Readers share views on unruly youths, Gov. Sam Brownback and police encounters
Control Plaza youths
Once upon a time, there was this terrific shopping center — Bannister Mall. Our family loved going there and it was popular.
Then we began to notice young people regularly hanging out there. As time passed, the number of young people kept increasing.
Once they attained that pack mentality, they turned into punks. They spent time making people walk around them or walking through people to push them aside, and shooting off their smart mouths.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that was not a place I wanted to take my wife and daughters.
And don’t you dare think about pasting one of them in the mouth. You’d get arrested.
When the number of punks exceeded the number of people still willing to shop there, guess what? The mall closed.
Then these same young people and/or their parents were upset because the kids didn’t have any place to go.
This is just one mall. Is the Plaza next?
Can these shops afford 24-hour security officers? Will the police step in and do something?
That may actually require punishment.
Lonzo Simmons
Bates City, Mo.
Brownback’s tax
Now Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is open to a sales tax increase while tightening benefits for those in need (4-3, A6, “Brownback talks consumption tax”).
The sales tax affects us all but hits the needy in their gut.
Not open to raising income taxes on the rich, though, Brownback picks the pockets of the poor. He balances the budget on their backs.
How can we tolerate this punitive behavior?
Remember 2016 and oust his toadies who do his bidding.
Patricia Callaghan
Kansas City, Kan.
No longer welcome
There are a lot of Democrats and moderate Republicans sitting on the sidelines as Kansas endures the unfolding of Gov. Sam Brownback’s experiment.
It seems that anyone who opposes the Brownback administration becomes persona non grata and one way or another is not welcome in Brownbackistan.
Having said this, I’m sure it’s a coincidence that after 24 years in business I am now being audited by the state.
Armand Way
Topeka
Police encounters
Rule No. 1: Comply with police officers regardless of your race, gender or outstanding warrants.
Rule No. 2: Don’t turn your back. Police officers think you may be reaching for a weapon.
Rule No. 3: Read rule Nos.1 and 2 again.
Rebecca Onken
Lee’s Summit
World-class soccer
Kansas City’s own women’s professional soccer team, FC Kansas City, kicks off defense of the National Women’s Soccer League championship at Sporting Park at 3 p.m. Sunday. That’s right, we are the reigning champions.
For the price of a movie ticket, Kansas City soccer fans can rally behind this great team, enjoy a world-class stadium and simultaneously see nine players who play for the U.S., Mexican and Canadian national teams. For most people unable to attend the Women’s World Cup in Canada this summer, this is a rare opportunity to see some of the best players in the world.
For Kansas City to rightfully claim to be the Soccer Capital of the Country, we need to fully support both of our professional teams and the national teams. What a great outing for the numerous girls’ soccer teams in the city.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or by calling Sporting KC. Let’s support these athletes by filling up the stadium and watching some great soccer.
Dave Potter
Lenexa
Earth Day cause
Please consider the upcoming Earth Day and participate as a volunteer in litter abatement on that day and throughout April. I will organize the April 22 event, with the help of the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Community Service Program and the police in the Kansas City area.
Look around as you drive home and see the garbage everywhere. Let’s talk and get serious about litter.
Every individual can really make a difference. For more information and to get involved, call 913-642-3000 or send email to mark@cipollaservices.com.
Mark Cipolla
Lee’s Summit
Bill to benefit vets
As a veteran, I applaud Sen. Ryan Silvey’s SB 287.
His bill addresses two concerns: accessibility of health care for low-income veterans’ spouses and quality of health care for veterans. This is because SB 287 would allow low-income veterans and their families access to MO HealthNet.
Veterans’ families, especially spouses, sacrifice for their country, too. I cannot imagine the hardship of raising a family while the spouse is at war.
When a veteran leaves the service, spouses are rarely covered by Veterans Affairs health care. Missouri can change that for families of low-income veterans if SB 287 becomes law.
SB 287 also would provide low-income veterans with increased quality of care. The system is overloaded, and long waits for routine procedures still exist. Instead of forcing a veteran to wait 30 days to go elsewhere, why not just allow the vet to use MO HealthNet?
Sen. Silvey’s bill would provide low-income veterans with an option other than the VA and would provide health insurance to the vets’ uninsured spouses. The bill would also help VA health-care delivery in Missouri by alleviating some of the workload burden.
Silvey’s bill is supported by veterans and should become law.
Sean McLafferty
Columbia
Islamic State, oil
How many ExxonMobil and BP oil wells does the Islamic State control?
Donald McCartney
Kansas City
Seeking a better U.S.
If our children can see no future, why can’t we fix that? Hearing talk of candidates from whom voters have to choose, gives us no faith in the future.
Haven’t we seen enough of those lawyer-backed, money-hungry, greedy, dishonest thieves? This poison Ivy League lawyer mentality we have walking through our government and courthouses has become an embarrassment to the whole world.
The last 50 years have been too much to bear. We all need to dedicate our lives to the good of mankind and God’s green earth.
We need to all be able to have jobs and become more concerned for our children and the future of our world. If we cannot get a hold on our world, maybe we need to turn it over to our children whose future we have crafted.
We can no longer trust this elitist mentality. I know anything is better than what we have now.
When we must arm our schoolteachers with guns to protect our children, we are losing our world to the devil.
William Leroy Elwood
Osceola, Mo.
Beyond your flock
Birds of a feather flock together. It is natural to seek out and connect with those who have the same values, interests and challenges in life.
People get affirmation, an opportunity to share an interest and a support system. So when should a person go beyond his flock outside of his comfort zone?
When a person has power that affects people outside of his flock, he needs to seek an understanding of the outside people.
Every individual has his own understanding of life that originates from innate personal characteristics, experiences and education. No one person or flock has a complete picture and understanding of life’s complexities.
The larger the power, the larger the need to include people with differing opinions and perspectives. Actively listening to people outside the flock expands knowledge, gives reason to examine a position and allows for a more ideal outcome that truly benefits society.
A trustworthy person (politician, parent, teacher, doctor, law enforcement officer or executive) will look at, consider and present all sides of an argument; will think independently and not deliver the company line; will understand the pros and cons of various choices; and will feel empathy for others.
Please include others in your processes.
Nina Eva Hajda
Shawnee
This story was originally published April 10, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers share views on unruly youths, Gov. Sam Brownback and police encounters."