RIP, Kansas

[lastlib]

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/09/4171966/rip-the-once-great-state-of-kansas.html

TOPEKA — The Great State of Kansas passed away on March 31, 2013, after a long and difficult battle with extremism that became markedly more aggressive in 2010. The struggle left the state so weakened it could no longer fight against the relentless attacks by the fatal disease.

The state is preceded in death by fair taxation, good highways, strong education, family farms, a good public parks and wildlife system, open government, neighborliness and belief in helping each other out, freely elected public servants, and political moderation.

Kansas is survived by widespread poverty, low-wage jobs, high property taxes, pollution, poorly educated children, out-migration and rural depopulation, foreign land and farm ownership, lobbyist-funded legislators, chronic mistreatment of the disabled, a maniacal hatred of government and children who dream of living anywhere else.

Kansas was a leader in public education, with one-room school houses dotting the plains. A full 12 years before it was a national concern, Kansas established child labor laws that restricted employment of children in potentially dangerous industries.

--------------------------------------------------

A good obituary for a once-great progressive state.

[haikugal]

1. Very sad...

[chillfactor]

2. so devastating to a once great progressive state....

too bad we cannot send all of the political nuts to Kansas and build a great wall around the state to keep them there

[DURHAM D]

3. This is so sad.

I have very deep roots in KS and this is just heartbreaking. I am glad my ancestors don't have to watch this.

[RKP5637]

4. Kansas has changed so much. We're on our way out of here. All we see is gloom and doom for

the future of KS. A bunch of damn fools were elected and the state is in a self-destruct mode.

[unc70]

5. NC has same illness

We fear it will be fatal for us, too.

You have our condolences.