# What isn't the matter with Kansas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 12, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398 "2014-11-12T01:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/141 "2016-06-24T18:35:12Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Eh? How? By moving there, and voting. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/142 "2016-06-24T22:18:38Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I already have a hobby (shooting things). California doesn’t like my hobby, so I don’t like California. That’s just ridiculous. There a many millions of gun owners here and tons of indoor and outdoor shooting ranges. You are seriously misinformed to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/143 "2016-06-24T22:30:10Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > While I don’t really mind people generally, Californians are a special case, worthy of contempt and loathing. They’re slowly screwing up all the surrounding states, and my hatred for them burns like the surface of the sun. We love you too, bunky. We haven’t even _started_ fucking with you guys yet! Pretty soon we won’t have to because nobody in Kansas will be able to read, write or do basic math. (Well, they can’t do basic math already.) The quicker tornadoes sweep Kansas back to Oz the better for the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/144 "2016-06-24T22:43:33Z")
Enough with the snide comments on states. First, it’s all giggles and grins, then it’s “I’m not\* touching\* you,” then it’s “Da-a-ad, he hit me back first.” Stop, now. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/145 "2016-06-25T14:06:57Z")
In general, unemployment [in Kansas](http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/kansas/) has always been a bit below the national average, while [in California](http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/california/) it has always been a bit above. The current trends are consistent with the typical historical trend patterns. Brownback and the Kansas Republicans have not made that indicator change in any unusual way, at least in the near term – the long term effects of their policies could be more problematic, but we can leave that for the next generation to deal with. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/146 "2017-06-07T15:15:35Z")
It took me a few minutes to find this thread; it’s been nearly a year since it was active, but I thought this news was worth the resurrection:[ > [@](#): > > Kansas legislators have repudiated the tax-cutting experiment that brought Gov. Sam Brownback national attention, with even fellow Republicans voting to override his veto of a plan reversing many of the income tax reductions he’s championed in recent years as a way to fix the cash-strapped state’s budget. > > The conservative Republican governor still touts the income tax cuts enacted in 2012 and 2013 as pro-growth policies. But voters soured last year on the governor’s policies, ousting two dozen of his allies from the Legislature and giving more power to Democrats and moderate Republicans who then backed this year’s tax increase. > > The Legislature’s action leaves his main political legacy in tatters. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_XGR\_KANSAS\_LEGISLATURE\_KSOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-06-07-10-40-17](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_XGR_KANSAS_LEGISLATURE_KSOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-06-07-10-40-17))Kudos to Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning for going above the threshold of “not being a moron” and being fully in the “wants and tries to do the right thing” category: > [@](#): > > “He believes - still believes - in this, and that’s OK. I don’t,” said Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, a conservative Kansas City-area Republican who supported the first round of tax cuts in 2012 but voted to override the veto. “I’ve made many, many bad decisions in my business career, as many bad as good, but I’ve always backed up and mopped up my mess. That’s what I’m doing now.” Governor Brownback is still an idiot and had this to say: > [@Gov. Sam Brownback](#): > > We can and we must balance our budget without negatively harming Kansas families. 😕 “Negatively harming families”? As opposed to “positively harming” them? Is that like “I’m just slapping you around for your own good”? Fucking idiot. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/147 "2017-06-26T00:12:49Z")
And we’ve come full circle. By all accounts a massive failure. > **[Gov. Brownback signs $15.6 billion state budget](https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2017/jun/25/kansas-gov-brownback-signs-156-billion-state-budge/)** > > Topeka ? Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback on Sunday signed a state budget for the next two years that will use a $1.2 billion income tax increase to fund government and schools, although he says it includes “excessive spending. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/148 "2017-06-26T00:37:24Z")
Well, as I’ve heard from some of the hardcores, they didn’t cut taxes enough and they didn’t slash spending nearly enough. :eek: And that is the complaint I have heard several times - that they didn’t follow through on cutting spending enough to make a difference. :smack::smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/149 "2017-07-27T18:58:37Z")
And as a final fuck you to his State, Brownback is going to leave his mess behind. [https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/5cd1e1a4-ec45-3f20-993c-c8e50b1f3baf/ss\_kansas'-brownback-abandons.html](https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/5cd1e1a4-ec45-3f20-993c-c8e50b1f3baf/ss_kansas%27-brownback-abandons.html) ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/150 "2017-07-27T19:22:22Z")
Stone-age Kansas had no taxes at all. Nor government. Just _Freedom_\* !\* It was a magical time. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/151 "2017-07-27T22:53:27Z")
“Ambassador at-large for international religious freedom”? Seriously? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/152 "2017-07-27T23:04:02Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > “Ambassador at-large for international religious freedom”? Seriously? Added by legislation in 1998. Been around a while. Not shockingly, then Rep. Brownback was one of the representatives behind the proposal, if memory serves me correctly. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/153 "2017-07-27T23:23:32Z")
Randy Newman on Kansas: > [@](#): > > Since you’re the delegate from Kansas > Will you kindly take the floor > And tell us what Kansas is thinking > And what is Kansas for? > > “Well, Kansas is for the farmer > We stand behind the little man > And we need a firehouse in Topeka > So help us if you can.” – _The Beehive State_ ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/154 "2017-07-28T00:30:58Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > “Ambassador at-large for international religious freedom”? Seriously? He’s going to negotiate such a beautiful trade deal with religious freedom. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/155 "2017-07-28T13:53:50Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > “Ambassador at-large for international religious freedom”? Seriously? It sounds better than “pointless sinecure that would only be accepted by an utterly failed politician,” right? ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/156 "2017-07-28T16:03:48Z")
That’s Mr. Trump’s Private Reserve. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398/157 "2017-07-28T18:36:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It sounds better than “pointless sinecure that would only be accepted by an utterly failed politician,” right? I’m gonna go with “deus ex machina”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-isnt-the-matter-with-kansas/704398.md?page=7)