Here are some immediate, if extreme, solutions to the FCPS budget crisis | Opinion
FCPS budget
Looking at the Fayette County Public Schools budget crisis from outside the county, one can see some immediate solutions.
1. Sell the old Herald Leader building
2. Sell the church building on Georgetown Street
3. Transfer all vocational programs to Kentucky’s Community and Technical System. (KCTCS) KCTCS has the resources and expertise to prepare students for real world jobs. Additionally, using the resources of KCTCS will allow more students to take advantage of the possibility of dual credit programs. More Fayette County students could earn associate degrees prior to or simultaneous with their high school diploma as students do in Boone County and Dayton Independent Schools.
Paul L Whalen, Ft. Thomas
McConnell’s legacy
The airbrush treatment of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s, R-Ky., legacy by the Herald Leader does a grave disservice to the historical record and therefore voter information. Let the record reflect that McConnell was instrumental in sabotaging campaign finance reform efforts, which could have lessened the corrosive influence of corporate money in elections. Indeed, he spearheaded the Citizens United ruling, opening the door for unlimited campaign Donations. Think of Elon Musk’s $275 million spent in 2024, and where that led.
Let the record also reflect he blocked the nomination of a Democratic judge to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, in 2016 because it was “too close to the election” (237 days). He then hustled the Republican nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, to Senate confirmation 38 days before the election in 2020, an unprecedented power grab. That Supreme Court has now given President Donald Trump immunity from prosecution, and Trump, a convicted felon, has responded accordingly with almost daily attacks on the rule of law and the Constitution.
None of which would’ve happened if Mitch had voted to impeach Trump when the opportunity arose! By always putting party over country, McConnell has set the table for Democracy’s demise. Some legacy!
John Scott, Lexington
Promises made
At every 2024 campaign rally then candidate Donald Trump claimed if elected that on “Day 1” he would end inflation, reduce the price of eggs, and end the war in Ukraine. The MAGA crowd fell for his con and gave him barely enough votes to get elected. Although, for a third time, he did not win a majority of the popular vote.
2016 - 45.9 percent of the popular vote
2020 – 47.7 percent
2024 – 49.8 percent
Total for all three elections – 47.9 percent
So now we are over 200 days into his second term, and he hasn’t done anything to keep his campaign promises. Instead, he has imposed tariffs that have negatively impacted the entire world economy and increased the price of everything, while drastically increasing unemployment. He has deferred to Putin, who is the aggressor, on not ending the Ukraine War. He has done nothing to keep his campaign promises, but he has instead found plenty of time for his first priority, playing golf almost every day.
Kevin Kline, Lexington
Christian Nationalism
There is a cadence to the onset of fascism, used to exacerbate the pace of its march. From a vile and perverse diabolism feigning religious righteousness, the chorus singing the hymn of this evil is Christian Nationalism.
Christian Nationalism seeks to eradicate representative democracy through dominating government policy. It is not differently from Islamic Theocratic regimes. The President’s policy of “eradicating Anti-Christian Bias” has found a vehicle to create an enemy of anyone that does not favor “Christian Nationalism.”
I will never support Christian Nationalism because it is an anathema to Christ. This is not religious freedom. It is the state in direct conflict with the Constitution, “wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.”
The intent is now being misaligned from attacking a religious base as Hitler’s fascists did, to attacking anyone with conscience and agency to actually retain their freedom. Do not make the mistake of failing to recognize this as the active threat it is.
This Presidential order is a threat and establishes respect for a specific religion by name. I assume that unless we stop this insanity soon ... they will come looking to “eradicate” those of us that will not kneel in prayer to their diabolic dominion.
