GREAT BEND, Kan. - The Kansas Chamber of Commerce scolded 14 local chambers of commerce on Thursday for supporting a tax increase to fix the yawning Kansas budget deficit. The starkly differing constituencies of the KCCI (Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and local chambers of commerce can no longer be papered over.
The KCCI supports huge transnational corporations. The local chambers support Main Street. The KCCI supports far-right libertarian thought. The local chamber groups supports small businesses, whether owned by Republicans, Democrats, Independents, or non-political types.
I assume these local chambers of commerce pay dues to belong to the mother organization: the KCCI. Expect some defections. You can expect this recent dustup to be the prelude for more infighting between the 'mothership' and the local chambers. The KCCI is completely out of touch with small business, and is not worthy of being paid dues by any local chamber of commerce in the State of Kansas.
Local chambers of commerce are made up of a whole hodgepodge of people: the retirees who want to stay involved in their community, the local butcher, the baker, the policeman on the beat; the small mom-and-pop businesses. Most school districts and community colleges are members of their local chambers. Local chambers of commerce are non-partisan. They don't endorse either party, nor any candidates. And they welcome Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans, both individuals and business owners, to join.
Local chambers of commerce understand the importance of public investment in roads, schools, universities, and public safety. That why chambers from Arkansas City, Dodge City, Emporia, Grant County, Greater Kansas City, Greater Topeka, Hutchinson-Reno County, Hays , KCK, Manhattan, NE Johnson County , Olathe , Overland Park and Salina wrote a letter asking the legislature to increase taxes. Notice that these chambers are both rural and urban.
The KCCI has become the sandbox of a few transnational corporations. Their creed is not the Republican Party of Eisenhower-Dole-Kassebaum. Their creed is that of the "all government is evil" Libertarian/John Birch mindset.
The KCCI must think our pioneer ancestors who founded Kansas were stupid. Our pioneer ancestors decided to get everybody to chip in to provide for a free K-12 education for everyone. They levied taxes to build great universities. They wanted Kansas to be #1 in education, higher education, highways, law enforcement, and public safety. Our pioneer ancestors believed that the "public good" was also good business.
But the KCCI has no notion of the public good, only protecting the wealth of those who have already climbed the ladder of success. They want to tip the ladder of opportunity down on the peasants who also want a shot at the American Dream. The KCCI should change it's name to "Kansas Libertarian Society for Big Business," and quit pretending that it cares about small business.
I am reminded of one of my classmates at KU who attended a Libertarian meeting to see what they were selling. "I thought it was interesting at first," he joked. "But when they got to the part about getting rid of STOP signs, I knew I wasn't interested."
Most Kansans want STOP signs. Most Kansans still support their ancestors' idea of a free, suitable K-12 education for everyone. Most Kansans support KU, KSU, Fort Hays, Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Wichita State and our community colleges and technical schools. Most Kansans want quality law enforcement to catch crooks, and quality prisons to keep the crooks locked up. Most Kansas don't like potholes. Most Kansans---including a lot of local chambers of commerce---- don't like what the KCCI is selling right now.
Just having followed a bit of what the Kansas Chamber of Commerce is up to, they seem like quite the radical organization. And I don't mean radical in a good way. It's really time that some business person with some consciousness started rocking that boat.
Amber, thanks for your comment. The KCCI has generally been a pretty good group, but has jumped the rails completely toward libertarianism. The Kansas House of Representatives is following their tune and the House wants to offload the "duty" of raising taxes to local school boards, city councils, etc. This has gone on for years, and property taxes are a top killer of small businesses.