About Voice for Liberty in Wichita
A voice for individual liberty, limited government, and free markets in Wichita and Kansas.
I started the Voice for Liberty in Wichita in October 2004 in response to what I felt was a misunderstanding of the important issues in the November 2004 elections, especially involving the proposed downtown Wichita arena. I came to realize that the most important issues are these: How much government do we want, at the expense of how much personal liberty, and what is the proper role of government and individual? I saw very little discussion of these important issues, and most importantly, very little media coverage.
So I started this website to explore and report on issues of government, media, and individual liberty in Wichita, Sedgwick County, the State of Kansas, and, to a lesser degree, the United States.
Bob Weeks
Email bob.weeks@gmail.com
316-708-1837
Wichita, Kansas
Bob WeeksAbout Bob Weeks
Bob Weeks lives in Wichita, Kansas, where he’s worked for many years as a software engineer and in other information technology jobs. He is a graduate of Kansas University with a degree in business, and of Friends University with a degree in information systems.
In 2004 he started blogging. He writes the “Voice For Liberty in Wichita” at WichitaLiberty.org, which focuses on Wichita and Kansas issues from the perspective of liberty, limited government, and free markets.
After being downsized out of his Fortune 500 job in 2008, Bob decided to work on his own, which gives him more time to spend on blogging and community activism.
Bob has worked on several campaigns in his local area, managing campaign data, speaking to civic groups and media, and also knocking on doors. He also testifies before local governments on behalf of limited government and free markets.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Keep up the good work Bob. I try to read your blog often.
I wish you would get an occasional call-in TV show on Wichita’s channel 5 (non-cable) TV along with R.J. Dickens (Tuesday evening at 6 PM) and
James Barfield (Wednesday evening at 6 PM), both of whom do such a great job.
Great site:)
Hey just discovered your site, I’m trying to do a similar site in PA. Keep up the good work.
I question if individual liberty and government are actually mutually exclusive as your purpose statement would imply. And look where free markets have gotten us now. There are certainly improvements that could be made to the way our governing bodies work, but do you really think the solution is to leave everything to the market? Can you say Maddoff? What if we were entrusting our schools to someone like that? What about our healthcare, roads and so forth? I don’t believe you have really thought through this whole thing very well sir.
Clyde, very few people–and I doubt that Bob Weeks is one of them–think that there is NO role for government. Maddoff’s crimes say nothing about whether we should have a very large government, a very small government, or somewhere in-between. He would have gotten nailed for fraud even under any situation dreamed of by an advocate of small government.
Further, it’s not entirely fair to say “look where the free market has gotten us now.” Health care? Half of it is spent by the government, and all of it is significantly regulated by government.
The financial sector? Go back to Freddie Mae and Freddie Mac, and both were quasi-governmental institutions with an implicit backing of taxpayers (which has unfortunately become explicit).
At some base level, yes, there needs to be government. I’d rather live in the U.S., even as it plunges into another abysmal experimentation with government intrusion into the economy, than in, oh, Russia or some third-world country embroiled in a civil war (that is, without a government).
So liberty does need government–to enforce contracts, to keep the peace, to protect us against outsides, and perform a few other functions. But “how much” government? We’ve passed the desirable amount … a long time ago.
Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to stop by the Young Republicans meeting last night. It was really interesting to hear about the opportunites and resourses. :)
The CPUSA strongly supports a democratic party victory. Among the points in the party,s immediate program are the peaceful transition to socialism, a minimum wage for all workers,universal health care,increased taxes on the rich and corporations,strong financial regulations,increased federal aid to cities and states, campaign finance reform.
Does any of my above comments sound familiar? We are on our way to a socialist country.
Before you racist, fascists get too reactionary, I am a service disabled Vietnam veteran. I served my country, I own my home and pay my bills. What is wrong with you? Most of you sound like illiterate KKK. I voted for Barack Obama. Your web site is filled with a lack of objective information. I am disgusted with people like the collective “you”.
James, so because you are a Vietnam veteran, we should all yield to your opinion on the direction of our country ? Interesting, because I was in favor of electing a Vietnam vet over Obama.
Democrat or Republican, Your roads lead WE THE PEOPLE to the same destination. Obama is right about one thing, “change”. Well WE THE PEOPLE NEED A CHANGE alright from the way our leaders have performed for the past 20 years. It certainly has ate away at the middleclass, regardless which party was leading. WE THE PEOPLE must organize to reinstate and protect the US CONSTITUTION, stop the degradation of our culture and values. Judgeing character and not by class or race but as Americans. It will take more than money to compete against the greedy elitist system we are under. DO YOU REALLY WANT A “CHANGE”? OKAY, THEN. Get ideas together.
