Shameful senators

I am very upset at the votes last week made by Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts of Kansas (12-6, Editorial, “An irrational treaty vote”). To vote against the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, something that was modeled after our own Americans with Disabilities Act, is reprehensible.

Sen. Moran said he had to vote his conscience. Why then was I polled on this very question?

I received a robo-call asking me to vote yes or no regarding other entities, such as the United Nations, making and enforcing laws regarding U.S. citizens. Moran supported the treaty earlier.

When I read The Star’s editorial regarding this matter, I thought: How would Kansans even know that this treaty was up for a vote? Ahhhh, Glenn Beck and Rick Santorum.

The right arm of the Republican Party was using this very important issue as a scare tactic to the American people. Of course.

Not only am I disappointed in the senators for the above-mentioned, but to not respect elder statesman former Sen. Bob Dole is, in my opinion, disgusting.

Alison Martin

Leawood

Brownback wrong

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback proclaimed Dec. 8 as a Day of Restoration in Kansas, asking “every citizen of our state to join in asking a Holy God to bring healing and restoration.”

There are many problems surrounding this egregious proclamation, including the governor’s total disregard for the separation of church and state and the resulting affront to anyone not deemed a Christian, such as Muslims, Jews and atheists.

Additionally, ReignDown, the organization promoting this event, is an extreme right-wing organization associating itself with people who are not even close to the mainstream when it comes to political issues. Among its articulated stands are the endorsement of prayer in school and opposition to abortion for any reason.

Not only do I find the governor’s actions unacceptable, I fear his no-tax policy to encourage individuals and businesses to move to Kansas will surely be inhibited by his extremism, thus inflicting even more harm and cuts in social services sorely needed by many Kansas residents.

Judy Sherry

Kansas City

Realities of beef

Folks, grow up. Meat is not born on stretch-wrapped foam trays (12-9, A1, “Beef’s raw edges”).

Butchering is messy business. Mammals poop when they die.

Cook your meat properly. It doesn’t have to moo to taste good.

Those who think steak tartare is tasty didn’t grow up around cattle. I did. I leave tartare to the swells and prefer my steaks just shy of well-done.

Back in the day, butchering was a necessary activity. The folks and neighbors got together to help each other.

We ate well and, to my recall, never got sick from what

weren’t pristine conditions. We butchered only what we needed, not for mass production.

And they were pasture-fed and tasty without drugs. How did consumers get to be such food snobs and pansies?

How did we survive the produce, dairy and meat consumed straight from the source? Very well, thanks.

And we think the price of these foods is high now? Sure, keep calves in the pastures longer. Ranchers would love the extra dollars per pound. The insatiable demand for cheap food has driven the industry to what it is.

Get over it. It’s reality.

Bridget Bauer

Kansas City

Uplifting good news

Sometimes you read a story that makes you feel good (12-1, A1, “Farewell, tough times”). The article about the Powerball winners, Cindy and Mark Hill, tells me that good people are supposed to win.

They have both experienced being unemployed, as many others have, but survived. They have good family values and seem to be just regular people.

They said that some of their winnings would pay for granddaughters’, nieces’ and nephews’ college educations along with charitable donations benefiting children. This tells me all I need to know about these deserving winners.

Gary Katz

Kansas City

No tax cuts for rich

We keep hearing that the George W. Bush tax cuts for rich people must continue so they will create jobs. Hogwash.

So far those tax cuts have generated tons of money that lies idle in Swiss banks and accounts in the Caymans. If these tax cuts continue, is the new money suddenly going to be spent differently? Not likely.

Statistics indicate that any recent investments were made mostly for computers and robots, not human labor. Employment grows only when there is money in the hands of those who will spend it on labor-intensive activity.

The 1 percent had their chance and failed. Killing those tax cuts will allow government the money to hire human beings for capital-starved public programs such as schools, roads and sewers.

Workers’ wages will stimulate consumer demand, revitalize the private economy and increase tax revenue. Because the rich did not use their windfall, we must now recover it and put it back in circulation.

Margaret A. Hogan

Kansas City

Happy China Christmas

Christmas — made in China. As the annual holiday shopping orgy is under way, consider the relationship of the country of origin marked on what you buy to the American employment situation and our annual negative trade deficit, all contributing to our national fiscal woes.

Although you may not like reading “Made in China” on your holiday stuff, there’s really nothing you can do about it except buy virtually nothing, which would only make everyone very unhappy, add to the unemployment and propel us more rapidly toward economic collapse.

Nothing on the political/ideological/economic horizon gives the slightest indication of dealing positively with this situation, so there’s nothing to do except write grumbly letters like this to the newspaper and enjoy our “made elsewhere” Christmas while we can still glimpse the sun through the gathering economic storm clouds.

Happy holidays.

Robert A. Eberle

Kansas City

KanCare train wreck

My wife and I work with seniors through a group called BlisterSmith. It is a self-funded nonprofit that tries to fill the gaps in care for those who aren’t heard or have needs.

We have a website at BlisterSmith.com. What I am writing about is what we have found to be a total lack of awareness that Kansans have about the upcoming KanCare, which is due to take effect in January.

The state government plans on cutting $1 billion out of the Medicaid budget over the next five years. People need to know before it is too late.

Chris VanHoecke

Stilwell

Big Oil hurts motorists

Gas prices have dropped in recent weeks, but this no doubt is only a temproary reprieve. Big oil companies will continue to seek their huge profits.

We need a trust-buster like Teddy Roosevelt, who challenged and beat wealthy, self-serving, monopolistic corporations. Or we need a man like John Kennedy, who challenged the steel companies and beat them.

Both battles were for the same reasons that we have issues with American oil companies.

I’m asking President Barack Obama to demonstrate some moxie.

Douglas Shaffer

Bonner Springs

Part of KC families

On Nov. 16, 1913, a young man and woman were married in a mission church on Ninth Street. This couple would be my parents 20 years later.

Our family of six lived and worked in Kansas City all our lives. We were all part of another family — our church. There we were introduced not only to God’s word but to a caring group of people.

The church family is still a part of my life.

And, last but not least, it was my privilege to be part of many families in the 39 years I was a teacher in the Kansas City public schools.

I am blessed and pray I am a blessing to those I meet.

Donna F. Burch

Kansas City

Diuguid column

In defense of history teachers, it’s my belief that teachers are allowed to teach only what the accepted textbooks dictate (12-10, Commentary, “If you don’t know history, you don’t know yourself”). It’s time that the truth be taught without reprimand when teachers express their dismay to authoritative figures concerning the textbooks chosen.

Understanding the past is the key to the outcome of the future. In response to Bill Howe’s statement in Lewis Diuguid’s column, “We need our teachers to set things straight,” they would if they were allowed to.

Support your area history teachers.

Pat Brady

Shawnee

Insensitive headline

I’m delighted to know that the Kansas City Royals have stockpiled pitchers in the offseason. But in view of the recent tragedy for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Dec. 11 headline about the Royals’ pitchers, “Armed & Ready,” was grossly insensitive.

Roger T. Johnson

Manhattan, Kan.