To the editor:

The March 11 Journal-World front page reveals Republican lawmakers in Topeka blocking federal money ($50 million) to Kansas from Washington for higher education. What was even more amazing, I was not shocked in the least, considering who was behind turning down $50 million in these times of uncertainty and concern.

It is understandable why Republicans are against higher education. It is obvious, most Republicans in Topeka (and Washington) have never been exposed to a real university/college learning environment where one is exposed to different thoughts, ideas, possibilities, philosophy and methodology including the scientific method to define problems, consider other points of view, and arrive at justifiable conclusions based on the evidence and fact.

Why else would they be for a coal-burning power plant producing power for Colorado, while Kansas gets the smog, smoke, and pollution from the plant? These elected officials claim to represent the people of Kansas! What kind of fools to they think we are? Better yet, what kinds of fools keep electing these Neanderthals to Topeka and Washington?

Perhaps some stimulus money should be in the form of scholarships for Kansas Republicans to receive the education they sorely lack, to be exposed to the world of science and reason. However, to get into a university, they must take a test to see if they qualify. Perhaps Gov. Sebelius would grant them a waiver for their entrance qualifications, but they would refuse that also. Why? Because that is what the Republican Party does now: They refuse and block.

Curtis D. Bennett,
Lawrence