Letters to the editor

Trim tax rates for small businesses

I am a 16-year-old junior at Liberty High School, and I own and operate Gary’s Lawn Services LLC. I want to talk about an issue that has always bothered me: Tax rates on businesses.

I think that federal government and state taxes are just too high for businesses and corporations these days. When taxes on small business owners like myself are near 20 percent, it is just outrageous. I am trying to grow my company by reinvesting in new equipment and hiring employees.

I started my lawn care business when I was 12 and have grown it into a pretty profitable company. I think that my money should be reinvested back into the business, rather than the money being given to the state or federal government, and I think most business owners in Missouri would agree.

Now, do not get me wrong. I fully understand the importance of taxes, and I know the money is spent for mostly good intentions. However, it feels unjust to tax small-business owners so much, especially if they are just starting out.

Gary Davisson

Kansas City

Sports injuries

As we move into fall, and our attention shifts from the Royals to the Chiefs, this is a good time to consider the rising rates of overuse injuries in children.

Popularity surrounding organized youth sports continues to grow, and with that, the pressure to succeed has led to increased rates of early specialization. While the benefits of early sport participation cannot be denied, it is also important to recognize the risk factors and warning signs associated with pediatric overuse injuries.

Compared to adults, the growing body places children at a higher risk of overuse injury, and up to 50 percent of pediatric sport-related injuries are due to overuse. Some simple steps can be taken to prevent these injuries and reduce recovery time:

▪ Take complaints of pain seriously; be conscientious of the site of pain and the sport being played (elbow-baseball; shins-track).

▪ Provide adequate rest between practice/games; rest is the mainstay of overuse injury prevention and treatment.

▪ Recommend playing multiple sports; this will lead to improved skills/athleticism and less risk of chronic injury.

As pediatricians, our goal is to keep your children active and healthy by staying on the playing field, and off the sidelines.

Ryne Simpson, M.D.

Kansas City

This story was originally published November 22, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Letters to the editor."