James Shelton,
Sorry to hear of your disabling head injury. Thank you for your service to our country. Sorry the people on this website are KKK members. I just found the site today and hadn’t picked up on that.
To me they sound like people who don’t want to live on a plantation run by heavy handed communists. BO’s family is from KS. His grandfather and mother were both communists, so I doubt he fell too far from that tree. To me they sound like people with talent who love freedom and don’t want to see their grandchildren pay for a communists’ mistakes in government.
I thought it was pretty cool that there is a Kansas-based liberty website. Until I read these comments. I should have known better.
When will you all realize that there is NO government that can let you be free.
I thought this would be a great site on Kansas Liberty and Libertarian views, but have been disappointed.
Don’t get me wrong, some of it is thoughtful and interesting, but Bob Weeks and his crowd is hardly Libertarian. They tend to have more Authoritarian Right-wing views, rather than Liberty, Freedom and good governance of Libertarian views.
A very mis-guided bunch indeed. Jerry Winkleman, Darrell Leffew and the rest of the Authoritarian Republicans trying to say they side with Libertarian and Liberty, but would love to take reigns of political power for their own misguided deeds. These are people you don’t want running our government. These are people you cannot trust.
I’m very disappointed that Bob Weeks hangs out with these people. That places Mr. Bob in the ranks of non-credible kooks whose interest are not inline with Liberty and Freedom.
I’m curious, Joe Williams, what views on this site are you calling “Authoritarian Right-wing”?
Other than some mild opposition to Obama and the obvious goals of this administration, I don’t see anything that sounds like that.
“good governance of Libertairan views”? Are thought Libertarians were opposed to governance of most things, especially “views”. What are you going on about?
Kim, It’s not Bob Weeks himself. I believe he is a true to heart Libertarian and a great guy. A huge asset to Wichita.
Although I disagree with him on the downtown arena and TIF districts, all in all, I agree with him all the way.
It is the people that he may hang around with that I know aren’t good people. Although I do not know the extent of his friendship he has with these individuals, but if I were Bob Weeks, I would just keep an eye open on them. They are not defenders or supporters of limited government, liberty and freedom.
As a Black-skinned American woman in Wichita, KS who did NOT vote for this Obamanation, I am wondering where this Boston Tea Party will be. I heard there was one in Wichita. However if ignorant fools will be there I will not and I am referring to racists who wont own dogs with purple lips. It takes a lot to offend me, however that comment was sickening and crude. Anyway I am a Christian first and I must say that Bobs views aren’t right wing, they are conservative which views my family and I share. Race has no place in any of the issues our country faces right now, we need to put that ignorance aside and figure out what is best for Americans
Bob,
Following up on a question about the potential for the Williston Basin Bakken Shale play, and its potential for materially contributing to the United States energy supply, I provide the following:
North Dakota Bakken incremental production during 2008: 55,000 barrels oil per day; Montana Bakken production duing 2008: 74,000 barrels oil per day; the two combined: 129,000 barrels oil per day. Total United States daily crude oil production ~8,000,000 barrels oil per day.
Total daily US consumption of crude oil: ~21,000,000 barrels oil per day, yiellding daily imports of about 13,000,000 barrels oil per day.
Hence, the current contribution from Bakken formation represents about 1.6% of total U.S. daily production, and just under 1% of daily imports.
I wish them (the producers) all the luck in the world, but I hope the people understand how truly difficult it is to materially impact our dependence on foreign oil. This play has been under intense development for no less than 5 years, and these wells are very expensive to complete successfully. Although the resource is certainly there, the extraction risks are very, very high.
The United States consumes about 7.65 Billion barrels oil per year, and the Williston Bakken play has so far ramped up to yield about 47 Million barels oil per year (.6% of total consumption).
In my opinion, our greatest opportunity to mitigate the near term impact due to foreign imports will be to open up our continental shelves, and the North Slope of Alaska.
I want to emphasize mitigate, due to the the reality of the natural decline rate that is currently being experienced by the entire US crude oil production system, about 6% per year.
This is not a joke, and is not a fear tactic.
Good job, I wish there was one of you in West Virginia.-Charles
I just changed e-mail providers,so glad to get signed back up to your newsletter;appreciate all your work to get news out to Wichitans. I stopped the Wichita Eagle, liberal reporting,editorials,etc. sure didn’t do anything to truthfully inform the public.The 100% positive “reporting”on Obama and his socialist agenda decided me; putting a positive spin on ‘cap and trade’when it can do nothing but destroy our economy!!!!
God Bless You for informing the folks!!!!
Wendy told me about your website and that you are working on a radio station project?? Could you tell me more about that? I have a background in communications & media.
