SRS options

To the editor:

Let me see if I understand Gov. Sam Brownback’s reason for closing the Lawrence SRS office. I believe the reasons were to save money and that “Lawrence … has several major SRS offices on four-lane roads.” Wait a minute, I can think of an even better office to close, Mr. Brownback: the Johnson County SRS office in Overland Park. I imagine even more money could be saved by closing that office. As for access ease, the Kansas City SRS Office is even closer for the Johnson County recipient than the three offices (Ottawa, Topeka, Overland Park) that the Lawrence recipients would need to access. Citizens in western Johnson County could use the Lawrence office.

Oh, I forgot Johnson County’s overwhelming vote for Mr. Brownback, and Lawrence voted for his opponent. I am sure that isn’t the reason he decided to close the Lawrence office, not the Overland Park office.

I do have a possible solution for us unfortunate citizens of Douglas County. Several years ago several southwestern Kansas counties proposed seceding from the state and becoming a part of Oklahoma. How about Douglas County seceding? Of course, I don’t think I want to become a part of any of the states around us, certainly not Missouri, but we could become the 51st state. We would be the smallest state in the union, but Rhode Island would be happy. I would suggest we name the new state “The Free State.”

One final thought, if they think the closing of the Lawrence SRS office is bad, just wait to see what the redistricting might look like. Will Lawrence become a part of four districts?