To the editor,
Over the last six weeks, the price of gas in Kansas has increased from around $2.50 a gallon to $3.30 a gallon. It is currently $3.60 here in Iola.
There is only one reason for the increase — the war in Iran.
And the person solely responsible for the war in Iran is Donald J. Trump.
Trump consistently attempts to blame every problem on former Presidents Biden and Obama, the governors of “blue” states, Democratic members of Congress, and “left-wing” radicals.
But there is no way the war can be blamed on anyone but Trump and the Republican members of Congress who have refused to take a stand against this unnecessary conflict.
Sen. Jerry Moran has not clearly expressed an opinion on the war, but Sen. Roger Marshall and Rep. Derek Schmidt have both publicly defended the conflict.
In an April interview on Newsmax, Sen. Marshall said, “I’m sorry the gas prices are going up, but help is on the way and your national security, yes, is even more important than your pocketbook.”
Really? Sen. Marshall appears to be out of touch, although that is not surprising since neither he nor Rep. Schmidt hold town halls where constituents can inform them of their concerns. And if they do visit the area, it is not announced in advance.
If Sen. Marhsall really cared about the people of Kansas, he would understand that gas and diesel fuel are essential items. There is no way I can get to Garnett or Wichita or Kansas City from Iola except to drive.
I am not a farmer, yet I know farmers need fuel to operate farm equipment. And not only am I paying more when I go to the gas station, I am also paying more for groceries and other goods because the additional fuel costs for the transportation of such goods are passed on to us as consumers.
If I pay more for gas, I have less to spend on food, utilities, medicine, and health care.
So, yes, Sen. Marshall, I am feeling it in my pocketbook because I, like many others in Kansas, live on a fixed income. And, no, Sen. Marshall, I was not losing sleep worrying about Iran’s nuclear program before Trump started this war and I do not feel any safer now.
Both Sen. Marshall and Rep. Schmidt vote in favor of Trump’s agenda 100% of the time, no matter how it impacts our state.
In November, Kansans have the chance to replace Sen. Marshall with a person who actually lives here and cares about us. And voters in Allen County also have the chance to help send Rep. Schmidt packing as well.
If you are fed up with your elected officials not listening to their constituents, vote them out. The voters in Kansas deserve better. And then perhaps Roger Marshall can permanently live in his $1.2 million “vacation” home in Florida and say, “Guess I’m not in Kansas anymore.”
