Letters: Readers discuss congressional duty, respecting the military and KC police

Divided loyalties?

I am confused: Do the members of Congress work for their political parties, the president or their constituents? I always thought they worked for the people who elected them. Was I wrong?

- Lorre Rhoades Dysart, Overland Park

Too much ground

On Nov. 22, Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith wrote a post on his blog about why he thinks the department should stick with its governance model. I agree with his points, but he didn’t explain why some people think we need local control of our police. We should consider it — not to hold officers accountable, but to hold politicians accountable for the positions their decisions put the department in.

This past summer, I walked Kansas City’s mayoral candidates through our neighborhood and talked about our challenges. Sadly, much of what they said seems to have been campaign promises. There are things they can and can’t control. In campaigns, they seem to forget what they can’t — especially crime and safety.

The Northland is frustrated, even talking about ways to secede. Frustration equals expectations minus reality.

Kansas City has just over half the population of San Francisco but seven times the area. The problem isn’t that our services or police department is bad. Instead, our footprint is spread too far, too thin. And we lack the resources as a city to meet expectations.

To limit frustration, the gap between expectations and reality needs to be small. Our city leaders establish our expectations, and it is time to hold them accountable for the reality. Let’s change.

- Andrew Christofferson, Kansas City

Uniform, not shield

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman gained national attention recently as a military officer testifying in a presidential impeachment hearings. His actions were met with both praise and suspicion. Some inferred that his military uniform and oath of service should act as a shield from criticism. Though the overwhelming majority of service members rightly earn the nation’s trust, we should not be considered above question.

Those defending Vindman based on his military service surely mean well. However, declaring one who wears the uniform off limits for critique risks a dogma of military superiority. The personal attacks Vindman faced were highly inappropriate. However, those who questioned his actions while a member of the National Security Council need not be branded as unpatriotic.

I feel tremendous sympathy for Vindman and his family as they navigate the national spotlight. I do not wish that experience on anyone. Yet when a military officer takes on a president, attention is inevitable.

The lieutenant colonel’s military service should not be dragged through the mud by the commentariat. But his actions, with potentially national implications, should not be considered beyond critical discussion solely because of his military status.

- Chase Spears, Lansing

Protect democracy

I have sent the following to all Kansas’ members of Congress:

I am a registered Republican, educated, senior citizen. I am writing you to inform you that I support the impeachment of President Donald Trump. He is, in my opinion, the single most dangerous person in today’s world. It is no small thing to say this about the president of the United States of America. Our democracy is at stake.

I am an informed voter. I study and learn from a variety of sources and experts. I am not a one-horse news pony. I make up my own mind based on my values and morals as the facts lead the way.

Vote to keep America and our grand democratic experiment alive. Impeach and remove Donald Trump.

- Linda Hanson, Overland Park

Personal effects

I’m a senior at Shawnee Mission West High School — where 16-year-old Jaris Wilson attended before his death. (May 30, 4A, “1 teen killed, another injured after shooting, police say”)

He would have been a junior, playing basketball and writing music. Instead, he lies still in the ground, another young life snatched away by bullets from a loaded gun.

Whose fault is it? The teen who had the gun? The bullets that killed Jaris? Who taught young people that it’s OK to play with guns? The better question: How are our teens getting guns?

This tragedy hurt Jaris’ family, friends and community. Jaris was not the only one to die from gun violence. He was one of far too many people killed this year in the Kansas City area.

We have to do something to protect our young. We have to stop the mothers of these children from crying. Something has to change, and we have to be the change.

I believe we need stricter gun laws, but who am I to say? I’m just the grieving girlfriend of a victim of gun violence.

- Nina King, Lenexa