To the editor:

I read with interest Jason Blaylock’s letter of Dec. 18 complaining about the government’s failure to ease the commuting problem he created for himself. Mr. Blaylock apparently believes that government owes him an annoyance-free life. He even claims that government (i.e. the taxpayers) owes him a job in Lawrence. Since the taxpayers have not provided him a local job, Mr. Blaylock believes that they instead owe him a $100 million trafficway. It seems that Mr. Blaylock’s time is precious and saving it justifies draining everybody else’s wallets.

Nobody forced Mr. Blaylock to choose a house in west Lawrence and a job in Lenexa. He is free to get a house closer to his job or a job closer to his house. As a state and a nation, we frequently curtail assistance to people without homes, jobs, insurance or food. Our motto is “They got themselves into trouble, and they must get themselves out.” Let’s apply the same motto to Mr. Blaylock. Our state budget is in such bad shape that we are cutting welfare for people. How can we afford welfare for cars? The South Lawrence Trafficway is a welfare highway that we cannot afford. Let’s say no to the welfare highway.

Michael Campbell,

Eudora