Letters: Readers discuss blood donors, following God and removing Nancy Pelosi, too
Blood travels
Thank you to the people of Kansas City who donate blood.
- John Cousins, Shell Rock, Iowa
Heavy duty ahead
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can often be heard considering the weight of the federal judges he has seated. As he refuses to state that he intends to allow witnesses in the president’s impeachment trial, he calls into question the motivation behind all those appointments.
McConnell has already sullied his own impartiality in this solemn matter, stating that he is in lockstep with the president’s counsel. Imagine being the parent or spouse of a murder victim and hearing that the jury foreman was closely coordinating with the defendant.
Our nation’s future is in the balance. McConnell needs to signal that he will support impartial justice so that we all can be confident of America’s integrity.
- Richard Leppert, Kansas City
One-two punch?
Would these steps help combat the local crime carnage?
▪ Change the Kansas City Crime Stoppers hotline of 816-474-8477 to a three-digit number.
▪ Quit selling ammunition to people who shouldn’t have it.
Ed LeCluyse, Leawood
True guidance
Michael Gerson used a large part of the Thursday op-ed page to talk about a subject he apparently knows little about. (9A, “Christianity Today was right. Evangelicals know it”)
A true Christian, which Gerson refers to as evangelical, does not obtain his or her core beliefs from a magazine such as Christianity Today or any other source created by opinionated writers.
I understand Gerson’s job is to give his opinion, but there is only one source of truth. That is God’s word, which can be found only in prayer and the reading of his word: the Bible.
- Columbus L. Cook, Lee’s Summit
Good parenting
How do you think you would have survived if your biological parents were unable or unwilling to care for you? Would you have experienced despair? (Why didn’t my parent want me?) Guilt? Grief? Depression?
As The Star’s recent series “Throwaway Kids” documented, statistics show that many who spend time in prison had parents unable or unwilling to care for them. These parents may have abandoned, abused or neglected their children.
As a retired chidren’s services worker in Camden County, Missouri, I know the foster care system is not perfect. But please remember the many foster parents who try their best to give these children love, self-respect, an education, food and shelter. Try talking to some of these foster parents. These children are damaged, and foster parents try to repair that damage.
- Barbara Fredholm, Lee’s Summit
It’s just personal
If we are going to remove President Donald Trump simply because some do not like the outcome of the election or his political or personal views, then let’s open Pandora’s box and remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Adam Schiff and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at the same time, for I find them equally offensive, as do many others.
There is more than enough evidence of their lies to justify a full-blown political coup d’etat in Washington, D.C., and to appoint new leadership on both sides of the isle.
Banana republic, here we come.
- Frank Green, Kansas City
No representation
Thanks to the Kansas City Council, the shoppers in Waldo at the Romanelli Shops at Wornall Road and Gregory Boulevard will pay an extra 1 cent Community Improvement District sales tax over the next 20 years. The new funds will pay to fix the building’s roof, wiring and HVAC systems.
Such a tax might make some sense in special situations if used for things such as landscaping (beautifying the area), lighting (making it safer to walk to your car), sidewalks (increasing traffic safety), stormwater control (keeping runoff from flooding adjacent properties) or similar features benefiting shoppers and the neighborhood.
But this new tax will be used to maintain and improve private property normally the responsibility of the owner. Why should shoppers pay for items that add value to a real estate investment, which could then be rented or sold for more money? This is like forcing someone else pay your second mortgage.
The fundamental question is who represents us shoppers: Isn’t it our elected officials?
If Overland Park were to approve something like this, there would likely be lots of new council members at the next election.
- William Dudark, Overland Park