Letters to the editor: Pack journalism, faith in politics and the KC Royals

Pack journalism

This is not intended to be an indictment of all journalists. It appears that kindergarten must be a significant graduation for some journalism students.

I’m referring to the ones who rely on gotcha questions in their interviews. A gotcha question is one that the interviewer uses to blindside and trip up the person being interviewed.

It often has no relevance and is not germane to the interview. As in the recent case of Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, when a controversial answer is given, the rest of the “drive-by media” piles on.

In football terms, it’s called unnecessary roughness. It reminds me of a pack of hungry wolves.

Steve Katz

Leawood

Tax pinch awaits

Kansas taxpayers who itemize their deductions will have a shocking surprise on April 15. They will learn that their Kansas income taxes have increased exponentially.

Most itemized deductions that reduced income taxes in previous years have been completely eliminated or cut in half. Now only 50 percent of interest on home mortgages, real estate taxes and personal property taxes are deductible.

One hundred percent of eligible medical expenses no longer can be deducted. Also eliminated are 100 percent of deductions for legal and accounting fees (including tax preparation fees), investment expenses, professional dues, educational and job seeking expenses.

Kansas taxpayers who itemize their deductions will be writing a much larger check for their state income taxes on April 15, thanks to our Republican legislators and Gov. Sam Brownback.

Jim Albrecht

Lenexa

Following faith

How does a clerk in Kentucky determine that a bride-to-be is a virgin? “If the tokens of virginity are not found in the young woman, then they shall bring her out to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death.” Deuteronomy 22, verses 20-21, the Torah, and the Old Testament (RSV).

While we are at it, please check out verse 22. Following some of these commands would help reduce our world population.

Alma R. Price

Fairway

Kudos to The Star

I want to compliment Sherry Kuehl and Matt Kennan on their comical articles in the section “913” of The Kansas City Star. The one the Sept. 30th’s paper titled “The seasons roll along — and so do body issues” made me laugh out loud. This is so funny and so true.

Matt Kennan’s articles about his family are also, so entertaining and funny. I always read them.

These two writers, plus the opinion pages and letters to the editors, along with the human interest stories and personal stories about our beloved “Kansas City Royals,” are the main reasons I take the paper and have for many years.

Thanks to The Kansas City Star writers and editors. I am proud of our newspaper.

Kay Johnson

Overland Park

Fake Catholics

Rep. Tim Huelskamp bashed Vice President Joe Biden, a Catholic, over some of his views that conflict with church teachings. It’s more hypocrisy from another GOP Catholic politician.

Note to Huelskamp and other GOP phony Catholics (including you, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback): A Catholic politician of any party adhering to church teachings would not cut aid for the sick, poor and disenfranchised. Jesus taught love, hope, compassion and forgiveness — ideals foreign to Republicans. Did you guys miss that part of the Bible and in your your Sunday sermons?

Huelskamp, Brownback and others are free to pursue their policies that enrich the wealthy and shaft virtually everyone else. Just don’t call yourselves practicing Catholics, because you’re not.

You’re the ultimate fake Catholics.

Laurence Matson

Merriam

Carson for president

Chuck Todd was almost successful in his attack on Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson in an interview last month. If this had been a Fox interview of liberal black candidate, this would have been decried by Chuck Todd as a racist attack.

Did Chuck Todd ask him a question about our fragile economy and the possibility of a collapse here or in the Middle East? Oh, no.

He asked him if a Muslim were nominated for president could Carson vote for him? Why? The whole point was to embarrass Carson and create another liberal media “gotcha” moment.

There is not one Muslim running for president. This is a dirty tactic used on a man who has more in common with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. than any other black American leader.

When Carson answered that he could not support a Muslim, his answer was ideologically correct. Chuck Todd displayed his own ignorance of American history and Muslim tradition.

America was founded squarely upon Judeo-Christian principles of self-government and freedom, which are inconsistent with sharia law and Muslim tradition. Carson appears to be a man of character and integrity.

I will vote for him for that reason. We cannot say the same for Chuck Todd’s character.

Todd has little interest in the truth or ideas. He is not fit to interview Carson.

Charley Morasch

Leawood

KC Royals games

If you watched the first game

After we clinched the division

I’m sure you have questioned

Our manager’s decision

To concede a baseball game

Before it even begins

I’m sure is written somewhere

In the book of cardinal sins

Now players may get tired

And need a little rest

But when we as fans tuned in

We thought we’d see the best

I hope that now the aces

Are all rested up to play

And home field advantage

Doesn’t slip away

But the part of this that’s confusing

And I really don’t mean to scoff

The last time I looked at a calendar

They get the next six months off.

Bryan Kuhn

Prairie Village

This story was originally published October 6, 2015 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor: Pack journalism, faith in politics and the KC Royals."