Misguided Republicans

The election of 2012 confirmed the concern of hard core Republicans nationwide: There is no leadership or direction within the party.

The old guard led by Karl Rove, House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell failed to understand or comprehend that the voting electorate has changed. These socio-demographics the Republicans refuse to include are:

1) Women, who vote more than men, and have an influence in all aspects of business, as well as politics.

2) Hispanics, who by 2016, will be the majority voting category in several southern states.

3) The young voters, a very educated and dedicated populace, who realized early on that the Republican platform does not acknowledge the gay population, women’s rights and their right to medical insurance.

4) Evangelists, no longer an authority or a voting priority when it comes to a national election.

The disarray that was evident in the election is verified by the more than 300 electoral votes President Barack Obama received. To survive, this Republican Party must open its arms to all the above, shelve the tea party interests, and realize we are now a multicultural nation and not the party of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

Harold Matthew Noll

Shawnee

Voter suppression

What has happened to my home state of Kansas? I returned here after a 12-year absence, and what a shock.

First, the driver’s license. Even though I had previously been licensed here for 23 years, I now had to provide a copy of my marriage certificate.

The marriage was 40 years ago, so it took a while to get a copy.

A few days ago I voted early. An application was required.

Were we applying for permission to vote? I was told that the application would be checked against registration information, and “If you try to vote again on Tuesday, that info will pop up.”

It all clicked. The certificate, the application and the inefficient processes were all designed to make it difficult to vote at all. Kansas, land of voter suppression.

Marsha Brannies

Overland Park

Courtesy in voting

In future elections, it sure would be nice if retired and unemployed individuals would delay voting until the majority of the working population had time to vote and still get to work on time.

There were many people who had to leave without voting because of this.

It was obvious that a large portion of the voters at polling places at the crack of dawn were of retirement age. They obviously have their rights as well.

I just think it would be courteous for them to take working people into account on Election Day and get to the polls a little later so all voters can exercise their rights.

Cheryl Ellis

Lee’s Summit

More patrols needed

As a driver on Ward Parkway every morning and evening, I have seen very few police officers enforcing the rather slow speed limit.

The limit is 35 mph, which seems appropriate for the heavily populated area, but I am appalled when a speeder flies by traveling about 50 mph.

Almost every morning and afternoon I see three or four cars weaving to avoid the slower vehicles.

After witnessing more than five cars crash at high speeds, I have realized that maybe the Kansas City Police Department is not doing its job to enforce the speed limit.

During rush hour, when most police should patrol Ward Parkway, I see maybe one police car a month.

I believe police should be enforcing the speed limit on Ward Parkway, one of Kansas City’s nicest and busiest streets. Officers can do a lot better than they are doing today.

I hope to see a decrease in dangerous drivers on the parkway in the next few years.

Tim McFarland

Kansas City

Dear Billy Graham:

How disingenuous it is for you to purchase a full-page political ad in The Kansas City Star on Nov. 4 about “Biblical Values” today.

Where were you and your biblical values in your noticeable absence during the Civil Rights movement? You refused to take a stand then because you didn’t want to “get involved in politics.”

And where were your biblical values in your visible presence and support of the Vietnam War? The last time I checked, Jesus is in the Bible with a whole lot more to say about peace and justice than the narrow issues you mentioned.

And how about David and his nine wives at one time? Is that a biblical value?

Sam E. Mann

Kansas City

Fixing water breaks

The growing number of water main breaks throughout the Kansas City area has me concerned. With the many water main breaks that occurred during the summer, I am worried about what is going to happen once winter begins.

Colder weather tends to cause greater strain on pipes, creating a greater chance for cracks and leaks.

I feel the city has done a poor job of looking into the matter. City officials should have spent the summer repairing old and decrepit water lines in town, most of which are in dire need of replacement.

Regarding the great number of water main breaks that could occur over the winter, does the city have a plan for this?

Will people be forced to go without water for extended periods of time?

I believe the city needs to consider the consequences of this if it does take place and create a plan for how to handle it.

Curran Steck

Kansas City

Questions on Benghazi

Many Kansans are outraged with the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya. They believe the president hasn’t been straight with them and is now avoiding the issue.

Many, especially veterans and those in the military, fear that the sacred bond of never leaving a comrade in distress or danger may be worthless.

As the most senior Marine in Congress, I couldn’t agree more.

We cannot allow this to fester and infect the bond of taking care of our own.

In an open letter to President Barack Obama, I urged him to set the record straight. The letter can be viewed on my website at Roberts.senate.gov.

Until the president informs Americans of what happened and why, that bond, which has existed as long as the U.S. has fielded armies, is breaking. We must know why American assets nearby were not used to save American lives.

The request to set the record straight and restore the bond is made with the deepest sincerity.

The future morale and effectiveness of our military services may be at stake, and the consequences of this broken bond will be a burden for the president.

Sen. Pat Roberts

Dodge City, Kan.

Christie for president?

Three things that one might learn from the disaster on the East Coast.

First, by referring to the relationship between President Barack Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as a man-crush and bro-mance, Rush Limbaugh has relegated himself to total irrelevance.

How pathetic. Obama and Christie are actually cooperating to get things done.

Second, you now know why the Republicans have for decades tried to shrink government. Just look at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President George W. Bush and now.

The Republicans always work to underfund and undermine government agencies and then lobby to get rid of them. Sometimes government is not only a solution, it is the only solution.

Lastly, as a lifelong Democrat, I have serious respect for Christie. No other Republican would be seen in public cooperating with the president.

Give him all due credit for meaning it when he said that he has no need in his state for political games.

If he ever stands up to the Ann Coulter-Rush Limbaugh-Michele Bachmann-Sarah Palin wing of the Republican Party, Christie could be a serious political force and potential presidential candidate.

Kenneth Newnan

Prairie Village

Digital age, school days

Technology coming into the classroom is becoming the new big thing. Schools all across the metropolitan area are working to become “paper-free.”

When students see that their homework assignments have to be done on tablets or laptops, they seem to be more interested rather than having to read in a book and write out an essay or reflection. Book companies are also becoming more involved with creating apps for textbooks.

This allows people to purchase electronic versions of books, cutting out the process of printing and allowing for much lower prices.

A reason schools are starting to switch to the technology side of things is that students tend to be drawn toward something they use in their everyday lives, such as a tablet, laptop or smartphone.

Additional technology benefits include the interactivity of students with the schoolwork. The digital age is making our lives easier in all ways, including school.

John Coughlin

Kansas City