Letters: Road construction money wisely used?

Taxing questions

Over the summer, Mission Road was closed down from 151st to about 146th streets. This closure began in June and ended in August.

The reason for the closure was because extra lanes were added to Mission Road and 143rd Street in order to “help” the traffic flow to Prairie Star Middle School. Stoplights were also added to take the place of stop signs.

After the finish of the construction, I have noticed almost no increase in traffic flow, perhaps even a decrease. I have a few questions for the officials who pushed for this construction in the first place.

Are you spending our tax money in ways that really benefit the masses, or are you wasting our money on large projects that cause inconvenience for many during months of construction that doesn’t even make a difference when the construction is finished? Is our tax money really being used in beneficial ways?

Harrison Kotre

Overland Park

KCP&L, Missouri

The television ad showing the old air-conditioning compressor energy hog being replaced in part with a Kansas City Power & Light Co. subsidy contains fine print that explains this is for Missouri customers only.

My call to KCP&L determine why Kansas customers aren’t included revealed that although Kansas’ government approved such a program in May 2014, KCPL is working on how to implement same.

It’s been 16 months, folks, and it only takes nine to create an entire human being. What’s the holdup, KCP&L?

Dave Smiley

Shawnee

Celebrate U.S. heroes

Recently three Americans became international heroes by saving numerous lives on a European train bound for Paris. They courageously attacked a terrorist who had several guns, including an AK-47.

For this act of courage they were awarded France’s highest honor. Why have they not been recognized in their own country?

If not a ticker-tape parade, at least a Rose Garden ceremony with the president. Have the Rose Garden ceremonies become nothing but political fodder for this egotistical Democrat?

It has become a sad state of affairs when France sets the bar for courage in the Western nations.

Joe Lavender

Lenexa

Immigrant population

Do you want to visit Denmark to see how the Danes live or Germany to enjoy the German culture? You had better plan your trip very soon.

The birth rate of every European country is static or on the decline. Yet, the population in almost every European country is on the increase because of immigration.

The Danes are using frantic measures to get the native Danes to propagate. Similar measures are occurring in other European countries.

Immigrant populations increase at a faster rate. This, too, is a potential issue we will have to deal with in America in the not-so-distant future.

Steve Katz

Leawood

Patriotism exploitation

Patriotism is an “odd duck.” It encourages young adults to face death for the country, the middle classes to make sacrifices and politicians to wrap themselves in its blanket.

It is the bond that holds us together in adversity. But it does not seem to apply to Wall Street or those in the market whose panics can in the blink of an eye devastate the lives of millions.

Is there some way to wave the flag before these people?

John Nelles

Shawnee

Iran nuclear pact

The United States imposed sanctions on Iran in 1979. These sanctions proved ineffective until Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany imposed sanctions. Joint sanctions were effective in bringing Iran to the negotiating table.

All these nations concurred on the proposed agreement restricting Iran’s development of nuclear weapons. Those opposing this agreement in the U.S. argue sanctions should be maintained to “get a better deal.”

They ignore that this agreement was not a bilateral negotiation. Five major nations besides the U.S. negotiated this deal.

To suppose these nations will comply with U.S. opponents’ desires ignores that several of them are already beginning outreach to Iran, including Britain and Germany. Believing American sanctions alone will be effective ignores the reality of historical experience.

A vote against the Iran agreement will isolate America from world leadership. How can future American presidents convince nations to work with us when we don’t respect that to which we all agreed?

With no effective sanctions in place, Iran will develop a nuclear weapon shortly as substantiated by both scientists and retired military leaders. With diplomacy forgone, war becomes the option, an unnecessary option if we act with our allies now.

Bond Faulwell

Overland Park

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 6:33 PM with the headline "Letters: Road construction money wisely used?."