Letters: Readers discuss no laughing political matters and getting along somehow

Not funny anymore

Gone are the days when we knew him merely as a less-than-ethical businessman and host of a so-called “reality” show — the days when he was the occasional butt of easy jokes about his pretentious behavior and goofy appearance.

Gone also are the days when we could chuckle as David Letterman made fun of “that thing” on his head.

He is no longer a laughing matter.

- William Boley, Kansas City

We are the jury

Did you ever wonder how two people could look at the same set of facts about a situation and arrive at two different conclusions?

Unfortunately, I have served on several juries, and it has always been a mystery to me how how such a thing can happen. Arguments ensue, resulting in hung juries — and we see the same outside the courtroom.

I’m smelly Walmart folk, but experts smarter than I say our preconceptions about our own groups shape our thinking and affect our deductive and inductive reasoning.

Let’s face it: For our society to work, we must compromise in everyday life to get along and be successful — use our common sense, if you will.

Our country will make it through this, even if we are divided. The American people will vote in 11 months and render a verdict.

Regardless of who wins, we must compromise to succeed.

- James L. Atkinson, Kansas City, Kansas