The Lone Ranger and Tonto were riding one day, and turned around to see a cloud of dust and several dozen Indians coming up fast from behind.

The Lone Ranger said, “Let’s get out of here,” so they took off. The Indians pursued.

They went into a canyon but soon found it was a box-ended. Looking up, they noticed more Indians on top of the cliffs.

The Lone Ranger said, “It looks like we are in serious trouble, my friend.”

“What you mean we, White Man?”

There are trade-offs wherever you live. We deal with a certain amount of congestion and pollution and get fairly good medical care availability. Live in NYC and you might have even better research hospitals available but you pay a price.

On the other hand; live on an isolated mountaintop and you can have clean air, no traffic, but also no nearby hospital. And, in a town of 100 people access will by nature be limited.

That said, with technology you can have a good nurse and a virtual DR consultation via internet. Maybe that will be part of the answer.

I would say this- every COUNTY in the United States should have a local hospital that can offer at least basic services and a level 3 ER (perhaps staffed at night by RNs with a physician on call). Every region should have a full service hospital with a level 1 ER and services like MRI and surgery. Therefore if you took Kansas and divided it into roughly 6 regions, 3 of them are already covered with such hospitals (north central, Salina, NE Topeka and KC, south central, Wichita) there may be more but I would have such a facility in Dodge or Garden City for the southwest, Goodland for the northwest and whatever the largest city is in the southeast (Galena or Ark City I guess). This would save the lives of many more Kansans and provide medical services to areas that need them. And I don’t have any problem subsidizing medical services for rural people. We already subsidize roads, phones and schools out there to some extent. I think that no matter where you live, you should have the same services as those that live in cities have as much as possible. People should not have to die just because they live in Syracuse instead of Wichita.

heheheheheeeh!

think that new party would be a big enough tent for the both of us?

I think if the state, this country, this WORLD isnt ready for a legit third or independent party movement, it will never happen.

I cant imagine a time more ripe than this. Except maybe 08. And not because of the prez election. Because the longer the democrats toe the DLC line, the clearer it becomes that at the national level, the difference between the parties is minimal and cosmetic only.

They all serve the same masters. Meet the new boss same as the old boss.

And the sad part? We could change it if we just wanted to. If we just put down the remote, snuffed out the joint, quit borrowing money, poured out the drink and got off the blog…

hehehehhe!

Go figure.

And yes, I do know things have changed, and MUCH of that, even though you are too modest to say so, is due to you and your leadership. And you know I mean that sincerely.

And part of it is also just ALL gay people being slapped in the face by the profound hatred of the hate amendment, and the fact that over 70% of Kansas ARE as bigoted as you think.

Hee hee hee. And yes, we couldnt get Ralph to do the right thing, even if he says I’m his favorite democrat :) I guess that AND a quarter might get me a cup of coffee at Clelands.

“And as far as the two parties go…I regularly irritate the living piss out of Democratic insiders by backing Republicans around the state. I don’t give a rat’s bare patootie what party someone belongs to. I care about their voting records, and their willingness to bravely stand up for equal rights for every Kansan. The party hacks on both sides can kiss my fat gay behind if they don’t like it. :)”

Mega dittos dude. Mega dittos. It’s one of the reasons I love and respect you so much.

Posted by: Tom | June 11, 2007 at 12:22 PM

Very good! Back the candidate, not the party. An idea I agree with. But stil, maybe there is a need for a new party, one not beholden to any past, or historical base?

Every time I am reminded of what happened to you three years ago, my teeth clench, my blood pressure goes up, and the household pets hide under the furniture.

Heh…do you know I talked about you in a Senate hearing this year? I was doing everything I could to guilt old Ralph into voting his conscience for a change instead of his campaign bank account. :::sigh::: It didn’t work.

Anyway…I know how the system works in this state. I’ve spent three legislative sessions watching that sausage factory up waaaay too close. It’s a disgusting process run by some people who…well, you know. More I cannot say here, because I know what I write here gets read by people _there_.

You wrote: “I lead the charge, and I look behind me, and the troops are all cowering. Been there, done that, not doing it again.”

Things have changed, you know that. You can see it from where you are. Three years ago, this state’s gay rights movement was stuck in reverse, with every city’s group fighting with every other city’s group. One city in Kansas had TWO advocacy groups, that rarely if ever worked together.

We’re not cowering any longer. We’re not throwing sacrificial goats to the wolves. Not while I have anything to say about it.

And as far as the two parties go…I regularly irritate the living piss out of Democratic insiders by backing Republicans around the state. I don’t give a rat’s bare patootie what party someone belongs to. I care about their voting records, and their willingness to bravely stand up for equal rights for every Kansan. The party hacks on both sides can kiss my fat gay behind if they don’t like it. :)

Ksfarmgrrl,Maybe we need a NEW party?

