Get out and vote today

Voting is at an all-time low, with too few people voting in the 2008 election and expectations of even fewer votes in this 2012 election. Why aren’t people voting?

People say they’re too busy, don’t care about either candidate or think their votes don’t matter.

They’re wrong.

People are using these excuses to cover up that they are lazy.

Too lazy to get informed, get registered and vote.

Our government needs to do more to inform people on how they can easily do these things. Authorities should push the fact that the presidential race is so close the nation needs every vote and opinion it can get.

Citizens who are eligible to vote need to get educated about some of the issues of this election and make their decisions about who they think would be the best leader for this country.

Everyone should be voting this year because every vote does count.

McKenzie Still

Liberty

Just another day

My brother mentioned that it doesn’t matter who gets elected from the vote today because the world is going to end Dec. 21 anyway.

I told him not to count on that because I heard the guy producing the Mayan calendar simply refused to purchase any more blank tablets.

It turns out he was just a cheap chiseler.

Bill Coffman

Lee’s Summit

Important memories

I really enjoyed Emily Parnell’s memories of her grandparents and all the fun things they used to do together (10-17, Neighborhood News, “From painting to pancakes, grandparents’ house is the best”).

It made me remember my own grandparents and all the wonderful times we used to have together also.

With all the news about the debates and all of the problems in the world, it was so refreshing to read an article about grandparents and family, and how much they mean to us.

I also enjoy the columns by C.W. Gusewelle and Tony Rizzo.

They all help us stop and reflect on what’s truly important in our lives.

Renee McCormick

Independence

Traffic light idea

Kansas City can’t afford to repair and replace traffic lights (10-29, A1, “Traffic light switch causes public outcry”). I’ve got an idea.

Spend $1.2 billion on a new airport.

Tom Thornton

Mission Hills

Superstorm Sandy

Is it possible that the massive Sandy storm is nature’s way of expressing an opinion on our dysfunctional electoral process?

Maybe it is not good to “have the best government money can buy.”

Maybe Sandy says, “Enough, already! We’re all sick and tired of this political mess.”

Ruth Fine

Paola

Where’s aid for U.S.?

Our great nation is always the first to assist other countries in their times of need. When disasters such as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes occur, our country steps up and delivers financial, medical, food and other needed aid.

Now, as we observe tremendous damage and loss of life caused by Superstorm Sandy, where are countries such as Israel, India, Mexico, Japan, China, Korea and all the others that received our tax dollars to help them rebuild?

Why hasn’t our president requested these countries come forward to our aid?

We Americans have always opened our hearts and checkbooks for others.

Now is the time for these nations, to which we have sent millions of tax dollars, to help the U.S.

We have always pulled ourselves up by the bootstraps, so this should be a valuable lesson.

Charity does begin at home, and that is exactly where our tax dollars should stay.

Jay Lawson

Excelsior Springs

Make zoo smoke-free

It was sad to read about the death of the chimp Nusu and how his death could have been prevented (10-18, A1, “Chimp care at KC Zoo is criticized”). The zoo needs to ensure that the health of the animals comes first.

This is important if Kansas City seeks to have anywhere near the level of a world-class zoo such as those in Omaha or San Diego.

I visited the zoo recently, probably the first time in a decade.

Kansas City should be proud of the polar bear. He is grand addition, delightful and exciting and, of course, endangered, as are most zoo animals.

We continued on through the Kansas City Zoo and came upon at least three designated smoking areas. This was disturbing and sad.

The map of the zoo actually lists about six of these designated smoking areas. What kind of zoo would allow people to smoke?

Allowing smoking anywhere in a zoo environment near animals, endangered or not, is detrimental to the animals and, of course, the visitors. This policy is backward.

The Kansas City Zoo needs to be smoke-free. Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is smoke-free.

Barbara Spring

Overland Park

Common sense in voting

Having voted for the last 53 years in every election from local, to state, to federal, I have learned a few things.

Campaign promises are easy to make and hard to keep. Don’t let yourself be disappointed.

Most negative political ads begin with a kernel of truth that is so distorted it is no longer true. Don’t believe them.

If you are a single-issue voter (jobs, abortion, immigration, energy, etc.) make sure you know your candidate’s full agenda. You may agree on only one thing.

I have yet to figure out how winning a political debate indicates how the person will perform in office.

This year we have too much money being spent, too many sound bites on TV, too many negative ads, too many political pundits and too many polls. Don’t allow all of this to shape your thinking.

Think for yourself. Learn all you can about all the candidates and then use your own best judgment and common sense to guide you when you vote.

Remember, if you don’t vote, you have given up your right to complain about what is happening to our country.

Nancy Wakefield

Platte City

Missing MU-KU game

Missouri and Kansas need to play each other in football again ... so one of them can win a game.

Fritz Kreisler

MU Class of 1953

Independence