Readers weigh in on World Series, Trans-Pacific Partnership, KCI, societal changes
TPP threat to U.S.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership has been prepared and promoted secretively for a good reason. It is bad for the American people and undermines the control of our government in favor of global corporations.
It delivers our environment into the hands of entities interested only in making grotesque levels of profit. Yet politicians such as Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, who are supposed to be responsible to the people, continue to vote in favor of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Americans should understand the threat of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and make their voices heard.
Pat Tyson
Raytown
World Series
To: Chicago
From: Kansas City
Subject: Ben Zobrist
You’re welcome.
Congratulations, and enjoy the celebration!
Dorothy Clopton
Lenexa
Deleted deductions
When I finally did my state taxes for 2015, I discovered that our state legislators had eliminated health care expenses from allowable Kansas itemized deductions.
Thank you, Gov. Sam Brownback and your tea party colleagues, for continuing to dismantle reasonable governance in this state.
As you will recall, our Congress some years ago decided to allow health care expenses on Form 1040 only if they exceed 10 percent of adjusted gross federal income, or only if they exceed 7.5 percent if you are age 65 or older.
Of all the options that are available to increase taxes, Kansas legislators pick eliminating health care deductions? What planet do these people live on?
And please note, our congressional members by their own design and choice have a Cadillac health care system — the best that our tax money can buy them. They don’t incur much in the way of co-payments or premiums as the rest of us do.
All of our state and federal legislators lack any semblance of common sense with their unfair treatment of citizens who need tax compassion the most.
Jim Kudlinski
Overland Park
Brownback, Trump
The destroyer of Kansas is now on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s Catholic advisory committee.
I wonder why Gov. Sam Brownback was chosen, beyond the fact that he is a Republican.
Brownback gives no evidence of being a Catholic in his behaviors. He doesn’t like the poor, the elderly, children or education.
He doesn’t want to help those without health care. All of these are seen as important aspects of Catholic social teaching.
Brownback’s selection is just more evidence of Trump surrounding himself with “yes” people who agree with his hate-mongering, egotistical, fear-filled, desperate, lying campaign.
Shaun Q. McMahon
Westwood
Cleaning house
It’s that time again, time to vote, and I hope everyone will do so.
When considering elections of our representatives and senators, both state and federal, many of us say, “Throw the bums out.”
Now is the opportunity to do just that, and momentum began with several incumbents being defeated in the primaries in Kansas. Hopefully, we will deny many incumbents of their cushy existence, both in Kansas and with our friends in Missouri.
Herman Kirkpatrick
Leawood
Societal changes
Anti-gun advocates frequently argue that the framers of our Constitution never envisioned personal firearms as having multiple round, rapid-fire capabilities.
A more sincere truth might be that they never envisioned a society where many in the population lack any moral compass and are unwilling to accept the consequence for their actions.
Call it a deficit in compassion or a disregard for human life.
Ronald D. Burri
Pleasant Hill
Surprise
A Star letter writer (11-3, 8A, Letters) expressed surprise that you would endorse Roy Blunt for senator. I, too, was surprised, because as a rule you normally endorse anyone with a D behind their name.
Keep up the good work and endorse the better qualified candidate. You got it right.
Bob Berry
Oak Grove, Mo.
Doubtful KCI plan
Assuming the single-terminal solution is the most practical (I am not convinced that it is), it does nothing to address the biggest inconvenience at Kansas City International Airport— the economy parking and blue buses.
I cannot believe these so-called experts cannot design a single-terminal plan that incorporates at least two of the three existing covered parking lots. The mayor is wise in not rushing into the latest plan without at least considering some single-terminal options that use existing structures.
Tim Bleish
Leawood
Jobs requirement
Cerner Corp. is getting $1.75 billion in public assistance, and there are no built-in Kansas City resident-job requirements for the company’s contractors? The reason being we don’t have the trained people?
I, naively, assumed that would be a part of the negotiated return on our giveaway.
Kansas City has already built the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the Power & Light District, the streetcar line, numerous hotel and apartment projects, sewers and water lines, and City Hall is just now considering Kansas City resident-job requirements?
How many decades have jobs, training and education been the topic of need?
This is Government Leadership 101, folks.
Beth Ciperson
Kansas City, Kan.
Help Blunt relax
After 20 years in Washington, D.C., Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt seems to never tire of “fighting” and “working” for his constituents. He is running for yet another term when he could easily afford to sit back and rest on his laurels. He even bought a nice mansion in the Washington Beltway so it would be more convenient to serve us.
To show our appreciation for his long and dedicated service, we voters should make it possible for him to retire. We should let him move on to a more relaxed life. He deserves it.
Even if he is not re-elected, Sen. Blunt’s desire to help us will not stop. There are many opportunities for a former senator to do good and get well paid for it — lobbying, as a board director for corporations or banks, in a think tank, as a spokesman for an activist group ...
We need not worry about how Blunt would manage if his years as a senator end. He would, no doubt, quickly be back in business to “fight” and “work” for us — along with his helpful family.
Jo Woodward
Marshall, Mo.
Next U.S. president
In January, either Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump will swear (or affirm) to faithfully execute the office of president and to the best of her or his ability to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.
This is a solemn promise and a serious commitment to act in the best interest of Americans.
The arena is three equal branches of the federal government, and we choose who is best suited for the job. Creditable experience is the best predictor of success.
Clinton has taken the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution as a senator and as secretary of state. She knows the pressures and risks of protecting American interests with armed military forces and diplomacy. She accepts accountability for her decisions and has credible experience to take the oath.
Trump has never held public office, never taken any oath or been accountable to any governing body. His use of racist comments creates divisiveness and distrust and disqualifies him from taking the presidential oath.
The Constitution must prevail.
Donald L. Scott
Kansas City
This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Readers weigh in on World Series, Trans-Pacific Partnership, KCI, societal changes."