a kansas trifecta

having grown up in the state, I always take notice when it's featured prominently in my now local paper, the new york times. this morning, there are three articles on the home page, in which kansas is featured prominently. the big headline is that the kansas d.a. is demanding the medical records of women (and girls) who've had abortions so that he can prosecute those who had theirs outside the confines of the law and those who may have had underage sex. in a second article, editorial writer paul krugman uses thomas franks' fine book "what's the matter with kansas?" to argue against complacency toward the right's attack on social security. if paul knew less about economics, he and I could be great friends. the third article presents lawrence, kansas, in the times' regular travel feature, "36 hours in." this liberal oasis in the otherwise rightward state is a great town, where a friend was once handed a pizza while on acid, where the argument that kansas is flat holds no water, and where, in my quest for independence, I always feared I'd get stuck.