UMKC economicsThe Star deserves great credit for its Jan. 17 page one article, “UMKC home to mavericks of economics,” on UMKC’s groundbreaking Department of Economics. Previously, University of Missouri-Kansas City economists have received far more national and international attention than recognition from Kansas City.
The fine article makes it even more clear the ridiculousness of the Scott Stantis editorial cartoon in the same issue. The cartoon shows President Barack Obama’s policies transforming the United States into Greece.Whatever one thinks of Obama, America creates and controls its own currency and pays its debts in dollars. It therefore is literally impossible for it to become like Greece, which functions within the Euro zone. To argue otherwise may be effective as a political talking point but is either ignorant or devious. Max J. Skidmore University of Missouri Curators’ Professor of Political Science Thomas Jefferson Fellow Overland ParkImproving KC schoolsThe problem with education is education. The reason I say that is simple.Education is no longer about education. It is simply about profit. Look at what the Independence School District wants to do with the Kansas City Public School students.If we take your students we want more money. And guess what? The state test scores for three years for those students don’t count.The Independence district is going to get a lot more money and make a profit and have no worry about the Kansas City students’ learning for three years. Now for my solution: Spend the money on principals who are great education leaders.Cut the classes to no more than 25 students in high school and 15 students in elementary school students. Give teachers enough time for collaboration of teachers.Make sure school starts for high school after 9 a.m. Every school board member and administrator from the superintendent on down should have to substitute in the schools every semester at a week at a time.If these simple steps were taken, it would be a great step to having at least half-empty prisons in the future. H. Lon Swearingen Kansas CityClass warfare in KansasThere are so many things to be said about Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s new tax proposal (1-18, A4, “Tax plan hits poor hardest”). However, the “new” Republican plan can all be summed up in the clichéd phrase: The richer will be getting richer, and the poor will be getting poorer.Let class warfare begin. Joe Hodnik OlatheTebow right in prayerRegarding Rev. Sam E. Mann’s Jan. 15 letter concerning Tim Tebow’s “hypocritical” public praying, the good reverend might get his context right before offering such scathing criticism of the man’s motives. Jesus was mainly talking about the sanctimonious religious leaders of the time (Matt. 6), who loved to be heard and seen in public doing all their righteous deeds so that they might “receive men’s rewards.”Tim Tebow was asked why he talks about God all the time. He grinned and said simply, “Because he deserves it, man.” One who lives his life in such an exemplary manner and does many good deeds mostly in secret is merely being himself in public as well — honoring his God boldly and humbly. To God, to publicly pray, gesture, or fervently talk of him might first be defined by what’s in the heart. Terri G. Jackson Grain ValleyProgram for older adultsIn the Jan. 10 article, “Gold mine in golden years,” fear is cited as keeping some senior citizens from shopping. Clay County Public Health Center and Platte Senior Services offer the Matter of Balance program. It’s evidence-based and designed to address the fear of falling.The program addresses other risks, too, such as inactivity, low vision, environmental hazards and assertiveness. The program also teaches exercises that improve strength and balance.Restricted activity because of a debilitating fear of falling again is one reason seniors don’t fully recover from falls. Because of fear, they stop engaging in activities that once kept them healthy and happy and instead stay at home inactive.Inactivity and disengagement lead to muscle and bone loss and depression. The cycle continues when the individuals do participate in an activity, but because of a loss of strength are unsteady on their feet, reinforcing their desire just to stay home. Through cognitive restructuring, this program changes that negative fear into a positive motivating thought and that can potentially save a person’s life. I hope that older adults will take advantage of this free program to maintain independence and quality of life. Elizabeth Griffith ShawneeOust Obama in NovemberA Jan. 16 letter writer put down the Republican Party. I am not a Republican. I am a conservative independent and have voted for candidates in both parties. Instead of saying how badly President Barack Obama has been treated and how hard the Republicans have pushed to get rid of him, why don’t you seriously consider what he has done to destroy our country since he has been in office?For your information, I voted for Obama and I am sorry I did. It has nothing to do with his color. It is the idea in his head of making us a socialist country, acting as if he is above all laws of the land, and sending our national debt to the moon.None of this has anything to do with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a man I admired. It’s all about the quality of our president now. James Mullins Kansas CityShortsighted cuts in KCRegarding the city manager’s proposal to cut Kansas City Fire Department personnel, the shortsightedness of supposedly informed people about what firefighters are trained and able to do is disheartening (1-18, A1, “Budgetary firestorm”). Firefighters do so much more than fight fires. They are emergency medical technicians as well, making them mandated first responders, which enhances their ability to serve the public safety. A car accident with minor injuries can turn into a raging car fire. Non-fire incidents that require someone with the experience and training of firefighters include extrications, high rise rescues, trench collapses, hazardous materials spills and water rescues. The Fire Department consistently receives some of the highest citizen satisfaction ratings. There’s a reason for that.They are prepared and ready with enough personnel to help in a wide variety of incidents, not just fires. Angela Curran Kansas CityGive ’em hell, HarryTo the people who think many letters to the editor spout anti-conservative drivel, please remember this quote from President Harry Truman: “I never gave anybody hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell.” Ken Leonard LenexaObama’s focus wrongThe Obama administration has stated that it will aggressively enforce gay rights around the world. The administration announced that it will use aid as leverage to do this. It’s too bad that administration officials will not use the same outrage at Muslim countries that persecute and murder Christians, Jews and other non-Muslims. Christians in Iraq, Egypt and Libya are worried about their safety with the withdrawal of American soldiers from the region. So much for the Arab Spring. By its actions, the Muslim world shows that there is no such thing as a Muslim society — only Muslim mobs that are either in control or out of control. Right now they are the latter.Muslims need to march for non-Muslims’ rights, not here but in Muslim countries. That will show the world that they are a civilized society and not a capricious mob.President Barack Obama need not worry about being re-elected. He will be — not because he deserves it, but because we deserve him as a punishment for our sins. Art Carrillo Kansas CityRead more Letters to the Editor
Posted on Thu, Jan. 19, 2012 06:11 PM
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