Letters: Readers discuss highway medians, sheltered workshops, Vietnam War deferments
Cleanup needed
As folks travel to our city during the holiday season, and before the serious snow gets plowed, it would be nice so see our highways get a visit from the street sweeper.
The center medians of I-35 are very much in need. A snowplow should not have to navigate around a car bumper lying in the median.
Let’s make a good impression on our visitors and residents.
Bryan Myles
Kansas City, Kan.
Come together
Right now party affiliation is irrelevant. Congress must consider the best interests of our country.
The time has come to think about our children and grandchildren. We must negotiate and compromise — something that has not happened for the last eight years. The future of us all depends upon Congress’ ability to compromise between the Democrats and Republicans.
The last eight years happened, and trying to sweep them away as if they didn’t will not result in anything positive.
There was a time when our politicians negotiated and compromised. I hope those days are not gone.
Just repealing the Affordable Care Act will result in 15-10 million or more families being totally unprotected, according to some estimates.
If it must be done, then phase it in over two or three years, and replace it without causing immediate casualties.
Allow President-elect Trump to put his new policy in place, but do not disenfranchise millions of citizens in doing so.
Steven Hornbaker
Kansas City
Sheltered workshops
A law was signed on July 22, 2014 that was designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the labor market. This law was called the Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
I am writing this letter as a concerned citizen, teacher and friend to those who may not have a voice to advocate for themselves.
Please spread the word of concern for these folks. If they do not have a place to spend their days feeling important, what will they do?
If they must go into competitive employment, the employer must provide a mentor for each person and this could be very expensive for the employer and demeaning to the employee.
I am asking for modification of the law to allow sheltered workshops to continue to serve those who cannot work in competitive employment, but who still need a place where they are valued and can work at their pace and do a worthwhile job.
I am sure that there is a misunderstanding among those who have passed this WIOA law. Dignified employment is so much more than earning a wage, minimum or otherwise.
Dottie Nelson
Conception, Mo.
Snapchat feelings
Many feelings come to me after reading about the scandal involving four KU students participating in a racist Snapchat (11-23, 4B, “KU also suspends three men’s spirit squad members”).
Anger, because how dare they make light of such a dangerous group built on hate and making minorities scared for their lives?
Confusion, because honestly, what were they thinking? Did they think the public would take this lightly, especially with everything going on in our society?
And lastly, pity. I feel pity because these students are wearing KU holiday sweaters. In an attempt to show their school spirit, they did something much more harmful.
Despite what the students behind the picture meant or never meant to do, they still have to be held accountable. No racist act should ever be swept under the rug, no matter what the underlying intentions were.
Brittni Walters
Manhattan
Someone served
A recent letter to the editor mentioned the fact that President–elect Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden both received deferments during the Vietnam era.
The writer rightly confirmed that this has little effect on how they will perform their tasks.
However, it should be pointed out when a deferment was issued, another draftee had to take their place. This is rarely noted when talk of deferments to the draft are mentioned.
For the sake of their consciences, and those of people like Senator Blunt, Dick Cheney and others, I hope the names of those replacements do not appear on the memorial.
David Stevenson
Belton
Tax mistake?
Has Sen. Will Kraus learned nothing from the fiasco that Gov. Sam Brownback has caused in Kansas by eliminating taxes for LLC businesses? (12-11, 6A, “Missouri to weigh ending business tax”)
Now he wants to do the same in Missouri by phasing out the corporate income tax.
Unbelievable.
Becky Leith
Raytown
This story was originally published December 13, 2016 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss highway medians, sheltered workshops, Vietnam War deferments."