Letters: Readers discuss Burns & McDonnell, Democrats’ chances and societal woes
Burns & Mac thanks
From across the state line in Shawnee, I want to say thank you to Burns & McDonnell for showing the voters that an airport could be built without adding to the tax burden of the people of Kansas City. The voters never would have approved a new airport if it had required additional taxes to fund the project.
Personally, I am sorry Burns & McDonnell did not get the contract to build the airport, but it deserves credit for showing the residents of Kansas City what was possible.
Judy Root
Shawnee
Royal lineage?
President Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both trace their ancestry to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. John’s father was King Edward III. The War of the Roses was fought over which descendant should be king and ended with the defeat of Richard III.
Richard III was married to Anne Neville, and one of her descendants was Sir Henry Neville, who I believe evidence shows could be the real author of the works of William Shakespeare. Neville credited his writing as Shakespeare to honor his family, having been related through Shakespeare’s mother.
The spirit of Neville’s writings still lives in contemporary America: “Make America great again.”
Lyle Johnson
Kansas City
Don’t relax
It is too early for Democrats to feel comfortable after last week’s elections.
It is not enough to only oppose President Donald Trump, as important as that is. The Democratic Party must institute and articulate a forward-looking policy that will benefit all Americans, not only millionaires and billionaires.
The message must be repeated and repeated. Also, Democrats need to recruit and nominate strong leaders who can be believed and respected, and whom voters can trust and have confidence in.
Character does matter.
Doris A. Field
Overland Park
No easy answers
Why don’t we support law enforcers, when we let criminals sell drugs, kill and make neighborhoods dangerous for millions of people? Why don’t the people in these neighborhoods rebel and turn them in? Why can’t we put a policeman on every corner and make it impossible for the criminals to operate?
Why do people who break our laws deserve “rights”? What happens when a person is arrested for committing a crime with a gun? Don’t statistics say these people often kill again?
Why don’t we have institutions for people who are mentally ill or are lying on the street? Why do we not care for these people?
How can a teacher be effective if he or she does not have the authority to enforce school rules in the classroom? What do you teach when you have laws but they will not be enforced?
How do we justify putting children in the care of bad parents, or worse, indifferent and incompetent social workers?
Is this how a person can walk into a church full of people and kill them?
Victoria DeBlase
Kansas City
Tax policy
I am concerned about the irresponsible tax plan before Congress. The very rich and corporations will benefit. The struggling lower-income families in my Independence congregation and neighborhood will suffer.
Specifically, this irresponsible tax plan would dramatically increase federal deficits and debt and widen the gap between rich and poor. It would also make harmful changes to the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit and the American opportunity tax credit, all of which have proven track records of reducing poverty.
This irresponsible tax plan is based on the faulty theory of trickle-down economics — that if the very rich do well, we all benefit. This is like arguing that if you feed a horse at the head end with the best oats, the poor are naturally blessed by what comes out at the tail end.
The International Monetary Fund in its latest report says that “excessive inequality can erode social cohesion, lead to political polarization and ultimately lower economic growth.” The IMF argues that raising taxes on the very rich would increase economic growth.
As Jesus said in Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
When Jesus and the IMF agree, Congress better take note. Progressive taxation helps all.
Andrew Bolton
Independence
Returned gratitude
I’d like to thank all the area businesses that offered free meals, services or discounts to active-duty service members and veterans on Veterans Day. We truly appreciate your generosity.
Mike Dolan
Kansas City, Kan.
This story was originally published November 14, 2017 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss Burns & McDonnell, Democrats’ chances and societal woes."