Letters: Readers discuss party bus safety, the Mooch and Trump/Greitens comparisons
Bus responsibilities
I thank The Star for the extensive investigation about party buses. (July 30, 1A, “Party bus buzzkill”) Except for maintenance, none of the issues highlighted would have prevented the tragic cases of passenger fatalities cited. Insurance and licensing will not make the vehicles roadworthy.
A company following the rules will likely maintain the condition of the doors and windows so they will open when needed and won’t open unexpectedly. Nonetheless, those devices will not withstand the force of multiple passengers pressing against them or bodies flying into them. Common sense dictates that a passenger hold onto something while standing when the bus is moving.
There is a reason many buses carry the message “Passengers are not allowed to stand in front of the yellow line” while the bus is moving.
I applaud passengers who seek a safer alternative to drinking and driving, but they still must maintain their own safety. They cannot expect the carrier to do that for them.
Vance Colling
Shawnee
Scaramucci
The Mooch is just another in that long line of “the best people” the president knows.
I am so sick of winning.
Steve Barnhart
Kansas City
A sure thing
I would say that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s position is secure for at least a month.
Bill Betteridge
Independence
Great work
Many thanks for all those heroes who recently worked such long hours in order to restore electric power throughout the Kansas City area. It goes without saying that many of us are so very grateful for all the power and light companies who came from near and far to get our electricity working again.
Joan O’Donnell
Mission
No service
Preparing to deploy with the U.S. Army to the Middle East this month, I am tidying up all my affairs. Life is uncertain. Many financial and other matters are very difficult to manage from over there, including such things as income and property taxes and license plate tags.
I would love to pre-pay these and “settle up” on return, for example. No can do. The Missouri Department of Revenue is the worst. I am in a minor disagreement over my 2016 taxes. They have all the information they need to resolve it — I verified this today. Can they walk my file through the process to solve this before deployment? No can do.
“But thank you for your service,” I’m told. Well, I’m not thanking them for theirs. They should be honest and just say it: “Thank you for your service. Now, how can I not help you today?”
Lee A. Norman
Kansas City
Gym TV fights
My gym has four TV screens facing the treadmills and ellipticals showing varied programs, including CNN and Fox News. But for the past two weeks, they’ve been tuned to the Weather Channel, sporting events and a few reality shows.
I asked the staff to change channels, because I like to catch up on the news as I work out. I was told that “things get nasty” when cable news is on. People argue, pull the cords out of the wall “and sometimes worse.”
I suggested running both Fox News and CNN, and people could watch as they like. I was told that doesn’t work.
I resent being limited by people who cannot tolerate even seeing other views on TV. This is one time I’m glad my parents are dead. They handled the Great Depression and World War II. They wouldn’t know what to make of this in their beloved U.S.A. I’m having a hard time knowing what to make of it myself.
Judith L. Zillner
Merriam
Missouri governor
Gov. Eric Greitens has given new meaning to the term “checks and balances.” The fat cats write the checks, and Greitens uses them to up the balances of his slush funds.
Allen Maty
Smithville
It is uncanny how Gov. Eric Greitens’ governorship parallels Donald Trump’s presidency. Greitens refuses to share his tax returns, uses dark money to reward hidden sponsors and skirts ethics issues with clever loopholes. The parallels don’t end there.
He has a Republican-stacked legislature that enables all of these questionable practices by not showing any courage to institute true ethics reform. Legislators also refuse to address Missouri health care by not taking advantage of Medicaid expansion, yet they say they are pro-life.
One can only hope that as our president’s reign implodes, Greitens finds a more wholesome role model.
Cliff Schuette
Kansas City
This story was originally published August 1, 2017 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss party bus safety, the Mooch and Trump/Greitens comparisons."