback earlier this year, and since has been incorporated — in slightly different forms — into bills passed by the state House and Senate.
The new tax break would benefit large corporations and investment vehicles more than the small business job creators the governor and legislative advocates claim they are trying to help.  At the same time, the proposals would cost the state, at a minimum, $245 million or more in annual tax revenue that the state otherwise could be using to strengthen its economy.  (The primary difference among the proposals is that under the House bill, the full revenue impact would not occur until 2018, while it would hit all at once under the Brownback and Senate plans.)
Whenever it takes effect, this provision would:
Create a new and unwarranted tax break for many large businesses.  Under the pending legislation, Kansas would be the first state in the nation to exempt what tax experts call “pass-through” income from an otherwise broad-based income tax. “Pass-through” income is income that — unlike most corporate income — is untaxed at the corporate level and passed through to the owners of a business entity, who normally then pay personal income taxes on it.  Many pass-through businesses are very large, and a substantial share of the profit that would be tax-exempt under the governor’s proposal would be earned by large businesses, not small ones.
Fail to target the small business job creators the governor seeks to help, with negative consequences for the Kansas economy.  A substantial share of the profit exempted from taxation under the proposal is earned by the wealthy owners of large investment funds and other business entities that have no employees.  Another share is earned by individuals who live outside Kansas and would see that income taxed by their home states when Kansas stops taxing it.  Small, fast-growing businesses — those most likely to create jobs — likely would see very little of the benefit.
Make the Kansas tax system less level and create a new incentive for tax avoidance at a time when the state needs more resources for schools, transportation, public safety and other priorities that would create a better foundation for future economic growth."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you ever get tired of my hostility?

-Diehard, third gen mizzou fan

Ha ha. I better not comment on that. Just kidding. Atound here, we are all kind of relieved that MU is out of the Big 12 because we are all quite sick and tired of the rivalry.

I will always want to punch you in the face. It doesn't matter what conference we're in, it's just a programmed response. Sorry!