A yr in the past Tuesday, I got here aboard the great ship Kansas Reflector as opinion editor. Whereas my first column on the job promised big goals and lofty aspirations, I’ll admit that doubts lingered within the cobwebbed recesses of my thoughts.
Would the work make a distinction? Would readers concentrate? Would they and I discover it satisfying, each journalistically and creatively?
Fortunately, the reply to all of these questions has been a convincing sure. No, I don’t imagine this part and my columns have modified the course of Kansas historical past, however I feel they did a great job of reflecting that historical past over 12 months. In turbulent instances like these, that counts for one thing.
In keeping with my tally, that is the 123rd piece I’ve written from the Reflector’s opinion seat. Right here’s extra of what I’ve discovered over the course of these columns.
The Kansas Legislature is extra badly damaged than you think about.
I believed I knew in regards to the dysfunction on the Kansas Statehouse. I labored in nonprofit advocacy for 4 years earlier than becoming a member of the Reflector and had seen how seldom the wants of on a regular basis Kansans had been thought-about by legislators.
However I didn’t have the complete image.
Watching the complete physique over the past session taught me troublesome classes. Legislators obscured what they were doing, repeatedly and willfully. The worst derailed hearings and grabbed headlines by attacking the powerless. Worst of all, maybe, management repeatedly ignored good coverage and pursued their very own power-hungry ends.
Medicaid enlargement? Neglect about it. Decreasing boundaries to public help? Nope. Not when there’s a Democratic governor to demonize.
Extremism has taken root in state politics, and all of us need to be cautious.
This doesn’t need to do with Democrats or Republicans. This has to do with the loudest voices within the room and the way they manipulate the general public.
You possibly can see this occur within the debate over health measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outspoken residents and legislators spread disinformation that put their fellow Kansans in danger. That’s simply the beginning, in fact. We additionally endured lies about crucial race principle and transgender people.
Whereas exterior teams have tried to quantify that extremism, they have fallen short. The information media and public at massive have a lot work to do in shining a lightweight on those that would breed hate and anger for political benefit.
When the stakes are excessive, Kansans come by way of.
With all the above being stated, I’ve to acknowledge the shock abortion-rights victory Aug. 2.
Freedom contended with fundamentalist repression on the poll. Our state selected freedom. That vote, and the practically 20 share level rejection of extremism, means that Kansans are absolutely able to greedy the stakes when elementary rights are on the road.
Practically a yr in the past, I wrote: “A state that was as soon as identified for its moderation and temperance has grow to be, too usually, a wannabe member of the confederacy.” For a lot of the final yr, these phrases rang true for me.
After the vote, I’ve re-evaluated. Maybe that moderation and temperance endures, slumbering someplace beneath the plains, roused solely by a real menace.
So lots of you’ve got a lot to say. Please maintain doing so.
The Reflector has been fortunate to publish so many proficient writers within the opinion part.
Max McCoy held down the Sunday column slot for a lot of the primary yr, till he determined to step apart. Since then, we’ve welcomed weekend work from Kansas poet laureate Huascar Medina, documentarian Dave Kendall, Mark McCormick, Inas Younis and Brenan Riffel, amongst others. Do your self a favor and verify them out.
However that’s not all! KU teacher Eric Thomas has held down the Friday columnist slot, first writing about podcasts after which widening his gaze to the state as an entire. All through the remainder of the week, we’ve welcomed contributions from all through the state.
Inquisitive about including your voice to the combo? Ship me an e-mail at [email protected].
Kansas Reflector readers are one of the best.
The largest shock this previous yr has been the help and suggestions I’ve acquired from readers. Belief me once I say that 20 years in journalism had ready me for a refrain of catcalls and harsh criticism.
As a substitute, the Reflector’s opinion part has been welcomed. I’ve heard from so many readers who recognize a unique, people-focused tackle information and politics. And whereas many progressives have gotten in contact, so have libertarians and conservatives. I wish to assume they perceive that whereas I lean left, I worth the sincere and open trade of concepts.
So thanks. Thanks for the kindness you’ve proven me, and thanks as properly for declaring my missteps and errors via Twitter. Thanks for following alongside all through the final 12 months. I’m nonetheless studying, and I hope by no means to cease.
Right here’s to the following yr and past.
