Letters | Rush Limbaugh, aiding China, Bishop Robert Finn

Drug testing for K2

On sales of K2 and other synthetic drugs in Missouri, the real-life stories are all too common. Young people (mostly) smoking or ingesting synthetic cannabinoids wanting to get high.

The unintended negative health effects are rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, loss of speech, loss of memory, seizures and sometimes death.

Many use K2, or Spice, because it is new. Others use it to avoid typical school, athletic department or workplace drug tests for marijuana.

However, many laboratories now can test for K2 and Spice. School administrators, parents, prevention specialists and hospital emergency rooms need to know that this test now exists and request it.

Drug testing is a very important piece of prevention and detection.

Andrea S. Wickerham

Vice President

The National Center

for Drug Free Sport

Kansas City

Brownback aids China

In his zeal to suck business out of Kansas City and across the state line, Gov. Sam Brownback and the Kansas Legislature gave a ridiculous tax break to AMC Theaters. Now the company has sold out and is owned by the Chinese (5-21, A1, “China firm buys AMC”).

So, congratulations, governor. The Chinese really need those subsidies.

Thanks a lot for supporting China. Kansas City loses millions in tax revenue.

Kansas gets next to nothing, and China wins.

Bill Pryor

Overland Park

State unfit for takeover

The Missouri General Assembly made noises about taking over the Kansas City public schools while the stench of the lawmakers’ secret induction of Rush Limbaugh into the Hall of Famous Missourians still hung in the air.

As we as a society finally recognize the damage caused by bullies, particularly to our students, do we really want to put in charge of our schools the people who honored Limbaugh, the very definition of a bully?

I don’t know the answers to the problems facing the school district, but I think the case to disband could be better made for the legislature than the district. At least recall the speaker of the House before putting our public education’s future in the hands of the state.

Limbaugh’s “many accomplishments” mostly benefited him and his many ex-wives. He should be marginalized and only recognized for what he is, a bully, a drug addict and a hypocrite.

David Quinly

Kansas City

Infamous, not famous

A May 17 editorial, “Tilley slams the House door,” stated that Rush Limbaugh “is unquestionably famous,” but actually he is infamous. There’s a huge difference.

David Matthews

Kansas City

Famous Missourians

The Missouri Republican legislators argued that Rush Limbaugh should be in the Hall of Famous Missourians because he is famous.

Jesse James is also a famous Missourian. I just checked, and he is not in the hall.

Perhaps the GOPers will add him next?

Daryl Pitts

Belton

Dodging tax load

I read where Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook, had wanted to avoid stiff taxes by leaving the country (5-18, A14, “Senators target Saverin”). Several senators want to punish him for doing that.

My question is: What’s the difference between him and the rich people who live here who avoid paying their fair share? How come they aren’t punished?

Could it be that being a rich Republican goes a long way toward shirking your share of the tax load?

Jesse Aguilar

Kansas City

Low streetcar interest

We’re being told there is a huge interest in getting a downtown circulator, commonly known as a streetcar, built in downtown Kansas City.

Yet when it comes time to vote on setting up the taxing district, an incredibly small number of eligible voters and beneficiaries of the streetcar bother to request a ballot.

How much are these elections costing the taxpayers? Are we going to allow 400 people to make it possible to raise taxes on all of downtown to build something that is clearly not wanted?

Can we call it off because of a lack of interest?

Sue Burke

Kansas City

Savings instead of cost

According to the Congressional Budget Office, “extending the Bush-era tax cuts would cost roughly $3.8 trillion over 10 years.” (5-16, A2, “Showdown ahead”)

A “cost”?

To whom? To our bloated government?

Why doesn’t the Congressional Budget Office — or the news media — ever describe such a tax cut extension as “saving taxpayers roughly $3.8 trillion”?

The Congressional Budget Office may be “nonpartisan,” but such language choices certainly influence how an issue like this is perceived — and reported.

Richard B. Barger

Kansas City

Left coast leanings

Prima facie evidence that the Democrats are bent on ruining this country: California, which has become a template for their national plans.

California was once a magnificent Eden, blessed with incredible resources and offering virtually unlimited opportunity, but now it is a bankrupt land of high taxes, overregulation, public sector union domination, green energy mania, engendering destructive environmentalism, insane public spending programs, welfare benefits that have become a magnet for the “entitled” and illegal immigration, resulting in a migrating exodus of productive citizens.

The “takers” in California now outnumber the contributors, guaranteeing the continued re-election of such lemming-like leftist luminaries as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Maxine Waters — California’s “gifts” to us as they join President Barack Obama in his relentless jihad toward national economic suicide.

Michael T. Murphy

Prairie Village

Engaging young people

The essence of the May 16 article, “Just give us safe places to have fun, teens say,” is that Kansas City or someone should give our teens places to be entertained.

My questions are: Where are the parents?

And what are they doing with their teens?

It seems that the parents are too tired or bored to engage these young people in some meaningful activities themselves.

Also, what are these teens doing for Kansas City and their neighborhoods?

How much time are they studying or helping with chores in their homes?

Why don’t they entertain themselves by doing some self-improvement activities such as joining the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, learning karate or growing a garden?

When I told my parents that I was bored, they said, “OK, I have plenty of work for you, and when you finish I have more.”

I was sorry I’d brought up the subject.

This is the problem in the high school. The parents think the teachers are babysitters, and the students think they should be entertained.

If parents don’t wake up and the public just keeps ignoring the problem, you’ll see what undisciplined and unguided young people will become.

Tom Powell

Independence

Bishop Finn must resign

A lot has been written of late about Bishop Robert Finn’s handling of Father Shawn Ratigan.

Bishop Finn has pleaded no-contest in Clay County over these matters and faces a trial in Jackson County.

I am a cradle Catholic, and this entire affair has caused irrecoverable damage to my church, our priests and my fellow parishioners.

If Bishop Finn truly is concerned about his flock, he needs to simply resign so we can begin to rebuild our church.

David Biersmith

Kansas City

Shopping challenges

Concerning recent letters about modest clothing, as for “exiting the junior departments,” suppose you were 91 years old and a junior size. It calls for hours of shopping.

Fortunately, I love to shop.

Alice B. Swanson

Independence

Gift for cancer survivor

Recently, after two surgeries for breast cancer and then learning that I was found to be cancer-free, I treated myself to a pedicure from a nice attendant, Jessie.

I shared my good news with him.

Soon the cashier informed me that the customer on my right (I had only seen her feet) paid for my pedicure and also the tip for Jessie, making sure that her name would not be given to me.

Of course, I cried to think a stranger whose face I hadn’t even seen would do such a thing for me.

Perhaps she, too, was a cancer survivor.

I want to thank the lady who gave me this wonderful gift. I promise I will pay this favor forward in her honor by reminding women young and old to get an annual mammogram.

Shirley McGeary

Roeland Park