Letters to the editor: Moderates needed in GOP field; Angela de Rocha’s ‘insensitive’ comments

Moderates needed

During the past months we’ve learned that Republican voters are angry with Congress — angry enough to vote for GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Angry that nothing in Congress is getting done. But their cause is misguided — misunderstood. Haven’t they been listening and reading about the reason for gridlock in Washington, D.C.? Are their heads in the sand? Or are their ears and eyes only glued on far-right radio and Fox TV?

Aren’t they aware that about 40 members of the Freedom Caucus in the House and led by Ted Cruz in the Senate do not understand how democracy works — and that their hatred of government clouds their minds and stalls progress?

If they truly are concerned about America they should turn their anger toward those in Washington who are the recognized cause of gridlock: Republicans.

Democracy never works when one side always says: “Our way or the highway.” Democracy only works when both sides thrash out any situation and come to an agreed compromise. It’s always worked that way and America moved forward. Until now.

Can Republicans who love America aim their anger at their own overly conservative party members and vote in moderates? Democrats would welcome that — and so would the country.

William R. Park Sr.

Shawnee

Insensitive comments

I was stunned to read the comments of Angela de Rocha, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities, regarding a course to educate individuals about voting in Kansas. She wrote: “So it takes an entire semester to learn how to register to vote. Really? Do we want these slow learners voting?”

To me, a parent of a child with a learning disability, de Rocha's comments are insensitive and suggest a lack of understanding about a population Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities serves. Requiring more time to learn about the voting process should not have any bearing on the right to vote.

It is insensitive for a Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities spokesperson to suggest we might not “want these slow learners voting.” My daughter is not old enough to vote, but she appreciates and looks forward to participating in our political process.

Individuals at the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities who do not understand the relevance of de Rocha's comments to individuals with intellectual disabilities are not qualified to implement disability policy, at least not without more education. I encourage Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities administrators to take the time needed to learn from families and individuals, so they will understand how these comments marginalize the population they serve.

Julie Broski

Olathe

Google Fiber fumble

With all the problems they encountered during Game 1 of the World Series in the Kansas City area, maybe Google should stay with what it is good at: Internet provider (10-29, BB5, “Google Fiber apologizes for its outage, cites server problems”).

Rick Pittman

Shawnee

Health coverage laps

Do we trust our physician group? No.

I was led to believe my doctor's physician assistant was covered under my Medicare. I discussed this with the office staff with each visit, asking “was I in network?” The office accountant even told me, two times, this had happened before and would be dismissed. She would check. Never heard from her again.

Now insurance will not cover my visit. My primary care doctor would not see me as a new patient, and I was sent to her physician’s assistant.

Now the doctor and physician assistant have left. The office will claim no responsibility for what they told me, from the receptionist and the office account more than one time.

As a retired senior new to the area, I feel like I am being take advantage of by a large medical facility that professes to care about its patient.

What is a person to do?

Teresa Halbersma

Overland Park

Kobach’s overreach

Think about it, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. Which is the greater threat to democracy (10-29, A5, “Olathe couple face voter fraud charges”)?

Three senior citizens who mistakenly vote twice in local elections, or thousands of folks so disillusioned by “politics as usual” and they don't vote at all — ever ?

Brad Short

Overland Park

Invest in laughter

I am privileged to drive a shuttle for elderly people who can no longer drive. It’s the best job I have ever had. I find that those persons with a sense of humor and an ability to laugh seem to cope better.

Have you noticed there are fewer jokes circulating today than in the past? My personal view is that it’s a reflection of economic conditions and foreign tensions. As a panacea for what ails us, consider the following three sayings.

▪ When people are laughing, they're generally not killing each other. — Alan Alda

▪ What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. — Yiddish Proverb

▪ Laughter is shortest distance between two people. — Victor Borge

Each of these has given me a chuckle. I hope they do the same for others.

Steve Katz

Leawood

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor: Moderates needed in GOP field; Angela de Rocha’s ‘insensitive’ comments."