I see that you love cats! I have several right now… some are needing homes. If you know of anyone that could take in a cat or a kitten, please let me know.
Katie Kat
Radio? Can I help you? Web? I’d be honored to help you there too… -Eric Henderson, Advantage Partners LLC Realty. I also own a web hosting comapny and provide some free space to you as needed.
Weeks needs to get a real job and stop meddling in politics for the sake of seeing his name in print. Apparently, this narcissist did not get the memo – politics is not the place for a known racist, hater of veterans, or childless yet self-appointed child education ‘expert’. Referring to himself as a ‘politician’ does not make him one, and our city would be grateful if this clown would find a soundproof cubicle with a time clock to help manage his obvious idle schedule.
How “green” is this “All American City”? The new airport terminal is coming down the pike. Some people still WANT a new library. Will it be truly “green”? This “All American City” should be seeking L.E.E.D. certification. Leadership In Energy and Environmental Design. This city likes to be “me too” in things like water walks, lofts, and “brownstones”. The city should show some real benficial “me too” and seek L.E.E.D. certification as some truly progressive, environmentally friendly cities have.
I must compliment you on your beautiful pictures of Wichita posted on your site.
They are quite good!
email: from OBAMA TEAM COMING TO Kansas
It’s Obama doing Community Organizing in Kansas
(remember the ACORN cry!)
LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL
I’m John Jevitts, and I’m excited to be the new Kansas State Director for Organizing for America. I want to invite you to join us as we host a Listening Tour across Kansas starting next week.
On the Listening Tour, OFA staff will update you on our plans and get your input on how we’ll organize Kansas going forward. Whether you’re already working to make change a reality, or if you’ve been waiting for the right moment to get involved, this is a great opportunity to share your thoughts and find out how to get active with OFA in your community.
Will you make your voice heard and join us on the Listening Tour?
Right now, we’re working to fix our deeply broken health care system that has denied many Americans the care they need for far too long. We’re closer than we’ve been in generations to achieving real reform — but to be successful enacting all of the bold changes we fought for in last year’s election, we need to hear from you. Your effort and commitment are the backbone of this movement and this organization.
As we work to pass real health insurance reform, reinvest in our schools, and jump-start a new green economy, we need to make sure your voices stay at the center of the debate. We’ve never had a better opportunity to shape our future — and just like during the election, we’ll do it from the bottom up.
Sign up now to attend a Listening Tour stop:
http://ks.barackobama.com/ListeningTourKS
I look forward to seeing you,
This message is for Bob Weeks: I would like to speak with you, regarding a county level governmental/political issue. If you would, please, email me a telephone number, I will contact you. Thank You
Say no to the Oklahoma road chat planned for Kansas. They say it will be encapsulated in asphalt. Look at any asphalt steet in Kansas. With our weather, asphalt smolders in the heat and heaves and cracks in the cold. The previously “encapsulated” heavy metals are easily exposed and can be washed into tributaries by rain and snow. The resultant dust by dry conditions and road wear can be blown onto fields. Other states don’t want it because of toxicity. Say NO Kansas citizens and “lawmakers”. It may be “cheap” now, but beware of possibly great health risks down the road. Pun intended.
First, the guy gets fired from a big corporation because they can hire a programmer in Bhutan for 10 cents a day and a bowl of rice.
Now that he has no gainful employement, he gives free PR to the glories of unregulated corporatism.
Makes one think of Harry Truman’s quote: How many times do you have to get hit over the head before you see who’s hitting you?
Bob,
Question regarding USD 259. With all of the discussions about budget cuts, program cuts, etc.. I have not seen one word about either freezing or reducing teacher salaries. Has that been discussed and based on the current budget and accompanying shortfall how much reduction in teacher salary (or salary increase perhaps?) is required to balance the budget?
Love the site, keep up the great work.
Steve Dunne
Steve,
Do your homework. Salaries were frozen for this school year and the next. No increase in steps, no increase in tracking, no quality of life increase. NONE – 2 years.
This site is a joke. Wish I hadn’t stumbled upon it.
Goodbye.
Bob,
Beginning tomorrow I will be a new Libertarian voice for Reno County and District 101. I will be running versus Joe Seiwert, who’s done a decent job, but we need to kick Reno County to the next level and make Kansas play fair.
Thad
You are missing the point. The corruption of government is largely the result of capitalism run amok. Politicians are beholding to their largest contributors. Lobbyists are writing laws to protect corporate interests and often to restrain competition. Weakened government will quickly be replaced by total corporate control and Americans will truly learn the meaning of coercion. Much of the political “division” in the country is being bankrolled by corporate entities and others whose careers are promoted by fueling controversy. You’re being played. It’s time to wake up.