Letters: Readers discuss dark money, dumping dogs at parks and Nazi war ciminals
Stop dark money
I read Dan Caldwell’s guest commentary, “Greitens is right to protect private political donations in Missouri.” (Aug. 24, 13A) I, for one, think that if you’re proud enough to contribute to a political candidate then you should be proud enough to have your name in public view.
I truly believe that dark money is buying our elections. I believe that when you contribute large sums to a politician’s nonprofit, you surely are looking for something in return.
David Humphreys, his mother and sister are prime examples. They have contributed millions of dollars to candidates and campaigns for years. You don’t give that kind of money without expecting something in return.
I would vote for any politician or vote for any law outlawing non-disclosure nonprofits.
Faye Parker
Lee’s Summit
Care for dogs
A dog park is for dogs to run free and play with other dogs. It is not a place to dump your animal.
I was recently called to the off-leash park off Gregory Boulevard in Swope Park to help with two lovely young German shepherds that someone apparently had dumped. Kansas City Parks and Recreation employees caught both dogs and secured them. Being a dog lover and trainer, I knew I could gain their trust. They loved my company and my consoling them, which turned into four hours of care.
Animal Control never showed up, but Kevin from the parks department came to the rescue, taking the dogs in his truck to the Kansas City Pet Project. I visited the dogs daily. They were very well cared for by the staff, and later by Missouri German Shepherd Rescue.
My thanks to all who helped with the rescue of both dogs. They are now in foster care and out of harm’s way, hoping to be placed together into a forever loving home.
Anne Mackey
Kansas City
Climate change
Twenty thousand years ago, glaciers covered much of North America, Europe and Asia. Worldwide temperatures about 20 degrees Fahrenheit lower than today, resulting in marginal habitat for humanity except within the tropics. Sea level was about 400 feet lower than now.
By 10,000 years ago, the glaciers had largely retreated to the extreme north. By 5,000 years ago, sea level was six to eight feet higher than at present, as the northern glaciers had largely melted, and civilization began to flourish in the Middle East.
Global temperatures then cooled, resulting in reformation of glaciers and a lowering sea level. Global temperatures then began to increase, allowing the Vikings to establish colonies in Greenland that prospered from about 1000 to 1400 A.D. The Little Ice Age followed, which lasted until about 1850.
The 1930s were hot and dry. The late 1960s and early 1970s were cold enough to cause popular magazines to wonder if we were headed into another ice age.
If we are in an interglacial period, we may be overdue for another advance of ice. It would be a climate change of catastrophic impact to humanity.
Chuck Williams
Lee’s Summit
No good Nazis
Wernher Von Braun might have been a scientist, but he was a Nazi and as evil as all of them. (Aug. 19, 10A, Letters) He should have been tried at Nuremberg with Hermann Goering, Joseph Goebbels and the others.
Did you hear the screams of the thousands that his V1 and V2 killed? I did. Did you see the ruins of your home from the V2 and thank God that your mother and bother were out when the V2 fell? I did.
Did you hear the putt-putt-putt of the V1 and know that when the putts stopped it would come straight down and destroy everything? I did.
Did you sit in the signals cabin on a Royal Air Force airdrome trying to contact your Lancaster bombers and pray that you would not be blown to bits? I did.
If Von Braun had had his way, every English person would have been killed. Yes, we brought him to America for his knowledge, but are we proud of that? I am not.
It all happened 73 years ago, but I have not forgotten, and never shall forgive.
W. Joan Hall
Lee’s Summit
Which Trump?
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump speaks off the cuff, showing his true feelings as he stokes his extreme supporters, feeding them red meat with his hate speech and encouraging them to act out on their bigotry.
On Wednesday, reading from a teleprompter, he preaches unity, joy, peace and love.
Which Trump do you believe? The bigot or the puppet?
I find it difficult to trust or believe either because of the lies and lack of moral integrity coming from both.
Robert Miller
Overland Park
This story was originally published August 27, 2017 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss dark money, dumping dogs at parks and Nazi war ciminals."