Letters: Readers discuss corporate power, Glen Campbell and the Royals
Model inefficiency
I was disturbed when I read the July 30 Star article about the lack of enforcement of party bus laws. (1A, “Party bus buzzkill”) But this week I read an even more upsetting story: In Kansas, new kidney dialysis centers are taking up to two years to be certified, while centers in Missouri are certified in 90 days. (Aug. 6, 1A, “Ready but waiting”)
This means Kansas folks on Medicare cannot use these centers — and 85 percent of Americans in kidney failure are on Medicare.
The primary users of dialysis centers are fragile and not in good health. They require assistance and sometimes must travel long distances to get to centers that are mostly at capacity, while new centers sit idle waiting on the bureaucracy to do its job.
How is something like this allowed to happen? How can a business sit virtually empty for up to two years and survive? That will discourage future construction of dialysis centers.
Just think if all licensing took two years — restaurant inspections, new construction permits and so on. Business and commerce would grind to a halt.
A vibrant economy depends on expanding businesses and a supportive government. I am beginning to think there is a swamp in Kansas, not just in Washington, D.C.
Bob Dal Bello
Olathe
A music great
Today, country music is mourning the loss of one of the greatest guitar players and singers of all time in Glen Campbell.
I had the opportunity to meet and talk to him along with his daughter Debby at the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre several years ago in Branson, Mo., something I will never, ever forget.
When his show ended April 26, 2012, at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City, I could not help but fight back the tears as I walked out, knowing I would never see my idol perform again.
Rest in peace, Glen. You will be missed by all of your fans and personally by me.
Tony Lordi
Kansas City
Deepest pockets
Only we little people are going to get this problem addressed.
Corporations are the problem. They are too big and too powerful, own too many legislators, handcuff workers with health care benefits (which single-payer would solve), rat-hole money like squirrels do acorns in the fall and are generally devoid of moral principles.
My economics professor convinced me the U.S. economy is driven by consumerism: about 70 percent of the gross national product.
So it is simple. We have to rebuild and expand the middle class.
Those in the middle class buy. The poor cannot buy. Nor can the rich spend all they acquire. Money has to be pushed into the general populace.
A fix is simple. One, end the corporate income tax, and two, insist all corporations pay profits to shareholders as earned (just as LLC and Subchapter S corporations do).
Corporations have piled up trillions of dollars in cash stashed around the world. It is not invested, nor spent, nor used for any useful purpose, except now and then to buy and squash upstarts.
It is going to be an uphill fight all the way.
Ron Platt
Overland Park
Install life
To paraphrase Joni Mitchell, they cut down the trees and put up a parking lot.
Looking at Sunday’s view from a crane on the top of Page 6E, I saw irony in the caption’s words: “a breathtaking view of the downtown skyline.” There were blocks and blocks of concrete surface with no greenery.
What if we built parking structures with rows of trees, rain barrels and raised beds lined along with the rooftop cars?
We could place shops, businesses, cafes and classrooms on the ground level, with alternative-energy shuttles running up and down those streets.
All those buildings could install green roofs and employee sitting areas with more trees and xeriscape walking paths.
Bring life to this dead landscape.
Beth Ciperson
Kansas City
Go Royals
I want the Royals to know how much we love and need them here in Kansas City.
Their phenomenal comebacks and rallies since the first part of July have infected us with their fire and power. They’ve made us feel as if we can do anything also.
I pray they can keep that energy and brotherhood going so we can see them in the playoffs again. There is nothing I like to see more than those smiling, exultant, childlike faces when our Royals are winning and excited.
We know you can do it, guys.
Kim Carnago
Kansas City
This story was originally published August 9, 2017 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss corporate power, Glen Campbell and the Royals."