Readers share views on library funding, the Peace Corps and medical marijuana

Funding for libraries

Gov. Jay Nixon wants to cut library funding 87 percent? Are we in Kansas?

Mike Crawford

Kansas City

Touchy Peace Corps

As a 66-year-old international public-health and nutrition worker, I applied to the Peace Corps a second time. After examining my resume, recommendations and health, the Peace Corps invited me to be a health volunteer.

I examined epidemiological reports on volunteers’ diseases, the equipment and supplies Peace Corps provides volunteers and health manuals the Peace Corps gives them. Collecting these involved asking a few questions.

I reviewed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for the country I had been invited to work in, as well as the embassy’s and the armed forces’. Then, I asked why the Peace Corps provided equipment and supplies that did not comply with the recommendations.

I was told the recommendations were not mandatory. I was told that I would “likely have many episodes of diarrhea.”

Cholera, amoebic dysentery and shigellosis, to name a few, are preventable diarrheal diseases. I asked why not buy equipment that would prevent the transmission of such diseases because 1) it was recommended by CDC and 2) it cost the same or less than what the Peace Corps purchased.

I was told the Peace Corps would never accept an invitee’s recommendations. The Peace Corps disinvited me for asking too many questions.

Was it too many?

Chris Roesel

Roeland Park

Medical marijuana

I am concerned about legislation in Kansas regarding medicinal marijuana.

I would like to see more information in the news media on this issue.

Gloria Roach

Baldwin City, Kan.

Back jazz museum

I moved to Kansas City last year for its live jazz and rich jazz heritage, and I agree with your March 18 editorial, “Proposed budget cut is sour note for jazz museum,” that the American Jazz Museum is an important destination that deserves at least its current level of funding.

There is huge value in jazz, an art form born in America but loved all over the world. Kansas City is fortunate to have a jazz culture that is alive and vibrant.

But it takes an institution like the museum to educate local citizens and tourists while giving them an authentic experience.

As one of the four jazz capitals in the country, Kansas City needs to preserve that honor by supporting the American Jazz Museum to the utmost.

Marilyn Carpenter

Kansas City

Senators’ disrespect

I am 96 years old and have voted a straight Democratic ticket. I didn’t become a political junky, however, until a B-picture movie actor, Ronald Reagan, became president and played Robin Hood-in-Reverse, taking from the poor and giving to the rich.

It was bad in the 1980s, but it got worse. When Vietnam draft dodger George W. Bush became commander in chief, he led us into the disastrous war in Iraq, gave deeper tax cuts to the rich and fiddled around while our economy tanked.

It got even worse. Republican members of Congress said their priority was to tarnish our new black president with a Muslim name and send him home.

Their disrespect for our president hit its zenith when 47 Republican senators signed a letter to Iran, telling them to consider our president’s diplomatic negotiations a temporary aberration. That stupidity was too much even for Sen. John McCain, who, in an apology, explained that many senators hurriedly signed the letter in order to leave for home ahead of an approaching winter storm.

I have always blamed everything that went wrong on the Republicans, except the weather. Now, thanks to Sen. McCain’s explanation, I can blame them for the weather, too.

Harold Oppenheim

Kansas City

Better candidates

Kansas attempts to restrict the number of votes a candidate might receive based on suspected voter fraud. After watching the midterm election commercials, I think could it be that more votes were miscast for candidates based on misspeaks, innuendos, invalid statistics, misquotes, etc. than are contained in the state’s provisional ballot files.

Isn’t that a form of voter fraud?

A candidate is trying to get a job as our representative, so the voters should be able to specify the type of person we want to compete (on the ballot) for the job. It would then be the political party’s job to supply a candidate who meets the voters’ candidate ballot qualifications.

Some suggested qualifications:

▪ The candidate does not have any prior commitments that would hinder support of all constituents.

▪ The candidate will vote as the majority of constituents want, regardless of party affiliation.

I would also prefer the truth, but that would impair free speech. I say they should be held to the same ethics as other job applicants.

I consider their campaigns their applications and if I remember right, I had to sign and date a statement saying I was telling the truth on my application to get my last job.

Al Mason

Overland Park

Two big problems

The letters regularly include writers’ thoughts on America’s lack of action on climate change. They contend that anyone who does not want to act promptly rejects science and denies the laws of physics.

And, friends do not let friends wreck the world. Personally, I do not put much stock in these dire warnings. But I wholeheartedly agree that we need a serious debate on the facts about climate change.

However, there is another severe problem that requires our immediate attention — our federal debt. Our national debt has skyrocketed past $18 trillion. That is about $56,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States.

Huge debt has created extreme financial problems in Greece, Portugal, Spain, the European Union and many states and cities here in the United States. Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats have done much to solve this pending crisis.

This is the American cause that must be addressed as soon as possible.

Andy Fisher

Pleasant Hill

Islamic State fight

I am concerned about the United States’ involvement with the Middle East, specifically the Islamic State. Many are calling for the United States to take action against the Islamic State militants.

However, they emerged from a regime the U.S. set up. Is continued action really going to mend these wounds or simply create new ones?

Unless the United States has an idea specifically tailored to work with the culture and social structure of the Middle East, I do not believe further military action will accomplish anything positive.

Henry Haake

Kansas City

Thank police officers

In the past year, there has been substantial negative attention directed toward police officers. Policemen are frequently accused of brutality, racial profiling, etc.

These accusations have caused many protests and violence throughout the United States. The shooting of Michael Brown and the death of Eric Garner are two of the major controversies that have contributed to this negative attention.

I am not trying to start a debate on whether the police officers involved in the Garner and Brown cases should have been indicted. I want to bring attention to the fact that police officers have a tough job.

Everyday they put themselves in danger to enforce the laws and protect the citizens. I agree that not all police officers handle certain situations the right way.

Nobody is perfect.

However, this does not give people an excuse to detest all police officers. Policemen and policewomen deserve respect, and people should really take the time to thank them for their service to their city and country.

Nate Meysenburg

Kansas City

This story was originally published March 21, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers share views on library funding, the Peace Corps and medical marijuana."