Letters: Readers discuss political dysfunction, police shootings and Gov. Eric Greitens
National ill
It’s flu season and I’m sick. Sick of Republicans blaming Democrats and Democrats blaming Republicans. Sick of Sens. Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell and Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Paul Ryan. Sick of the liberal media and the conservative media.
Is it too much to ask that all people in powerful positions and all our elected officials take responsibility for their actions, be truthful and respectful, and act dignified and like adults? Everyone in this great, great country deserves so much better than we’re getting.
Is it too much to ask?
Roger Prewitt
Leawood
Unequal coverage
The shooting of a 17-year-old Blue Valley student is terribly sad, and I extend my sympathy to his family. (Jan. 22, 1A, “Details emerge in fatal police shooting of high school junior”)
But I don’t understand why the killing of a 9-year-old in crossfire in Kansas City didn’t share the top headline of the same day, and why his story is instead on an inside page. (4A, “Crossfire during gunbattle between two cars kills boy, 9”) His death is equally if not more tragic because of his age and his total innocence.
I know we’ll hear more about the Blue Valley incident. I would like to hear more details about the sad loss of this 9-year-old. My sympathy to his family for its tragic loss, also.
Penny Zadeh
Overland Park
Old tech, laws
In this gun-crazy country we live in, open the morning newspaper to see how many people have been shot in the past 24 hours. The National Rifle Association is indirectly responsible for the majority of violent deaths in America. It fights tooth and nail against sensible gun controls. Money talks.
The Second Amendment is so outdated it is ridiculous. When it was written there were muzzle-loaded muskets, not assault weapons.
Evelyn Wilson
Platte City
Pick your battles
At this stage of the investigation of Gov. Eric Greitens’ alleged attempt to blackmail his extramarital girlfriend into silence with an explicit photo, he may be innocent of any crime and may simply enjoy a little bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism.
So what if Missouri has a kinky governor?
John Savella
Overland Park
Logical extension
Gov. Eric Greitens needs to step down for having an extramarital affair. Nothing else has been proved.
And while we are at it, let’s clean house. Let’s ask for the resignation of every U.S. and state senator and representative who has ever had an affair. After all, they are unfit to serve as well.
Why stop there? All county and city employees need to resign if they have ever had an affair. Let’s take away the retirement benefits of Bill Clinton, whom we have deemed unfit to serve because of an affair.
Lorita Crabe
Shawnee
Obvious reason
Regarding Amazon’s rejection of Kansas City, I suspect company officials took one look at the murder rate and said, “To hell with this place. We don’t want our people shot down in the street as they go to get a cup of coffee.”
Ken Brill
Kansas City
No comment
Rep. Sam Graves, who represents the northern part of Missouri, east to west, will not allow people to see others’ comments on his official Facebook page.
I have never seen another Facebook page that does this. Why is he hiding? Is he scared?
His opponent isn’t doing this. Northern Missouri deserves better than Sam Graves.
Tracy Darby
Spickard, Mo.
Good memories
After reading Jenee Osterheldt’s Jan. 16 column, “Breaking up is hard to do: I finally bid farewell to my beloved Beetle” (5A), I thought of the 1965 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan that I purchased as a low-mileage, well-maintained used car in 1991.
It had 53,000 miles on it. I drove it more than 127,000 miles in all weather conditions, recovered it after it was stolen in 1995, and did most of my own work to keep it roadworthy. I did this over a 21-year period.
I traded it in in April 2013. By then it had 180,000 miles.
Brian Champion
Kansas City
History’s question
Rex Huppke’s Jan. 13 column in The Star, “How you responded to Trump will be remembered,” was very prescient. (9A)
After the nightmare of President Donald Trump is over, each and every one of us should ask ourselves: “How did I respond once I knew?”
What will be your response if asked this question by your children or grandchildren?
Mike McCord
Olathe
This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss political dysfunction, police shootings and Gov. Eric Greitens."