Government shutdown, the Civil War and Dayton Moore

Shut it all down

Politicians, don’t threaten us and give us a fake partial government shutdown. If you can’t manage funding, then shut down all government services except for federal prisons and security services needed to keep the bad guys under control.

Close down everything else, including air traffic control, all U.S. border crossings, all customs control, Social Security, the National Weather Service and even the federal depository banks.

A full government shutdown would make us appreciate the importance of federal services and what is at risk when they are not properly managed.

Doyle (Ed) Yeater

Raymore

Zeroing history

I can no longer read the inherent beliefs of the American people. We are burning the symbols of our country. We are demanding the removal of statues of men who helped to forge our history. We can no longer satisfy the left, middle or right.

Tearing down statues will not change 150-year-old history. Soon we will be changing the names of schools, universities, streets and parks, closing museums and throwing out anything to do with the Civil War (or any of the other half-dozen names it goes by). We will be burning books that reference it, closing national battlefield sites and within 10 years, the young teachers and professors will not be allowed to mention the Civil War and it likely will be eliminated from history books as though it never happened.

As my grandchildren grow up and I show them my Civil War collection, including items legally dug from battlefields and 150 volumes pertaining to battles and leaders, they will have no idea what I am talking about.

All of you whose ancestors fought for either side had better hide your genealogy from public scrutiny or they will be after you next.

McKay Anderson

Kansas City

Rebuild Royals

The Royals have had a great run and super fan support, but it’s time to revamp this team from the general manager down.

Dayton Moore has done an admirable job, but he isn’t able either to develop or to judge talent in our farm system.

For years, when our Royals struggled we drafted early and have seen few players move to the majors.

Moore says the draft is a crap shoot. Well, why do teams like the Cardinals, Rays and Dodgers seem to develop players in their systems?

Some fans will look at the promotions of Whit Merrifield, Jorge Bonifacio, Cheslor Cuthbert and Cam Gallagher, but these moves were made out of desperation. These players showed promise several years before we made our move.

Joakim Soria and Ian Kennedy were poor signings, and maybe a new general manager is needed who isn’t afraid to take some risks on our young players.

Ned Yost, I love ya man, but it’s time to head back to Georgia and relax. I think you’re burned out.

Fans would support a youth movement.

Stop listening to those baseball analysts who say we have a weak farm system.

John Koehler

Kansas City

Footing the bill

President Donald Trump has threatened to shut down the government if funds are not made available to build a wall along the southern border.

I didn’t know he had the authority to shut down the Mexican government. After all, didn’t he promise that Mexico would pay for the wall?

Charles Loftus

Overland Park

Nazi history

In the movie “Patton,” George C. Scott recreates a memorable scene of Gen. George S. Patton being reprimanded for his harsh treatment of a soldier. He is shown an editorial cartoon of him kicking the soldier and reacts with rage. “Do you see that? What’s on my boot? A swastika. On my boot. An iron boot with a swastika on it!”

The revulsion of Patton toward the hated symbol of the Nazis was shared by just about every American back then.

Today, though, we have 20-year-old punks with no knowledge of history who brandish the swastika while chanting slogans in support of President Donald Trump.

Is our president as incensed at this association with Nazis as Patton was?

I’m not sure. He’s too busy tweeting about CNN.

Steve Simon

Leawood

Historic act

Are you aware of a law signed into effect by Theodore Roosevelt on June 8, 1906 — the Antiquities Act, in part to protect historic monuments on lands owned or controlled by the federal government? This may be of interest in regard to Confederate monuments.

Roy Sousley