Letters: Readers discuss firing Vindman, partying Chiefs and preparing for flooding

Back again

Last Friday, our draft-dodging president fired a highly decorated soldier, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, for telling the truth. (Feb. 9, 10A, “Trump calls witness he fired ‘very insubordinate’”)

Vindman must feel as if he is back in the Soviet Union he emigrated from as a toddler.

- Donald Moore, Overland Park

Plan ahead

The flooding of 2019 was among the worst on record, rife with road closures, states of emergency and devastated communities. The current policy of waiting for disasters and repeatedly spending millions to clean them up is irresponsible.

The question is not if there will be a disaster, but when. We need investments in building infrastructure that can withstand heavy floods.

In rural Missouri, our roads and bridges are our lifelines. A good growing season means nothing if our roads are in disrepair. It is critical we invest funds in stronger roads now to save money on future flood repairs.

To acquire these funds, all levels of government must work together. According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, every $1 spent on hazard mitigation yields $6 in future disaster savings cost. These roads will pay for themselves.

Here in northwest Missouri, we believe in common sense. Buy an umbrella before it rains. Buy a lock before a break-in. Invest in flood-resistant roads and bridges before the flood.

- Randy Railsback, Green Hills Regional Planning Commission director, Governor’s Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group, Hamilton, Missouri

What a change

The Democratic Party elite’s universal praise of Mitt Romney’s Senate vote to impeach President Donald Trump should be used as a case study in hypocrisy. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Hillary Clinton among others have cited Romney’s “courage” and “principles” after he was the only Republican senator to stand up to the president and vote for his conviction.

Just eight years ago, Romney was the Republicans’ presidential candidate against President Barack Obama. The Democratic campaign and its media mavens said all of the following about Romney:

▪ He didn’t pay income taxes for 10 years.

▪ He was a “felon” for misrepresenting his position at Bain Capital to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

▪ He started Bain Capital with money from Central American oligarchs who ran death squads.

▪ He authorized job outsourcing in companies that Bain managed.

▪ He was a high school bully and a weird Mormon.

▪ And, heaven forbid, he was an “elitist” because his wife’s horse was selected for the Olympics with the U.S. equestrian team.

It is simply amazing how much better a human being Romney is today.

- Graham Marcott, Fairway

Their first rodeo?

I’m a huge Chiefs football fan, thrilled with what they accomplished on the field and the way they did it. Sadly, I’m not much of a fan right now of those players who chose to act not like the elite professionals they are, but rather like drunken, foul-mouthed frat boys in front of the proud city that turned out to celebrate their championship in what was billed as a family-friendly event.

Probably some fans reveled in this behavior. OK.

I thought they embarrassed themselves, probably some of their teammates, their coach (for whom they profess tremendous respect) and their organization.

That said, I remain a huge Chiefs fan. I hope they have another great season and return to the Super Bowl. I hope I’m able to enjoy their exciting play without being haunted by the memory of last Wednesday’s spectacle.

And now that they’ve been to the top of the mountain once, perhaps, should they be fortunate enough to earn another parade, they might consider my favorite mantra through a long career of coaching middle and high school athletes: When you do something great, guys, act like you’ve been there before.

- Tom Puckett, Lake Ozark, Missouri

Wrong move

Regardless of how I feel about the joint bill to amend the state’s constitution, I must strongly protest Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman’s childish use of the reprehensible “call of the house” tactic to try to influence the vote last week. (Feb. 8, 9A, “Kansas abortion opponents’ obsession with August vote doomed constitutional amendment”)

That such nonsense exists is simply outrageous. This is exactly the kind of political shenanigan that causes Kansans to stop taking the Legislature seriously.

- Pamelyn Richardson, Spring Hill, Kansas

This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 5:00 AM.