Winston Churchill is credited with saying, ?If you?re not a liberal at 20 you have no heart; if you?re not a conservative at 40 you have no brain.? The observation of the legendary leader of Great Britain highlights the change that so often comes with age: idealism matures into practicality.
Kansans, as a whole, have never been thought of as a ?liberal? people. But the label ?conservative? definitely has changed. The 2014 election reinforced that. Republi?can office holders who once considered themselves ?conservative? on fiscal and social issues are now targeted by GOP ?true conservatives.?
Kansas has a political legacy for progressive conservatism, an outlook that balances the rights of the individual with a responsibility to care for those of lesser fortune. Where are we headed? One wonders if we have either heart or brain. ?DR
