Miner, Conclusion "Horizons"

Even though Kansas has experienced many changes, controversaries, and ground breaking legislative decisions, we have remained a wholesome part of the American culture. We have had radical reformers who brought new and exciting ideas to the nation. We have had wonderful and talented writers and playwrites that have grown up in the small town communities of the state.
Overall the people who are raised in Kansas are a different stock than others. They can tend to be more moralistic, more considerate, and more open minded than a lot of other states.

Miner, Chapter 9, "Like the Nations"

The best way to describe what I would pull out of this chapter would be with a direct quote.
"The year 1985, close as it was to George Orwell's dystopian year 1984, was an unusual time in Kansas history. THe nuclear plant came on line, a serverance tax on oil and gas was in place; liquor by the drink and parimutuel betting bills cleared the legislature; L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology. was declared an honary Kansas citizen; the attorney general was charged in a sexual harassment suit; serial killers were tried for a murder rampage in western Kansas; and the governor was divorced for the second time during his term, with pundits doubting that it would affect his political career. No wonder a state legislator, desparate to preserve something of the state's traditional image, introduced a bill to make "wholesome" milk the official Kansas state drink,
Even though all of these things were happening and yet Kansas continued to be an example of the wholesome heartland.

Miner, Chapter 8 "Concrete Steps"

In this chapter I thought it was interesting in the fact that Kansas was so aligned with improving themselves they were willing to sell out their citizens. In making this statement I am speaking of the turnpike. Why would a governor want to block progress by assigning more state funding for improving the state. But by charging the citizens of the state more for the toll that made it more expensive to travel Kansas roads. Also, I did find it interesting that Kansas turnpike was the first to use reflective signs on its turns. It has always been commonplace for me to see them . I couldn't imagine traveling without them.