Letters to the editor: Political games, Viagra ads, Kobach’s absentee ballots need investigating

Political games

I keep hearing people grumble about all the political ads and robo calls sometimes numbering 15 per day. We tend to rail against the politicians, but I think not.

The problem is “we, the people,” send people to Washington who reflect us. Vast amounts of money and influence are there because we don’t do anything about it.

The problem is that we have become such “team” players (the Reds and Blues) that we really want to win at all costs. We love “hating” the other side, much like a baseball game.

So much more is at stake here. Our country has so many serious issues and troubling trends, yet no really cares, as long as my side wins.

Such small thinking will only get us nowhere. People play silly games as our country falls further behind.

When we all need giants, we elect only small people. Can we all just grow up?

Linda Katz

Overland Park

Changing times

How times have changed. Years ago, there was Thomas R. Marshall saying, “What this country needs is a really good five-cent cigar.”

Nowadays, there are Cialis television commercials and two-page Viagra ads in Sports Illustrated. Now, the good old boys’ popular saying should be, “What this country needs is a good low-cost Viagra-type pill.”

Ascension Hernandez

Shawnee

Right to choose

Why can’t all of these self-righteous men follow the ruling of the Supreme Court and let women be responsible for their own lives and bodies? Why not spend your abundance of free time going after law scofflaws and tax-avoiding schemes. Mind your own business instead of going where you don’t being?

Gary Levin

Overland Park

Investigation needed

I was asked to figure the postage for a Kansas absentee ballot for my employer. I measured the official return envelope and discovered that it is a quarter inch too large for a single first-class stamp.

This raised a red flag for me, considering the controversies such as the apparent voter suppression efforts by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. It is well-known that a low turnout at the polls favors Republicans.

So I have to wonder how many absentee ballots will not be delivered because of insufficient postage? If they are delivered with postage due, will they be counted, or will they be tossed aside as invalid?

I am concerned that the return envelope did not specify how much postage it would require for domestic mailing. Was this a negligent oversight by the secretary of state’s office or a deliberate voter suppression tactic?

At any rate, I think it should be investigated.

Barbara McAtee

Overland Park

Truth in politics

If there were a political debate and if those participating were required by law to tell only the whole truth, would you have an hour of silence?

Richard C. Lumpkin

Prairie Village

Passion recalled

Thank you Phil Kirk. You may never know what an impact you made on me. Your passion for Kansas City and your efforts to make it a better community for generations to come will forever live in my heart, as well as the hearts of many. Your passion for education and taking unconventional strides to improve the lives of those who are often overlooked or forgotten was remarkable.

Seeing your interactions with the students of Minddrive, I hope you know that the smile you bestowed on all of us will always be remembered. You’ve helped put in place, not just an organization but a movement. A movement to inspire community involvement in education, to think outside the box, and understand all things are possible.

You’ve encouraged me to become my own advocate for education intervention and helped realize the potential each person has to to make a change in someone’s life.

“Witnessing the excitement, enthusiasm and the release of creativity in each child when they made (a) connection to a vision of their skills, their future and their hidden talents I became a passionate advocate of what I saw and witnessed,” Phil Kirk said.

Thanks for everything you did, Mr. Phil. You’ll always be remembered.

Matt Ziegenhorn

Fairway

Mandate jury duty

I recently completed a two-day jury duty assignment and wondered whether our elected officials serve on jury duty. I suspect they are excused, but they should not be.

Our civil case was an exercise in careful consideration of medical records, evaluating expert witness testimony and reaching a fair and reasonable decision that 10 of 12 jurors could accept. Compromise was critical to serving the interest of the two parties involved and the court.

I believe our elected officials could benefit from a similar experience. With elections we have a chance to remove politicians who put party, ideology and career politics above the good of the people.

We have a chance for a new start where programs are failing and our schools and children are at risk. Instead of asking which dysfunctional party someone will caucus with, we should be asking how we can elect more independents who can eventually create an independent caucus.

The ideologues who refuse to compromise should be removed so they can pursue that lobbying job in Washington, D.C.

Larry J. Leonard

Prairie Village

This story was originally published November 4, 2014 at 12:58 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor: Political games, Viagra ads, Kobach’s absentee ballots need investigating."