Letters: Readers discuss safety net clinics, attorney-client privilege, minimum wage
Brownback thanks
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback proclaimed Aug. 13-19 as Primary Care Safety Net Clinic Week to recognize clinics providing a safety net for all, including the most vulnerable — the uninsured and underserved.
In 2016, safety net clinics provided comprehensive health care, including medical, dental and behavioral, to 1 in 10 Kansans, regardless of ability to pay. Safety net clinics provide innovative community-based care that gives Kansans in need the chance to lead healthy and productive lives.
This whole-person approach increases patient choice and access to care and expands the spectrum of behavioral and oral-health providers. In some communities, safety net clinics are the only Medicaid provider.
On behalf of 44 safety net clinic members (providing 88 locations), the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved wishes to thank the governor, state and local legislators, private foundations and many community leaders for their commitment and ongoing support.
Denise Cyzman
Executive Director
Kansas Association for the
Medically Underserved
Topeka
Shaky privilege
Not being a lawyer, I must ask Mayor Sly James this question: How does attorney-client privilege apply to members of a group answerable to those who elected them? (Aug. 6, 1A, “Mayor threatens council members over leaks”)
Since the City Council is granted authority by the public to act on its behalf, where does the attorney aspect develop within the group? I do not see where most of an elected committee’s proceedings require that the public not to have access to that information.
One might say that no elected official should be able to claim attorney-client privilege in any of his or her actions while performing public duties.
Sorry, Mayor James. In this instance, all your statements and political sidestepping in the article seem to paint you as wanting to protect a private group’s interests instead of allowing an open government process. Does that attempt at what appears to be protection violate your role to serve the public?
Duane Hoberg
Kansas City, Kan.
It’s about spending
Many critics warn that raising the minimum wage will scare away businesses. The Missouri General Assembly passed a law that Kansas City and St. Louis can’t raise their minimum wages.
The evidence suggests this is backward thinking. The Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at the University of California at Berkeley reports that a 30-year study of wage and employment data found that a higher minimum wage does not reduce employment. This refutes what many critics claim.
On the other hand, a study by the Economic Policy Institute in Washington said that low-income workers who receive pay increases are likely to spend that extra money, thus stimulating growth.
Therefore, it seems the Missouri legislature is actually slowing economic growth rather than encouraging it.
Arthur Basler
Lee’s Summit
National potential
Our Washington politicians can do better. They have not been great mainly because they, like us, are selfish and want their own way.
The Republican Party has some good ideas and has done some good things. This is also true of the Democratic Party.
However, both parties have been too partisan and don’t want to compromise. If we read the newspaper or the social networks, we can see that we, the people, are the same as our politicians. We all want to blame the other party.
All we have to do to make our country better is try to understand and respect people who believe differently than we believe. I can find good things that Barack Obama’s administration did. I can see some good ideas that President Donald Trump has.
Being a moderate political believer, I always can find some good or some bad in both parties. But I don’t think in my 81 1/2 years of living in three countries and eight states that I have ever seen us so divided and selfish and believing so strongly that my way is the only way.
We all can do better.
Alan Mohr
Overland Park
Smart guy?
Now war is being threatened by the leader of a country with nuclear capability.
One who took over his father’s business.
One who is erratic, irrational, bombastic, insecure and unpredictable and has a peculiar haircut.
I’ll bet you thought this was describing the North Korean guy.
According to what our president said in April, Kim Jong Un is “a pretty smart cookie.” Too bad our leader isn’t.
David Schuddabehn
Kansas City
This story was originally published August 13, 2017 at 2:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss safety net clinics, attorney-client privilege, minimum wage."