Vote against disabled

If ever there existed a non-partisan issue, it should have been the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Yet, with their usual contrarian partisanship, the Republican minority in the Senate found a way to find fault with the treaty. It was defeated by five votes.

I am ashamed that Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts turned their backs on former Sen. Bob Dole, coincidentally a fellow Kansan, and cast their precious votes against the treaty. Dole’s lifetime of work to better the lives of the disabled means nothing to these shortsighted, stiff-necked, lock-step voting Republicans.

If we can’t trust them to support a vote that makes a positive difference in the lives of the disabled, how can we trust them to make wise choices on important matters like the economy, jobs or the environment?

Marie Lerner-Sexton

Olathe

A good deal

Many folks who complain about Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, apparently do not know that the entire plan will not be in full effect until 2015. There is an excellent graph of what goes into effect and when at www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline.

It is an excellent resource for folks wondering about the plan.

Insurance premiums will always increase because insurance companies are in business to make money.

But now, with the health care act, 80 to 85 percent of our premium dollars are to go to our health care. Please be informed about the plan before making any judgments.

You may find that the Affordable Care Act is a good deal for all Americans.

Charlene Pryor

Overland Park

Praise for teenagers

I was a first-time debate judge at Blue Valley North High School recently. Thirty high schools from rural, inner-city and suburban areas participated.

These students were dressed professionally and conducted themselves in a positive manner. The debate teams that I judged had good arguments, challenges and rebuttals.

These kids were well-informed about the topics they were debating. Three of the four participants were freshmen.

It was an absolute pleasure to be involved with these students. I believe our future is in good hands.

Bob Washburn

Kansas City

Messy political grease

Rest assured when the fiscal cliff fiasco is compromised and passed, it will bode ill for what’s left of the middle class as the politicians continually push it to the brink of disappearing into the abyss forever. However, as a consolation prize President Barack Obama will take a portion of the stimulus money, invest it in Johnson & Johnson and in return that company will freely distribute enough oil-based products to grease the legislative skids to oblivion.

Isn’t it funny how all the problems and crises in this country are created by politicians who, once they enter the “Never, Never Land” of Washington, D.C., want to enact more laws, changes and regulations to create more problems so more laws, changes and regulations can be enacted thereby perpetuating the vicious and costly cycle.

Expect the political grease to be supersized, folks, as it looks like the friction and irritation from government actions will be sticking with us repeatedly, internally and never-ending.

Charley Green

Overland Parks

Superstorm’s directive

Superstorm Sandy hit the most heavily populated area in the United States and generated recovery costs that can be matched only by 2005’s Hurricane Katrina.

We have seen millions of dollars in reconstruction costs as well as more than 100 fatalities and long-term health effects to the people of the Eastern Seaboard.

These changes in weather conditions have forced the public to contemplate the validity of climate change. Increasing atmospheric temperatures have catered to a northward migration of ocean storms, a longer storm season and unique behavior that can enhance the strength of the storms.

These are frightening facts to digest. It is imperative that the media put this connection to the effects of climate change at the forefront of their press coverage.

The U.S. government must enforce a transition away from coal, oil and gas by placing a direct fee on carbon-based fuels.

The revenue could then be returned to the public to cater to the higher energy costs and create an economy that would be focused around natural energy sources.

Superstorm Sandy has reminded us that effective leadership is needed now.

Whitney Jacks

Wichita

Romney in the Cabinet

President Barack Obama should reach across party lines and ask former Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney to serve as secretary of commerce in Obama’s new Cabinet.

This would expand lines of communication to the business sector and demonstrate Obama’s willingness to compromise for the good of the country.

Mr. Romney campaigned on his ability to create jobs, and as a Cabinet secretary he would have the opportunity to promote those ideas.

The electronic revolution has decimated the work force. Robots and computers now do the work formerly done by humans — better, faster and cheaper.

Even workers with critical skills, advanced degrees and years of experience have been replaced by microchips.

If Mr. Romney could develop methods to re-employ these displaced workers, he would earn the gratitude of a nation and leave public service with his legacy assured.

Kenneth Lee

Raytown

Stop domestic violence

The death of Kasandra M. Perkins last weekend, in a domestic homicide at the hands of her boyfriend, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, is a tragedy. The Metropolitan Family Violence Coalition, including Safehome, Synergy, Rose Brooks Center, Newhouse, Hope House and Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams Center, extends sympathy to the family of Kasandra and others affected by this terrible situation.

If someone you know is living in a controlling relationship that is potentially violent, there is help.

Domestic violence occurs every day in the Kansas City area, across all socio-economic strata. Money, status and prestige are, unfortunately, no guarantee of protection from domestic abuse and homicide.

Domestic violence homicides are preventable. The six shelter programs in Greater Kansas City provide a 24-hour crisis hotline, safe shelter, help with finding jobs and housing, court advocacy, transitional housing and free counseling to help victims of domestic violence leave the abuse and start a new life for themselves and their children.

If you or someone you know doesn’t feel safe at home, call 816-HOTLINE to learn about warning signs of abuse, risk factors, support, counseling and shelter.

Sharon I. Katz

Metropolitan Family Violence Coalition

Overland Park

Bank of America shuffle

We sold our home to a buyer who used Bank of America. We were told closing would happen Nov. 28.

Because we were told this, we moved into our new home, and that family moved out. Then, closing was to move to Nov. 29.

Nov. 30 and 31 came and went. Closing did not occur until Dec. 3. Because of this, my husband, a Kansas City police officer, and I unnecessarily took off work.

He missed out on an off-duty work opportunity, and we had to pay December interest on the home we sold. All of these total $2,024.80 that my family is now out. All because Bank of America did not close on time.

Bank officials insist that because we are not the “customer” and that they “only took two extra days,” there is nothing they can do.

Although we are not the direct customer to Bank of America and two days don’t seem like much in the grand scheme of things, my family is now suffering.

I understand that things happen in the world of business, but I also know that we were told one thing and yet another happened. This is unacceptable.

Jessica Marsh

Kansas City