Letters: Readers discuss lesser Shakespeare, pre-existing conditions and thanks to Yoder
Not up to snuff
Shakespeare lovers in Kansas City have been cruelly betrayed by the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s decision to stage “Shakespeare in Love” as its 2019 offering in what heretofore had been our great summer series.
This fictionalized dime-store romance novel story does nothing to deepen our understanding of the bard’s immortal work. Please, let us show more faith in the enduring power of Shakespeare’s marvelous words.
Don Compier
Lee’s Summit
A big question
Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley has a new ad in his Senate campaign showing his concern about insurance companies covering people with pre-existing conditions because he has a child with a pre-existing condition. This is good to know, but we must wonder how deep his concern actually is.
Hawley has signed on to a lawsuit with 19 other Republican state attorneys general that would declare the entire Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) null and void. If this suit is successful, insurance companies would no longer have to insure those with pre-existing conditions. Nothing prevents Hawley from withdrawing from this lawsuit.
Hawley has now presented us with this question: Do we believe his words or his actions? Because I also have a close family relation with a pre-existing condition, this is an important question for me.
Until he takes concrete steps, and doesn’t just use words, to protect those with pre-existing conditions, I have concluded that Hawley’s actual action on ending coverage for those with pre-existing conditions is his real position.
Bob Yates
Kansas City
Front-row seat
I was absolutely disgusted by the audacity of former Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders asking for probation, let alone asking to be sent to a luxury-style prison. (Sept. 14, 1A, “Former top Missouri Democrat Mike Sanders seeks ‘cushy’ sentence”) He did the crime, so I’m glad he will do the time.
By contrast, the wrongfully convicted Lamonte McIntyre of Kansas City, Kan., spent 23 years at Lansing Correctional Facility, which is exactly the kind of place Sanders should go. He should take notes, and once he’s out, he can report to the big boys what changes need to take place.
Janet K. Thomas
Grandview
One party
Apparently, Steve Rose is in a quandary on how to vote in the Kansas 3rd District House race. (Sept. 22, 9A, “Is it worth taking a risk on Democrat Sharice Davids?”) As an astute political observer, Rose should be aware of the danger of single-party rule.
Republicans are rushing an extreme conservative onto the Supreme Court, even after blocking President Barack Obama from exercising his constitutional right to fill a vacancy. Do we want a justice who, instead of reversing the corruption-inducing Citizens United ruling, would strengthen it?
Is the constant stream of misleading, false and deceitful political ads, fueled by untraceable dark money, really the way a successful democracy should conduct its elections?
As Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley has said, “We’re running out of time to save our country.” I encourage Rose and other voters to remember why our Founding Fathers built a balance of powers into the structure of our government.
History has repeatedly shown the danger of allowing one party to rule — especially one that serves corporate interests ahead of the interests of the people.
I suggest voting for Sharice Davids, a candidate who will take the job of representing the people seriously.
Richard Voss
Overland Park
Helping women
Thank you, Rep. Kevin Yoder, for supporting the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. This 1994 legislation uses its funding to directly affect shelters such as Safehome here in Kansas to provide safe havens for women who are victims of domestic violence.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Kansas law enforcement responded to 23,508 domestic-violence incidents in 2013. Since then, the VAWA has helped reduce these numbers.
Yoder also made strides to help women and children internationally by co-sponsoring the Reach Every Mother and Child Act. This act aims to eliminate easily preventable child and maternal deaths by 2030 through nutritional support programs.
A future where all children can reach their fifth birthdays and then go on to pursue their own hopes and dreams is becoming possible.
Yoder taking this one step further by voicing his support for these bills could bring the fight to its final stage. We need our courageous representatives to step up to avoid the preventable deaths of 3.5 million mothers and newborns every year.
Corey Thorsheim
Lawrence