Readers address post-election communication, health care, streetcar, stadium parking

Post-election talks

When you go to work Wednesday, this election will (hopefully) be behind us and a new president will await his or her inauguration.

How will you converse with your colleagues (or family members) post-election? Here are some constructive guidelines:

▪ Take ownership of your feelings. Use I-messages. “I am glad we have elected X” instead of “You shouldn’t have voted for X.”

▪ Avoid making assumptions about what someone is thinking. Question to learn.

▪ Separate the person from the problem. “X was a horrible candidate” should be replaced with “X didn’t resonate with me because I value honesty, and they didn’t seem honest to me.”

▪ Actively listen. Don’t interrupt.

▪ Don’t name call. (Haven’t we had enough of that?)

▪ Focus on the issues, not the position. Immigration is an issue; building a wall is a position.

▪ Seek common ground. I suspect we are more closely aligned in our ideology than the media like to portray.

▪ Avoid hyperbole. America isn’t doomed.

▪ Most important, leave the past where it belongs. Focus on the future. Together, we can work toward better tomorrows because of our differences.

Elizabeth Esrey,

Conflict coach

Esrey Mediation

Mission Hills

Less government

The last four years, America has witnessed the application of “smaller government” and what the philosophy is truly about. Smaller government has been applied in Kansas and Washington, D.C.

In Kansas, smaller government has decimated the state’s ranking in every category of budgeting responsibility. Kansas is now in the bottom tier of states with only a few states below us.

In Washington, Congress has logged fewer days of work during the last four years than all other sessions of Congress in the last generation. While Congress worked less, all the members — plus their staffs and support personnel — received full pay and benefits, with cost-of-living adjustments, for the entire four years.

Smaller government has succeeded in proving to the world that many politicians’ true goal is less work, more pay.

I wish I could have lived a life of less work, more pay. That would have been fantastic.

Just think of the booming economy that working people could have supported.

Sadly, the philosophy of less work, more pay is reserved for the executive suite, not the laboring community.

Smaller government has succeeded for everyone but the taxpayers.

Nicely done.

Reggie Marselus

Lenexa

2017 health care

My son, who is a very conservative Republican, is on the biologic Entyvio, which he takes once every eight weeks. His co-pay is $1,200.

As a Democrat, I informed him that the platform set for the Republican National Convention seeks the elimination of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

The Republicans want to eliminate the entire thing, including the protection for pre-existing conditions, which means my son and many others could easily become uninsurable.

People should think about what that means for their futures and whether we should throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Many of our relatives on both sides are re-evaluating.

Jil McMahan-Brown

Raymore

Duly honored

It is amazing to witness daily the apparent number of dignitaries in our fair city.

Frequently, when pulling up to a stoplight, I see an auto speed through a red light. Undoubtedly, these are very important people, whose scheduled appointments outweigh the safety and lives of us ordinary citizens.

One can only imagine the gravity of their schedules, allowing them to place regular citizens at risk.

To all of you who need to accelerate through stoplights to save one minute in your day, thanks for allowing us the privilege of sharing the same air with you.

Mike Faulconer

Leawood

Heartfelt thanks

Recently, a desperate individual put our employees and customers in harm’s way by conducting an armed robbery. I am happy to report nobody was harmed, and the individual was quickly arrested.

It is appropriate to thank individuals who are often taken for granted. The Blue Springs Police Department, FBI and Missouri State Highway Patrol all played roles in protecting and serving not only our bank, but all of us who live and work in eastern Jackson County.

Imagine if your heart surgeon or airline pilot took the job for granted, was unprepared or simply didn’t care. We tend to not criticize those whom we trust with our lives. So why do people criticize and judge our first responders and law enforcement?

I, for one, respect the manner in which these men and women attend to their jobs every day. And when we needed them most, they came in force.

On behalf of everyone associated with Adams Dairy Bank, I wish to extend a heartfelt thank-you to these fine men and women of law enforcement. I encourage you to take the time to thank them yourself and not simply wait until you need them most.

David Chinnery

Blue Springs

KC streetcar

Advocates want to inflict a $227 million cost upon us to extend the streetcar line 3.75 miles while hoping $100 million of the needed financing would come from the federal government. With skyrocketing water and sewer bills, I say dream on.

Every response I’ve received from our congressional delegation about obtaining federal grant money to alleviate the $5 billion unfunded federal mandate to upgrade water and sewage systems in Kansas City thanked me for my concern about the environment and did not address my question of grant money.

So who cares about a $55 million-a-mile streetcar extension when you cannot afford to flush, bathe, drink, do laundry or water the lawn?

H. Jonathan Pratt

Kansas City

Arena name

Recently on a visit to the former Independence Events Center, I was shocked at the name on the building, “Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.” Such a name is an insult to the city of Independence and to the citizens who built the center.

Only if the Silverstein organization paid for the construction can this be justified. The Silverstein organization can advertise in other ways.

The arena will always be the Independence Events Center.

Wayne Wagner

Independence

Stadium parking

Parking seems to be a constant headache at the Truman Sports Complex.

Is there, or could there be, public transportation from a central location or locations to Arrowhead or Kauffman stadiums?

Having taken a private bus to and from Kauffman Stadium and having been dropped off at the gate, I know it is definitely more pleasant than fighting for parking and slogging through traffic on the way home.

Elizabeth Edwards

Prairie Village

Woodlands hotel

I see Kansas City is still seeking more convention hotels. Let’s not forget all the land in western Wyandotte County.

There’s plenty of room around the Woodlands racetrack. It will need a four-star hotel when horse racing resumes someday.

What about around Hollywood Casino? Wasn’t it planned to build a hotel there?

These could easily be class hotels with shuttle service to downtown Kansas City.

Come on, Wyandotte County. You want this to be a destination area in our fine city.

Remember, build it and they will come.

Let’s keep an eye on our elected officials. I am curious who is in favor of reopening the Woodlands for horse racing, simulcast racing and slot machines.

I’m sure the state can use the revenue.

Rick Brunk

Kansas City, Kan.

Artists needed

I saw a photo and accompanying note in The Wall Street Journal recently about how artists have been invited to paint boarded-up windows in Charlotte, N.C., after riots there during the summer. I immediately thought of the empty lot at Belleview and 48th streets where JJ’s restaurant used to be.

Someone planted grass, but the bare wall of the adjoining structure to the north could use a coat or two of ... something. A mural or perhaps just new paint.

I’m sure plenty of artists and art students in Kansas City would love to “paint the town.”

Stephanie A. Henry

Kansas City

Sharing goodness

There is time between life and death for you and me, and we must not pass up the opportunity to grow. Just imagine the changes you can make in your life.

Now is the time to make a resolution. Surprise a loved one or friend with a thank-you gift that says thanks for your goodness.

Now is the time to recognize your true feelings by expressing your sincere appreciation. Your effort will be a happy surprise, and your friendship will be closer.

It is too easy to forget that this is a time to bring strength into your body with good nourishment and exercise. How very important this is, and when you do your whole body will respond and you will be doing — and wanting to do — the unimaginable acts of surprising goodness.

And you will be amazed at the joy it will bring.

Yes, the opportunity is there for personal benefits. Let’s move away from the personal acts and give thoughts to worldly matters and recognize that in our world of troubles we can make a difference.

Our efforts may be small, but major happenings could result.

Doug Sutherland