Letters: Readers discuss learning from a movie classic, CEO pay and honoring King
Jimmy’s example
As I have been watching members of the House and Senate conduct the impeachment proceedings, it has occurred to me: We should put them all in a theater and have them watch a classic movie: “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” starring James Stewart.
Seat them side by side, alternating Democrats and Republicans. No bathroom breaks. Have them just watch the film with their fellow Americans, who were elected by the people.
They might — just might — remember what they were sent to Washington for.
- Deborah Haug, Lake Lotawana
Not so new
Recently, The Star published an editorial warning about an app used to track attendance at the University of Missouri. (Jan. 25, 9A, “Is student attendance the only thing Big Brother is tracking at Mizzou?”) It reflected a lack of knowledge about technology in schools and a misunderstanding of the role of attendance in many classes.
The editorial represented the use of the Spotter app as a unique intrusion into student privacy. In reality, its basic technology is the same as that in Apple’s Classroom app, which has been used for years by many schools from middle school up. It registers when students are within Bluetooth range of the front of the classroom and, beyond Spotter’s abilities, Classroom allows teachers to monitor and even lock down students’ iPads.
The editorial suggested that use of the app took the onus for showing up off the student. This is confused. It is certainly the responsibility of the student to show up, but many classes issue grades for attendance. It’s not as if attendance was never recorded before the app. The app merely makes it easier. Arguments about technology in our schools need to start with a clear understanding of what is being argued about.
- Kevin Carnahan, Columbia, Missouri
Trump’s tell
I am a Reagan Democrat. By that, I mean that I became a Democrat because of President Ronald Reagan. His union-busting was offensive to me, but the last straw was his attack on Social Security that caused hardship and death. That was part of Republicans’ mission to destroy Social Security altogether, and now they want to do it again.
President Donald Trump said it aloud last week, noting that it would be really easy to begin cutting during a second term. Of course, he followed that with a tweet saying Democrats would destroy Social Security.
If you want to know what he has done or intends to do, all you have to do is listen to his accusations against someone else. It works every time.
If you value your Social Security or Medicare, it is time to pay attention to the actions of this regime, not just its talking points.
- June Ford, Archie, Missouri
Way more than 40
The author of a Wednesday letter broke down high CEO salaries compared with the earnings of employees with a 40-hour work week. (14A) CEOs and small-business owners do not work 40-hour weeks. Most are just getting started at 40 hours.
The letter made no attempt to discuss the responsibilities of these bosses. Many small-business owners have large investments, risks and people they must supervise. With this comes a great deal of liability. CEOs making huge salaries may supervise thousands of workers, spend all week traveling and bear responsibilities to stockholders that most of us cannot imagine.
Do some of these people make too much? Well, maybe. Some provide gains to stockholders. Who among us is appointed to decide what is too much?
At any rate, to make a comparison based on a 40-hour week is not based on real-world experience.
- Jerry Kaplan, Prairie Village
Cover yourself
A letter Wednesday asked why anyone would make a recording during a meeting with President Donald Trump and called the intentions of anyone doing so “nefarious at best.”
The answer is evident, and the motives are not necessarily nefarious: When you work with someone who lies to everyone habitually and without conscience, and then lies in denial, recording becomes necessary for self-protection.
- Richard Sumpter, Lenexa
King isn’t KC’s
A newscast I saw recently mentioned the possibility of naming our new airport terminal after Martin Luther King Jr. That name ought to be reserved for a city where King had closer ties.
With King publicly having made only three short visits to Kansas City, and one to Kansas State University, I don’t believe we are qualified to use his name.
- Stephanie Hamil, Leawood