School Crossings—a “safe space” or “hazardous zone”?

The safety of our school children is dependent upon many things. Including extra-special attention to and compliance with the special signs, speed limits, and flashing lights, etc., at all so identified School Crossings. A responsibility that all drivers should need no special motivation in order to “voluntarily” respect.

And, in a perfect world, the “routine presence” of law enforcement at our School Crossings should not be necessary in order to protect the lives of our school children.  However, given the reality around us, “irresponsible driving behaviors” continue to sound a not to be ignored warning that the need for “enforced” law-abiding behavior too often exists!

Especially at threatening locations, such as that posed by northbound and southbound traffic approaching and passing through the School Crossing at 16th & Dirr in Parsons, Kansas. Time and again, while personally adhering to the signs, speed limits, and caution lights during active crossing times at this location, I and my husband have often been swiftly “passed” by drivers demonstrating gross and dangerous disregard of applicable law and the threats they pose to others. A most troubling observation very likely experienced by many concerned others.

Therefore, as the result of the irresponsibility of a most dangerous few, the lives of our school children seem more and more dependent upon how our crucially important law enforcement chooses to daily allocate increasingly challenged and limited resources.

As we all, by way of our individual roles and behaviors, determine whether our School Crossings are truly as intended “safe spaces”—or in reality, life-threatening “hazardous zones.” 

                                                            —Ann Moore
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[The above was also included in the Public Mind section on page 4 of the Parsons Sun’s Weekend, Saturday-Sunday, October 29-30, 2022 Edition.]

Why vote?

U.S.-born or naturalized citizens, 18 years of age or older, thus far have a most precious—and much too often taken for granted or otherwise abused—U.S. Constitution-protected right to vote. A “liberty-essential right” under ongoing threat by enemies foreign and domestic. One also endangered by the many faces of “voter irresponsibility.” Including, but not limited to, votes cast in an uninformed, misinformed, or otherwise irrational manner. And also by the “least effort option”—i.e., simply not voting at all, and thus leaving one’s fate, and that of their loved ones, city, county, state, and country, to the wishes of those who do vote (responsibly or irresponsibly).

Our U.S. “mid-term” elections are scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2022. At stake, many positions at federal and state levels. Such as, the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, state and territorial governors, state legislators, and various other state and local positions. With billions of dollars spent in an effort to retain or gain positions of power, influence, privilege, and responsibility. As millions strive to prepare themselves and others to be informed, rational, and otherwise responsible voters. While others let irrational thinking and time-worn excuses determine their voting (or not voting) behavior.

To aid those yet struggling with “Why vote?”—a source of ample motivation should be found in rational consideration of any one or more of today’s many life and liberty threatening realities. Such as, but certainly not limited to, record-high inflation; wide-spreading crime; rampant smuggling/use/abuse of addictive drugs; unsecured U.S. borders; illegal immigration; education issues; health care costs; American cultural deterioration and divisiveness; national security threats; disregard of U.S. Constitution; and an ever-growing and increasingly intrusive federal government; etc.

If one is still in need of a bit more justification to engage in some responsible voting, how about “our” U.S. National Debt? Yes, that truly shameful life and liberty destroying burden that we so-called adults are passing on to the backs of our nation’s youth and the yet unborn. A rapidly growing and unsustainable debt now exceeding some $31 Trillion (i.e., more than $93,000 per U.S. citizen; over $247,000 per U.S. taxpayer)—not including the rapidly increasing “interest” on said debt.

Of course the aforementioned National Debt does not include our so-to-speak “real ticking time bomb”—Unfunded Government Liabilities. That is, other federal debt obligations that do not have sufficient funds set aside for subsequent payment. Obligations such as Social Security, Medicare, federal public-held debt, federal employee and veterans benefits, etc. Yes, a U.S. Unfunded Liabilities debt burden now totaling more than $172 Trillion (i.e., over $516,000 per U.S. citizen).

As “we the people”—through our elected government representatives and un-elected bureaucrats—just keep on spending for that which someone else must at some point pay for, or otherwise suffer the unthinkable consequences.

While, in spite of it all, continuing to be absent in the lives of many will be a rationally determined and responsibly handled answer to—Why vote?

                                                             —William James Moore

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[The above was also included in the Public Mind section on page 4 of the Parsons Sun’s Weekend, Saturday-Sunday, October 22-23, 2022 Edition.]