Readers weigh in on China, health care and Sam Brownback’s Uber trip

Worry about China

Lately, all the news seems to be how should we deal with Iran. Having recently read a book on China by David Shambaugh, a university professor and expert on China, I think we may be worried about who really might be the Big Bad Wolf.

We should pay attention to China, which is Iran’s main trading partner. China also supports Iran’s desire to go nuclear and be free of Western hegemony.

Just wondering.

Edward “Gomer” Moody

Kansas City

Concert praise

Congratulations, Kansas City, for a most memorable Memorial Day concert.

The 13th annual concert with the K.C. Symphony, sponsored by Bank of America and KCPT public television, was professional and in excellent taste with the recognition of America’s vets.

Kansas City can truly be proud of its many assets — sports, theater, arts, museums and recognition of its citizens. The Liberty Memorial is the best setting, and the concert rivals the concert done in the nation’s capital.

Patrick Madden

Olathe

Clinton as president?

Over the years, politicians on both sides of the aisle have made observations about what needs to be fixed in our great country. Among the things cited are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, just to mention a few.

When the idea comes to light that former secretary of state, former U.S. senator and former first lady Hillary Clinton is running for president as the “champion” of the average American, my thought is this:

What needs fixing most is the way we elect our president.

Maynard J. Mitchell

Independence

Uber’s return

In a symbolic gesture of welcoming Uber back to Kansas (5-23, A4, “Kansas law brings Uber service back to the state”), Gov. Sam Brownback hopped into an Uber-affiliated vehicle, which then drove away with the governor aboard.

In what could be interpreted as a Freudian slip, the governor’s spokeswoman, Eileen Hawley, said, “I don’t even know where he is headed.”

Given the current state of Kansas affairs, I would venture to say that neither does the governor.

Ron Fugate

Overland Park

Lesser government

As I recall from American history, the American Revolution was predicated on (among other grievances) the objection to taxation without representation. It seems that without taxation, conversely, the citizens’ representation may be wanting.

After all, who pays the bills of government if not the taxpayers? We are their employers and may reasonably expect and demand their representation in attaining our goals or reaching consensus to our satisfaction.

Now as Kansas’ governor commits himself to ending the state income tax, sin taxes are not an adequate substitute because not all voters smoke and/or drink. Gov. Sam Brownback supposes we will believe it is for our benefit and perhaps, too, that the government officials we elected will relinquish their salaries.

Do they serve out of their good, kind hearts, gratis? One may argue that with no taxes from constituents, then they got what they paid for — no representation. And never mind how much harder it grows to register and vote, weakening the public’s ownership in government.

Constitutional rights are precious, and like most precious things, are being stalked by greedy people.

Brownback’s “experiment” is worthy of Dr. Frankenstein as we hear the lightning in the distance.

Laura Jackson-Radford

Warrensburg, Mo.

Kansas makeover

The Kansas Ethics Committee does not like the political action committee name It’s Time to Fix Stupid because “the name does not clearly reflect your interest” or the cause it is advocating.

Our legislators support the governor’s failed economic policies affecting our schools and infrastructure, pass increasingly lax gun laws and refuse to take advantage of federal funds to help meet the medical needs of many Kansas citizens but regularly interfere with women’s medical decisions and pass legislation to make sure they will not have to share a table with any welfare recipients on their cruise vacations.

It seems to me the name It’s Time to Fix Stupid pretty much reflects its cause.

Cynthia Kunz

Overland Park

Republican folly

The fiscal year 2016 House budget proposed by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves and his colleagues would “immediately repeal” the Affordable Care Act, which Graves refers to as Obamacare. He was quoted as saying that people then “can choose their own health care options at a price they can afford.”

What he doesn’t say is that without the Affordable Care Act, many people cannot afford health insurance. Also, Graves neglects to say that people with pre-existing conditions couldn’t get health insurance at all because insurance companies would not insure them before the Affordable Care Act.

If people are unable to afford insurance, or are denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions, what then?

Their budget would make the Medicare plan a voucher program. What does that mean? Could we not afford more chemo treatments because we’d used our vouchers?

Keep Medicare as is.

Then you want to spend more on the military. We already spend more than the next nine industrialized nations combined, including Russia and China.

We have the best military of any country in the world. Now we need to take care of infrastructure and the health of people while creating jobs.

Avis Erickson

Liberty

Business tolerance

Why should a business single out homosexuals to determine morality? Why not construct a list using the Ten Commandments to determine whether the patron meets an acceptable moral standard.

Have you ever committed adultery? Do you honor the Lord with your whole heart? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Do you honor your mother, your father?

When I use a business, I do not ask the owner’s religious beliefs. The whole argument of religious beliefs versus tolerance is ridiculous.

If I pay for services rendered, the business owner should provide the product. It’s a business, not a church.

Anita B. Malott

Kansas City

No Kansas shootouts

Has anyone been reading about all the shootouts on Main streets at high noon in Kansas since the Legislature passed and the governor signed open carry into law? Neither have I, because there haven’t been any despite the dire warnings of the anti-gun nuts.

The simple fact is, law-abiding citizens will obey the law. If these anti-Second Amendment folks are so concerned about gun violence, they should focus on the perpetrators and not their tools.

The criminal is the problem, nothing more, nothing less.

Bob Berry

Oak Grove

Conservatives, liberals

If you don’t think like a liberal then you are a bad person. For example, liberals are constantly contending that conservatives don’t care about the needy.

It is the duty of all Christians to support the needy. Conservatives support the needy, only in a different way.

Liberal support is to give needy people a fish each day, which makes them dependent on others. This method is very expensive because others have to pay for the fish.

Conservative support is to teach needy people to fish, so they can feed themselves. This instills independence and is far more economical.

Thomas Hay

Lake Waukomis

Beyond Baltimore

In the poet’s words, “Mere anarchy has been loosed upon the world.” Enough investigations into police departments.

It’s time for the silent majority to demand investigations into recent mob violence. Who are the anarchists leading these gangs? Why does the federal government fail to investigate the leaders of these groups whose sole intent is disruption of society, not justice.

From prelates to politicians, “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”

Bob Tobia

Kansas City

This story was originally published May 28, 2015 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Readers weigh in on China, health care and Sam Brownback’s Uber trip."