Jenee Osterheldt’s commentary, voter ID and Twitter noise

A different lesson

In reference to Jeneé Osterheldt’s commentary Thursday, I commend her for highlighting the excellent work of the Lenexa police. (7A, “Innocent Overland Park women is surrounded by police, guns drawn”)

The police were diligent in following protocol on a reported stolen vehicle. I appreciate The Star for relating a positive article on the police. They have a difficult job in which you cannot assume anything.

A lesson the car owner learned was to take care of business to avoid the embarrassment of getting pulled over by law enforcement. I’m glad she cooperated with police, as we all should. Kudos to Lenexa police for their outstanding work.

Jan Howard

Overland Park

Standing water

During his campaign, Donald Trump promised he would drain the swamp in Washington. Unfortunately, that swamp has now become the Everglades.

Gerry Leonard

Parkville

Prove it

Last week, I wrote checks at Price Chopper, QuikTrip, Macy’s, Auto Zone and Bass Pro Shop. A few months ago, my wife and I flew to Miami to board a cruise ship. What’s this country coming to? Everywhere we went, we had to show our IDs.

Next thing you know, I’ll need my ID to vote.

Tony Bradley

Parkville

Quiet, bird

I believe the best thing that could happen to the country is for Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to buy Twitter and stop the nonsense.

David Goettel

Independence

Come together

The urban-rural gap continues to expand, exacerbated by disputes over guns, education and taxes.

The Missouri and Kansas legislatures are large and dominated by powerful small-town politicians, who routinely override legislators from population centers in Jackson County in Missouri and Johnson County in Kansas. Many residents are convinced that an amicable divorce would be advantageous to both sides.

Greater Kansas City is composed of contiguous counties Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte in Missouri, and Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte in Kansas. These counties could form a new 51st state. It would have everything necessary for independence: agriculture, education, industry, sports, transportation, health care and population.

This move, if put to a vote, would receive the support of most Kansas and Missouri residents. Now, if there was just some way to make it happen.

Kenneth Lee

Raytown

Real motives

You’ve got to hand it to the Kansas Policy Institute: It’s consistent. This self-described think tank is one of a national network of groups that are structured financially to maintain nonprofit status and whose function is to serve the interests of ultra-right-wing business entities such as the Koch brothers.

Look it up, folks. The KPI does not represent the interests of everyday Kansans who simply want to send their kids to school. The KPI appears only too happy to see the public school system starved of funds. A strapped school system is then chastised for failing to meet academic standards and ridiculed for asking for more funding. The Kansas Supreme Court is then accused of “overreach” for declaring that the schools are underfunded. (April 4, 7A, “Students matter in Kansas school funding debate”)

It’s not a stretch to see that the goal here is nothing less than dismantling the entire public school system. Any failure of student performance is pointed to as proof of the KPI’s argument.

Please, let’s not be confused or swayed by this coloring of the issue. A strong, well-supported public school system is the most positive building block any community can claim.

Shane Smith

Olathe

Honoring King

For years, the dominant white community schemed and maneuvered to keep African-Americans from living west of Troost Avenue. Now, when some African-Americans think it appropriate to name a major boulevard east of Troost after Martin Luther King Jr., are you surprised some white members of our city are complaining?

But mind you, they are not racist — heaven forbid.

Clark Achelpohl

Kansas City

Moran is right

Sen. Jerry Moran’s comments on keeping priorities straight at the Department of Veterans Affairs are very well taken. (March 3, 7A, “Veterans deserve access to care in own communities”)

Since completing seven years in the U.S. Army in 1975, I am happy I have not needed help from the VA. If I did, I would expect that care and choices would be available near my home in a system that serves veterans and not the VA institutions.

Richard E. Ralston

Executive Director

Americans for Free

Choice in Medicine

Newport Beach, Calif.

This story was originally published April 5, 2018 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss Jenee Osterheldt’s commentary, voter ID and Twitter noise."