Republican obstructions

When former GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich was in Missouri, he said with great clarity that the primary reason Missourians should vote for GOP U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin was so Republicans could take over the U.S. government.

This has been the only goal the Republicans have had in the last decade.

It is what every ounce of energy and thought has been given to.

There has been zero invested in solving problems, dealing with issues or caring for the needs of citizens. Taking over continues to be their only agenda.

Anyone with any objectivity can see that.

In the past three years, Congress has accomplished next to nothing because Republicans have been completely dedicated to ensuring that nothing gets done.

Why should anyone honor such a dangerous, self-serving agenda by voting for them? Are not senators and Congress members elected to serve the people?

Republicans have purposely and pointedly refused to meet their leadership obligations to focus entirely on taking over. It is the worst possible motivation for running to be a public servant.

It is the worst possible reason for giving Akin our votes.

Dale Ramsey

Raymore

Tell-all Obama book

Paul Kengor’s most recent book, “The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis: The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mentor,” will no doubt be another best seller. As opposed to our mainstream media, Kengor took the time and effort to raise the heavy curtain of secrecy and deception concerning our president.

The president has shrugged off any references to his close association with the hard left and communists. Kengor puts the lie to that position.

Kengor also strips the veil off Obama’s closest advisers, Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod.

Thomas Hammack

Camdenton, Mo.

Romney’s disrespect

The frenzy over the presidential and vice presidential debate derby is downright juvenile and largely a product of the 24-hour news cycle. High-profile debates are easier to cover than real-world issues.

Comparative debating performances in poorly managed debates signify nothing. A major message of the debate in Denver went unreported: Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s disrespect of a senior was made clear by Romney’s bullying of moderator Jim Lehrer.

If elected, Romney would show all seniors (especially the “unproductive” ones), the same disdain. In Denver, Jim Lehrer got “Bained.”

Bob Campbell

Lawrence

Pets in governor vote

Attention Missouri voters who care about animals. When you go to the polls next month to elect a governor, remember what happened to Proposition B on puppy mills last year.

Joyce Kidd

Kansas City

Cash pollutes politics

Almost everyone believes we should get money out of political elections. I see only one way to do that — give politicians less money with which to buy votes.

Does that mean limiting political contributions? We’ve tried that several times in several ways, and it doesn’t seem to have worked.

Politicians buy votes with contributions. True. But with what do politicians buy contributions?

The answer is our tax dollars. The more money we pay in taxes, the more money Congress has to give to special interest groups.

The more money these special interest groups get, the more money they give to the very politicians who either awarded them government contracts or passed laws giving them an advantage over their competition.

George Dechow

Grandview

McClanahan column

In a Sept. 30 column, “America’s food nazis are on the march,” E. Thomas McClanahan is in high dudgeon about the government pushing students and adults to eat healthier.

He concludes: “In a matter as personal as what we eat, how much trust should we put in people who don’t trust us?”

So shouldn’t he also agree with this statement: “In a matter as personal as what women do with their bodies, how much trust should we put in people who don’t trust women?”

McClanahan and other far-right Republicans obviously don’t trust women.

Every year, states enact more restrictions on women’s reproductive rights: vaginal ultrasounds, waiting periods and scare tactics such as misleading medical information. They’re well along on the slippery slope toward outlawing all abortions, period.

When is McClanahan going to speak out against “all that self-righteous preaching” and “government interference” he finds so offensive?

Liz Craig

Mission

‘Great Gatsby’ lessons

I’ve been reading lately about how wealthy donors are lining up to write five-, six-, even seven-figure checks in support of favored candidates. And then Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney disdainfully comments about Americans who earn too little to pay income taxes.

I was reminded of a favorite line from F. Scott Fitzgerald in “The Great Gatsby”: “Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry.”

A lesson that I hope Mr. Romney and those wealthy donors will learn soon.

Mark Hastert

Kansas City

On empty in Congress

Wow. The pundits and politicians have discovered that the government is in debt. Well, duh.

We have waged two decade-long wars, poured billions into bailouts and given millions to the oil companies and corporate farmers. What is their answer?

Let’s jump on Republican vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan’s idea of kicking the can down the road by taking social services away from our children and grandchildren 10 years from now. No Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or other social services for them, so we don’t have to pay for the debt now.

Same old, same old in Washington, D.C.

Arthur Basler

Lee’s Summit

Congressional goof-ups

H.L. Mencken once said, “For every problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat and wrong.” Congress for many years has worked hard to prove Mencken’s quote.

Laws are put together using political motives or personal advantage and are doomed to failure when implemented. There’s no evidence that any effort has been expended to ensure that the laws will address the problems and that finances are available to support their implementation.

We are at a critical crossroads, and the momentum is increasing as Congress continues the struggle to control federal finances and stabilize our private economy. The illusion that we can pass these problems on to the future is proof that too many members of Congress are not intelligent enough to effectively apply the time-honored methods of problem-solving.

They need to accept responsibility and show respect for one another, simple honesty and a commitment to the task at hand.

Time is running out. We as citizens are losing ground to a body that does not acknowledge our rights or needs, and more and more of us are surrendering to a life of failure.

James H. Tiller III

Olathe

Voter ID debate

I recently had to do business at a Social Security office regarding my retirement benefits. After presenting my paperwork, I was asked for my driver’s license or photo identification card to prove my identity.

After leaving the office, I wondered how all those disabled and elderly whom the voter ID requirement would disenfranchise were able to deal with Social Security without having any ID.

Terry L. Hammontree

Edwardsville

It is called a license because driving is a privilege, and the state gives you a license. Voting is your constitutional right.

Just why are true patriots so eager to have their right to vote suppressed? What is also interesting is that initially the Republicans claimed this was for voter fraud, although little has been found.

Voter fraud is like then-President George W. Bush’s claim of weapons of mass destruction — the reality doesn’t match Republican rhetoric. Just make up a new story (some call it lying). We invaded Iraq for freedom, not WMDs.

Cutting taxes for the wealthy doesn’t lead to job growth and is a job destroyer? There must be more crazy government regulations standing in the way. No voter fraud? Change the line to opening a checking account.

Besides trying to shred the Constitution, what have Republicans done in the last four years other than fight President Barack Obama from Day One and make all of our lives more miserable?

At least Mussolini had the trains running on time. What have the Republicans done for you lately besides steal your rights while you cheer?

Joseph Megerman

Overland Park