Letters: Readers discuss the UMKC arts campus, incivility and Medicaid expansion
As-is amenities
Building a new downtown UMKC arts campus is in the same category as building a new airport and extending the streetcar line. (June 29, 1A, “UMKC plans campus with no state funding”) These projects aid only large builders and real estate interests.
The current UMKC conservatory is well located near the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Country Club Plaza. The current airport terminals are convenient. And the extension of the streetcar would aid only the commercial interests on the Plaza and downtown.
Let’s allocate discretionary funds to rehab the East Side, where they would help ordinary people. And let’s ask the philanthropic community to do real philanthropy, not the President Donald Trump variety.
Rich Kaufman
Prairie Village
Enough incivility
America is faced with a powerful epidemic. The disease is incivility. We the people have options as to how to deal with the viral thread that weaves its way among us. The options: ignore or speak up.
How do we react when confronted with citizens of this great country who engage in mocking, insulting, deriding, threatening and violence?
I refuse to subscribe to the theory that this is the “new normal.” There is nothing normal about using the Oval Office as a bully pulpit.
Presidential comments are leveled against all of us daily in one form or another. The latest rage directed against yet another woman reporter is disgusting and demeaning.
If you think Mika Brzezinski was the only recipient of President Donald Trump’s latest barrage, think again. (June 30, 1A, “Trump’s attack on Brzezinski comes at a tense time”) These rants affect all of us.
It’s time to say no more, Mr. President.
Diane L. Kehres
DeSoto
After reading and hearing strong denunciations by some Republican senators and congressmen toward President Donald Trump’s latest childish Twitter tirade against a female television host, I found Rep. Kevin Yoder’s response to have been so lacking in indignation as to have been embarrassing. He joins the vast majority of our legislators who seem to be intimidated by the president.
David Wristen
Leawood
Corporate power
As I consider recent events regarding Native Americans and the Dakota Access Pipeline, I feel resentful and angry toward the federal government and our Supreme Court’s decisions. Why? For pandering to corporate desires, for making corporations “people” and for the Citizens United decision giving corporations the ability to buy elections.
When there is a fracture of the Dakota pipeline, who is going to pick up the tab for cleanup? Pollution of the Missouri River would destroy the water supply for millions of people who depend on it.
Has this country become the United Corporations of America? Will eminent domain be used more frequently to deprive native tribes and ordinary individuals of more freedoms?
Doris A. Duke
Overland Park
Streetcar success
I noted in The Star on June 30 that ridership of Kansas City’s streetcar is continuing to rise. (5A, “KC Council approves purchase of two new streetcar vehicles”)
In the early discussions of the plan, there were projections as to what the fare level would eventually become. I imagine the current ridership is fueled by the fact that it’s still free.
In view of the expansion plans being considered, I’m curious whether the city will continue to subsidize operations, or has there been a tipping point looked at when a fee will be enacted?
No doubt, free will always be popular.
Sheldon Castleman
Raymore
Poison care pill
Thank you for publishing the excellent guest column from Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City CEO Bridget McCandless supporting expanding Medicaid. (June 29, 13A, “Not expanding Medicaid leaves us all behind”)
The Republican Party inserted a “poison pill” into the Affordable Care Act that eventually prevented the insurance companies from receiving sufficient money to continue their agreements. This made restructuring the ACA an easily predictable necessity.
Those who don’t like the direction the Republicans are taking on health care and safety nets should contact their representatives during the congressional break and make it clear that programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program must not be reduced. Adjustments that improve the ACA should be passed rather than a complete repeal.
William King
Spring Hill, Kan.
This story was originally published July 2, 2017 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss the UMKC arts campus, incivility and Medicaid expansion."