Readers share views on the Ebola virus, Missouri veto session, President Obama
Combating Ebola
The Ebola epidemic in Africa requires that the U.S. begin producing the vaccine developed by the U.S. Army and given to two Americans suffering from Ebola by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The situation in Africa demands that we develop and use standard disease-control protocols to contain this disease. Essential to control is the vaccination of cohorts who may have been exposed.
Anything less than this response by the United States is criminal neglect that will lead to needless deaths. Containment is necessary now before it is impossible.
The Ebola virus can live in pigs, primates and other species. Therefore, not only must we contain the virus among human cohorts but also in domestic animals infected.
We have a limited time before the virus becomes endemic throughout Africa and other continents.
The virus has a long incubation period of up to 21 days. We need to develop better tests for detecting Ebola or consider quarantining for the incubation period until we do develop such tests.
Tommie Lee Suber
Lenexa
Missouri veto session
I want to take an opportunity to save politicians a lot of money on polling and focus groups. What really matters to us here in the heartland of Missouri are jobs.
Regardless of what the stock market did today or how much CEO pay has increased, the rest of us on Main Street are still struggling. Our state legislators talk a great game about improving the economy, but then they go to Jefferson City and get sidetracked pushing their own extreme social agendas.
Take for instance all the time spent during this year’s legislative session trying to make Missouri one of only three states that force a 72-hour delay on a woman seeking an abortion. Not only is this an intrusion into a private medical decision, the debate also gives lawmakers an excuse not to focus on jobs and the economy.
Gov. Jay Nixon was right to veto this bill, which would have tripled the current forced delay period. A recent poll showed that 71 percent of Missourians would rather lawmakers focus on jobs during the upcoming veto session as opposed to focusing on this political wedge issue.
We should ask state legislators to triple their focus on jobs and the economy instead of pursuing their own extreme political agendas. Missouri has more urgent issues to deal with, such as fixing our schools and growing the economy.
Mark Rodgers
Lee’s Summit
Cheers for Obama
I appreciate the words of Barbara Gatschet (9-1, Letter of the Week) concerning President Barack Obama. I, too, voted for him twice and have never regretted those votes.
On major issues such as education, guns and immigration, I find his positions to be thoughtful and intelligent. I have agreed with his points of view.
Congress has continued to let me down, however. Recently, our Congress has shown disrespect toward this president such as one sometimes sees from adolescents. It is extremely disappointing to me.
President Obama has had enormous foes against him. I have been grateful for him in our highest office many times.
Barbara Smith
Olathe
Republican record
Consider one political party’s voting record before you cast ballots this November. Its members voted against embassy funding, and we know what happened in Benghazi.
They voted several times to decrease veterans’ benefits. They voted against Hurricane Sandy funding but accepted aid for their states.
They voted against gun background checks that most Americans favor. They voted against health care for children, vets, the sick and elderly, thus denying aid for their constituents.
They voted against extending unemployment for those who’d lost jobs because of their party’s uncontrolled programs. They voted to cut food stamps for children, vets, the sick and elderly.
They voted not to remove tax cuts for firms outsourcing jobs. They voted against equal pay for women, and most voted against the Violence Against Women Act.
They voted to curtail programs to insure women’s health. They voted 109 times against environmental-protection bills.
They’re suing to give the Koch brothers more power to buy elections. They voted against the president’s jobs bills.
I could go on.
If this is the America you’re proud of, vote for this party. But remember, you and your family’s welfare will be negatively affected.
William R. Park Sr.
Shawnee
Brownback failings
I was somewhat dismayed to read Brad Cooper’s Sept. 1 article, “Victories come at a cost for Brownback,” about Sam Brownback and how his bold leadership might lead to an electoral loss. In some ways the article read almost like an editorial rather than reportage.
While “bold” can have multiple meanings, not all of them flattering, the article seems to simply take it on faith that Brownback’s leadership has been “bold” where the word “questionable” would have done just as well.
It should go without saying (but the article never really says it) that it isn’t Brownback’s leadership that is threatening his re-election chances so much as where his leadership has taken Kansas.
Kansans don’t object to Brownback’s tax cuts per se. They object to the fact that his tax cuts inevitably lead to cuts in services and education unless they lead to an attendant increase in jobs, which they haven’t if one measures Kansas job growth with other states.
Cooper’s article misses the boat in that it lays Brownback’s dimming electoral chances at the feet of his ostensibly bold leadership when leadership hasn’t been the problem — poor results have.
Gavin Fritton
Overland Park
Fix KCI amenities
During a recent trip to Kansas City International Airport, I needed to connect to the wireless network on my iPad. After several attempts at various locations, I asked an employee if there was a code for the wireless network.
The employee said no. The wireless network rarely works.
Perhaps the mayor should concentrate on fixing the current airport before building a new one.
Mike Weaver
Lansing
Chatter-free game
My television volume is off, and I just watch the game as it is played. I really don’t care to hear how much the announcers know about baseball.
Just report on the game being played. A lot less chatter is what we need.
Jean Cruce
Shawnee
Streetcar cash trail
The entire area is aware of the beatdown the streetcar advocates took in the August election. There remains a bit of unfinished business.
Where is the money the city has paid to consultants, contractors, branding agents, etc., for work that will not be completed now that Phase II is scuttled. For example, Citizens for Responsible Government filed an ethics complaint against the city and some council members for electioneering before the vote.
The Missouri Ethics Commission is reviewing the complaint that states the city paid Burns & McDonnell $4.3 million for engineering work on Phase II. Burns & McDonnell hired Parsons & Associates to do environmental work for $685,000. Half the work was to be done in July and half in October.
On Aug. 17, Star Magazine mentioned Meghan Jansen as “public information officer for KC Streetcar Constructors.” She is also account director at Parsons & Associates, a potential conflict of interest for what was supposed to be an independent environmental survey.
My question is: Where is the $342,500 for the October work? Shouldn’t it be returned to the city coffers?
Dan Coffey
Citizens for
Responsible Government
Kansas City
This story was originally published September 5, 2014 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Readers share views on the Ebola virus, Missouri veto session, President Obama."