Letters to the editor: CORE4, Brownback’s hopes, classes in the U.S., Royals’ fever

Government at work

Collaborative partnerships, creative finance and overspending are the reasons for our current national economic crisis. I feel well-informed about three government services on CORE4’s discussion table — water, sewers and buses.

As a kid growing up in Overland Park, I lived one block away from a land speculator who was instrumental in forming WaterOne. In 1977, the 30-year bond came to life. So did the sewer tax in Johnson County. Since 1984, I have used public transportation on both sides of the state line.

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is the public transportation authority in the area. In 1981, Johnson County Transit/The JO broke away from the Metro. During the separation period the two bought buses together. Now, The JO is going back with the ATA to save money.

We should look for other ways to save money before we just raise taxes and wastewater fees. Johnson County is the wastewater authority in the area. The traditional method of billing for water and wastewater services is a combined bill. I hope a separate wastewater bill is not part of a long-term, regionwide vision of CORE4, which includes the counties of Jackson, Johnson and the Unified Government of Wyandotte.

Johnson County is the largest local government in Kansas. The Shawnee Mission area is an administrative bubble ready to burst. Fewer administrators would leave more money for government services and would also help restore a positive image toward Johnson County. The area already has a common mailing identity.

The Full Employment Act of 1946 says the No. 1 goal of the U.S. government is full employment without inflation. Government at all levels has become more important than the people being governed.

Jeff Harkness

Overland Park

Governor’s hopes

The Kansas City, Kan., School District will lay off 31 staff members because of revenue shortfalls (5-30, A4, “KCK district cuts staff and pay”). This drastic measure was precipitated by the new block grant funding measure cooked up by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Sam Brownback.

It replaces the state’s 23-year-old school funding formula. This sad development comes on the heels of income tax cuts to nearly 300,000 Kansas business tax filers, resulting in revenue shortfalls to schools and other vital services.

According to the governor and his Republican minions, these tax cuts are intended to bolster business revenue on the pretense it will be used to create new jobs. Among businesses flush with this newfound revenue stream, it would seem at least a few are positioned to hire these 31 highly qualified, former school employes.

Or at least that is what the governor has hoped. Right, governor?

Ron Fugate

Overland Park

Rules of society

Our country has from its beginning been a hodge-podge of “select classes” of people, each with its own traditions and rules. They have had the power to regulate their lives according to their own choices, be they religious, economic, educational or political.

It has been the power of these classes that the ordinary peoples have chosen or been forced to imitate. These are the conservative core of our society, be they Democrat or Republican, accepting life as they find it, living by tradition and habit.

It is with great difficulty that they watch new classes (but have always been there) rearrange these rules, upsetting the inertia that has held so many in place for so long. The United States has always accepted select groups (or forced them here), so it is important that the “newcomers” be given their chance to gain a place in the society.

Perhaps new rules, traditions and habits will be created for those who want to follow, and no one again is forced to go along with.

John Nelles

Shawnee

Cheering Royals

The Kansas City Royals are undoubtedly the greatest asset in Kansas City. I have participated in a variety of athletics and never played baseball in my entire life.

I rearrange my life to watch the Royals play on TV. Not only do I watch them on TV, I read every account of the games in the newspaper — 37,000 fans attend a Royals game, and many more like me watch them on TV.

Considering visitors to Kansas City, spending at the ballpark and in Kansas City and advertising on local TV, the Royals are a great boost to our economy.

No one, including the creator of “Field of Dreams,” could write a script equal to the Royal’s performance. The team is truly royalty, including management, coaches and the players.

Steve Katz

Leawood

Royals broadcasts

Now I’ve heard it all. I and my coffee buddies agree.

Watching and listening to the Kansas City Royals broadcast would be easier on the ears if Rex Hudler were off the air. He recently admitted on public radio that he often says some things before thinking. No kidding?

He’s uttered some of the most idiotic statements, including knowing what’s in the mind of players and coaches and during each broadcast bragging about his playing days.

But what he spewed out during a chilly Chicago game was perhaps the most outrageous comment yet. Hud (remember Hud spelled backward is Duh) said that when it’s cold the gloves get stiff, and players will put pine tar in the gloves.

Imagine that. Pine tar would get on every ball during the game. How many new balls would they use in a game? The ball couldn’t be thrown to the pitcher. The umpires wouldn’t allow him to use it.

I now understand why Hud was a utility player for 13 years. With the pine tar, he couldn’t get the ball out of his glove.

Here’s a suggestion: Take the ball he’s always carrying and stick it in his mouth. Silence in this case is golden.

William R. Park Sr.

Shawnee

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor: CORE4, Brownback’s hopes, classes in the U.S., Royals’ fever."