Letters: Readers discuss the Boy Scouts, minimum wage and health care for all
Westport safety
It’s a reckless idea for The Star to suggest in its July 20 editorial, “Westport streets must remain public,” (14A) that checking for weapons creates racial hostility. The Star is postulating that the gun-carrying culprits are of a distinct race and those people would view checking for guns as racist.
I applaud Westport for taking the initiative to do what is best for safety and to protect the people. The radical suggestion that safety isn’t paramount is a scary position and disregards doing the right thing to protect all people, regardless of color.
Pam Ptacek
Kansas City
Scouts speech
My family has been deeply involved with scouting for more than 30 years and includes three Eagle Scouts. I have been a summer camp commissioner for 10 years, and my husband is on full-time summer staff. We are appalled by the speech President Donald Trump made at the 2017 Jamboree.
Not only was it a political rally, which violates Boy Scouts of America policy, but it contained bad language and name-calling and encouraged booing. Most importantly, it twisted the Scout law in grotesque ways.
Trump did not exhibit the good moral qualities the law stands for.
It is the custom to invite the president, but now it is imperative that Boy Scouts leadership issues a strong statement emphasizing that Trump does not represent scouting values.
Would we tolerate a scoutmaster speaking like this at a Court of Honor? I think not.
Scouts certainly have a duty to respect our country, but not necessarily a leader who does not exemplify scouting values. I urge every scouter and leader to use this speech as an example of what not to do. I am calling on Scouts officials to demonstrate leadership and stand up for scouting values on behalf of all scouts.
Maggie Holley
Kansas City
Consistency
Two July 24 letter writers from Stockton, Mo., approve of Gov. Eric Greitens’ policy of forbidding cities from raising their minimum wages. (8A) The hypocrisy of those who decry federal intrusion while letting the state override city decisions is mind-boggling.
Stockton, Jefferson City and Cape Girardeau have little in common with the economic and social issues of St. Louis or Kansas City. What could be more “limited government” — as the writers promote — than letting local voters determine their own best interests? Spare me the farmers and ranchers deciding what urban voters want and need.
Jeanne Martin
Kansas City
Equal for all
Everyone deserves what I have. I am no one special. My life is not worth more than the next person’s. I did not work harder than others. I was fortunate.
Now in the recovery stages of breast cancer, I know that all people deserve the care and treatment I received without going bankrupt or worrying about paying for their care or losing their health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. No parent should have these worries for their children.
Affordable health care for all is a right. There is no one in our country who should suffer because of lack of health insurance — no one.
Barbara Lammers
Olathe
This story was originally published July 28, 2017 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss the Boy Scouts, minimum wage and health care for all."