Robert Moreland, Lexington
Coney Barrett in denial
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s stark denial of a Constitutional crisis in the U.S. demonstrates either gross ignorance or illegal complicity regarding the unconstitutional practices of President Donald Trump, and his administration. A complete list of violations is much too long for this letter, however I will mention a few:
1. Active and treasonous alignment with and support of Vladimir Putin/Russia
2. Undermining national security by eliminating agents, agencies, and actions necessary to protect from espionage by Russia and other nations
3. Denying the right of due process and conducting brutal inhumane illegal detention and deportation of immigrants
4. Refusal to abide by the orders of Federal judges
5. Military action against U.S. citizens in violation of states’ rights
6. Large-scale misappropriation of Congress-designated funds
7. Punishment of public and private organizations for their diversity values and practices
8. Military action toward Iran and Venezuela without congressional approval.
The enablement of Trump’s crimes by GOP congress members, the Attorney General, and six Supreme Court justices clearly presents a Constitutional crisis. Justice Barrett’s denial fuels and enlarges the crisis. Is it ignorance or complicity? Either way, she is without excuse. Time for her to keep her oath of office!
Beverly C. Johnson-Miller, Lexington
Epstein files
The materials recently provided by Jeffrey Epstein’s estate when added to what has already been submitted, suggest that President Donald Trump knew what Epstein was doing and that the two men held secrets between themselves.
The letter from the 2003 ‘birthday book’ is densely cryptic, but it mentions Trump and Epstein having “certain things in common,” it raises an idea about never aging and connects that to a specific occasion, and it points to an ongoing secret. The entry about Trump ‘buying’ a woman from Epstein seems to attempt humor, but it is also elaborate and specific, including context from a seeming ‘middle man.’ And recall in Trump’s 2002 interview with New York Magazine, he noted Epstein’s predilection for women “on the younger side,” which is curious given what we now know.
None of these items provides proof, but many of them have an odd specificity, winking in the same direction. Questions of this magnitude, if not fully resolved, should be disqualifying for any position of public trust. Given our awareness now of several contemporary items suggesting Trump’s knowledge of, or involvement in, Epstein’s activities, how is anyone comfortable continuing to support this President?
David Farris, Lexington
Rural health care
With healthcare cuts passed in July 2025, 35 rural Kentucky hospitals are threatened with closure. We can’t let that happen!
Americans in rural communities die younger than those in urban areas, losing three years of life. It’s more dangerous to give birth in a rural community, where about 30 women die in pregnancy or childbirth for every 100,000 live births, compared to about 18 in urban areas. In rural communities, greater numbers of people have no health insurance, and health insurance costs about 10 percent more. When rural hospitals close, the entire community suffers economic decline.
The United States spends twice as much per person on healthcare as other wealthy nations yet continues to produce failing outcomes. The outcomes are worse for those on farms and in small towns.
The crisis demands a response equal to the catastrophic threat.
Enactment of Improved Medicare for All, national, single payer insurance free from profit, would save our hospitals by providing operating costs and assuring that all patients can get the care they need without premiums, copays or deductibles.
Everyone has a right to the excellent health care that our wealthy nation has the ability to provide, and that must include the residents of rural areas.
Kay Tillow, Louisville
Folksy talk
You’ve probably noticed that a lot of people are using the word “folks” in place of “people” nowadays. What’s wrong with the word, people, you might be thinking?
On one hand, I think most of us recognize that the second-person form of the word, people, can be off-putting. It sounds downright disdainful to address others as “you people.” The word, folks, sounds more congenial. Some say it’s more inclusive on account of its congeniality.
Besides, we fondly remember several customary uses of the word, folks. These include “womenfolk,” and “old folks.” There are also the phrases “Old Folks at Home” from that famous Stephen Foster song and “That’s All Folks!” from show business.
In Kentucky, we’ve seen the phrase “Old Folks Country Sausage” on a popular product we find in our grocery stores. And yet, there’s “We the People” from the Preamble of our U.S. Constitution and Abraham Lincoln’s fervent hope for “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
These two words, folks and people, are not synonyms. Kentuckians know the difference from our daily conversational usage of both. I’m thinking we ought to continue using both words however we feel right about them.
Tom Louderback, Louisville
Edited by Liz Carey
