“Conservative-headed families in 2000 gave about 30 percent more money per year than liberal-headed families on average, while (in these data, at least) earning 6 percent less income,” Arthur C. Brookes, a professor of public administration at Syracuse University, said in a National Review interview. Brookes said that the biggest driver for giving is religion. “People who attend a house of worship every week are 25 percentage points more likely to give to charity each year than people who never go to church, and give away about four times as much money,” he said. And they give more to religious and nonreligious causes. The least charitable group tends to be secular conservatives, who give and volunteer less than secular liberals, and far less than religious conservatives.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Bob Knight was too hard on himself in telling The Eagle last week why he won’t run for mayor in 2007 after all: “We don’t need a retread.” During Knight’s quarter century of public service to the city of Wichita, more often than not as mayor, he showed an uncommon ability to get things done, especially in partnership with the late City Manager Chris Cherches — an impression that gets stronger with every report of dysfunction out of the current City Hall. Still, Knight’s point about city leadership needing fresh faces has merit. Even with Mayor Carlos Mayans and City Council member Carl Brewer in the mayoral race, voters and the public debate could benefit from additional choices. Civic- and business-minded Wichitans need apply.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The world and its threats are changing, and the military must change and adapt to them. As part of that repositioning, McConnell Air Force Base has been assigned a major new intelligence mission for a Kansas Air National Guard unit stationed there.
As reported in The Eagle, several hundred guardsmen at the base will be retrained as high-tech intelligence analysts, monitoring drones and other spy devices and sending real-time information to ground forces around the globe.
American forces have a clear weapons superiority, but as the Iraq conflict shows, we’re flying blind without good intelligence and spycraft. It’s good that McConnell can be part of that vital mission.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ Christmas card, featuring the decorated entrance to Cedar Crest, is among the gubernatorial greetings on the Web site Stateline.org. It’s certainly more attractive than that of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, which again features the governor’s own artwork.
Read Sebelius’ holiday commentary here. She rightly urges all Kansans to support the men and women fighting on our behalf around the world, as well as the loved ones waiting on their safe return: “As you celebrate this month, please send your support in letters, in prayers or in a simple ‘thank you’ to all those willing to give everything, in a world where so many have nothing.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
“President Bush actually said today he will not be rushed into a decision about Iraq. I guess one time is enough for him.” –Jay Leno
“Dennis Kucinich (in photo) has announced that he’s running for president in 2008. In a related story, somewhere a tree fell in a forest.” — David Letterman
Posted by Randy Scholfield