Thanks

:)

But I’m a helluva tool to have on your side :)

Posted by: ksfarmgrrl | June 11, 2007 at 11:51 AM

:)!!!

And somehow, being a relatively poor, free thinking, entreprenuer, lesbian, liberal, water advocate, farm girl who hates injustice is not really a profile for a winning candidate in kansas.

But I’m a helluva tool to have on your side :)

And then again, more republicans voted AGAINST the hate amendment in Kansas than democrats.

Go figure. So much for the democrats “big tent” in kansas. Funny that those tents seem ONLY big enough for terry fox and phred phelps.

And governor leadership…

Posted by: ksfarmgrrl | June 11, 2007 at 11:41 AM

Oh, and by the way, the REPUBLICANS out here have recruited me to run in the last two elections.

Of course I cant do that, but the democrats?

crickets chirping”

wow. Seems like maybe you need to change parties, or just disregard them all together and run for office as an independent.

Of course I cant do that, but the democrats?

crickets chirping

Sigh. A prophet is never without honor except in his home land (party)…..

And then again, more republicans voted AGAINST the hate amendment in Kansas than democrats.

Go figure. So much for the democrats “big tent” in kansas. Funny that those tents seem ONLY big enough for terry fox and phred phelps.

And governor leadership…

:::evil grin:::

Too bad there is no democratic party structure out here to help :)

And… you know I tried… and look where it got me….

I’d be willing to try again, but I cant fight BOTH the dems and repukes out here. Alone. With no support.

I feel like the old joke when surrounded by enemies, Tonto said “what’s this WE, kemosabe?”

I lead the charge, and I look behind me, and the troops are all cowering. Been there, done that, not doing it again.

Besides, you do it SO MUCH better than I ever could…

:::evil grin:::

Since KEC has a Southwest chapter, we’re looking at two races for our PAC to get heavily involved in over the next year (I won’t print them here, of course). They both have incumbents who look pretty vulnerable, and are ripe for being unseated by a moderate Republican or Democrat.

We don’t have a chapter in NW Kansas. If we did, we might be able to get involved in one of those races up your direction. It’s a damn shame we’re not organized there, don’t you think?

:::evil grin:::

In 04, the dems out here had a decent candidate and there was NO incumbent for Virginia’s seat because Ralph was movin’ on up to take Stan Clark’s senate seat.

So WTF does Eber Phelps do?

HE brings the dem rep candidate to campaing in Trego county. To go with Eber Phelps to meet folks, shake hands, get votes, etc.

And who led the opposition to Cedar Bluff in the House? Who kept the dems in line for Hays and Russell? And where is he from?

You got it. Eber Phelps. From Hays.

That is about as politically dumb as one could possibly be. That fairly good candidate, running against no incumbent, tanked, because you HAVE to have Trego county to win this district.

So the dems send one of the most hated men in Trego county to campaign for this guy?

Jesus wept.

THAT is how out of touch the dems are with ANYTHING west of Wanamaker Road.

Does that tell you anything about the disaster the governor and state party leadership have created?

People dont run as dems out here because they fear incumbents. They dont run because sebelius and her legislators have soured what might have been a public ready to change.

And also, why would anyone run when the “party” in the person of Tim Peterson tells folks the state dems flat dont care about these seats, and if anyone wants to run, they are on their own.

Oh, and PS. What Tim doesnt say? HE and governor leadership are going to suck up all the money and talent. If you want to run out here, you are REALLY on your own.

How’s that working out for the dems in Kansas? Any hope of a majority in the house or senate anytime soon?

But then, who cares, as long as governor leadership wins….

All happened after she screwed us on Cedar Bluff and let Hays and Russell RAPE the Smoky.

Why? Because now, in this county, the democratic party is DEAD. Thanks to sebelius and her water buddies. There isnt even a party structure here anymore. They cant even get anyone to fill the party offices or precinct seats here anymore. Thank you very much kathleen and tim.

No one in THIS county wants the taint of sebelius on them. And we are not alone in that.

Sebelius’ actions and inactions on water have ensured that going forward, dems will RARELY be elected here. Partly because of no state party support, but also because the dems in the legislature voted the way governor leadership told them to vote on water.

NOW the good folks out here who used to elect democrats if they were good candidates would rather eat a bowl of dirt than take a chance on losing the REST of our water to ethanol and golf courses in Hays and Russell.

Look at governor leadership’s numbers in western kansas in the last election. The counties with the most water problems? She did WORSE in 06 than in 02.

She is doing for the democrats in Kansas what bush did for republicans nationwide. But then, she is the best republican governor we’ve ever had.

As Mary Chapin Carpenter says, “the stars might lie but the numbers never do”.