Readers react to the Islamic State, Gov. Sam Brownback and teen smoking
Leading by fear
Republicans are pushing for ground troops in response to the Islamic State and are attacking President Barack Obama because he depends on diplomacy as a strategy. Republicans and Republican presidential candidates want an all-out war.
We all agree that the Islamic State is a global threat. However, our military leadership says putting American ground troops in Syria or Iraq is the wrong thing to do. Campaign bombast aside, who do Republicans think would fight this war and how would it be financed?
Should we reinstate the draft so that all American families would have to sacrifice for the effort? Should we raise taxes to cover the cost of war?
So far, all we hear is boastful talk from Republicans. If they are serious about going to war, they need to put some serious skin in the game.
Building a coalition and support for the people in the Middle East to fight for their own countries is the reasonable thing to do.
But leading by fear is not a plan.
“To him who is in fear everything rustles.”
— Sophocles
Bernadine Kline
Liberty
Brownback’s rule
Have Kansas voters finally regained their senses? Recently, it was reported that Gov. Sam Brownback’s approval rating had sunk 8 percentage points below the president’s (18 percent versus 26 percent).
That’s truly amazing when you consider the president is African-American, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and pro-gun control and actually raised taxes on the wealthy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin might be more popular in Ukraine than Sam Brownback is in Kansas.
The governor promised to transform Kansas into a robust facsimile of Texas by implementing President Ronald Reagan-style, trickle-down tax cuts for his prairie paradise. Instead, Kansas is nearly bankrupt, and a looming budget shortfall of nearly $354 million over the next two years has Kansas Republicans panicking.
If the governor can’t be persuaded to take one for the team and seek repeal of his tax cuts for Kansas’ wealthy elite, then Kansans might shortly learn they have far more in common with Greece than with Texas.
Jeffrey Bushman
Kansas City
Smoking limits
I support the Kansas City Council vote to raise the smoking age to 21, and I hope Lee’s Summit and other suburban cities vote likewise.
I support this law and others that are age-based, but only if they contain exemptions for those in the military. I think 18-, 19- and 20-year-old soldiers, sailors and Marines should be treated the same as 21-year-olds. Semper fi.
Lynn D. Alsup
Lee’s Summit
Mass transit, KCI
With Kansas City Area Transportation Authority involvement, some key Park and Ride locations in southern Johnson County with express buses to Kansas City International Airport should garner better financial and customer support.
A well-run transportation system for tourists and business travelers to a modern, well-run international airport would pay back in the long run and perhaps prevent a competing airport being built as southern expansion continues.
Like the Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC, Kansas City Zoo, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and other destinations or world-class entities that serve and are identified as the city’s own, KCI deserves regional participation.
And ease of mass transport would help bring people to downtown Kansas City and other locations without using dollars and valuable land for parking lots and garages.
Beth Ciperson
Kansas City, Kan.
Advice for veterans
Missouri veterans, either residents or non-residents, should think seriously about preregistering at one of the seven Missouri veterans homes. By doing so, they can become residents much earlier should the need arise and would receive excellent loving care.
I also recommend preregistering at one of the five Missouri veterans cemeteries. The service and respect shown the family is very warm and friendly.
Mary Coatsworth
Lee’s Summit
This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Readers react to the Islamic State, Gov. Sam Brownback and teen smoking."