Letters: Readers discuss ‘How they voted,’ boat rentals and KC’s sports greats

Democrats’ folly

If the forte of KU professor emeritus Burdett Loomis is to write about stuff you can’t make up, then I challenge him to address the ongoing stay-at-home antics of the Democratic Party. (May 25, 7A, “All-night GOP power grab was Kansas Legislature’s darkest day”)

Professors, along with news reporters, should show no bias.

- Bill Clay, Grandview

Print it out

As a longtime subscriber to The Star, I remember there used to be a very informative feature that is needed now more than ever. This was a record in print of how our local members of Congress voted on legislation each week.

It allowed constituents to easily follow the issues and the voting records. It provided some level of accountability for our representatives’ votes.

That information is harder to find now, yet it seems even more important than in the past.

Congressmen and congresswomen might say they support something but then vote against it, and frequently that vote can go unnoticed. Information from this “How they voted” box helped me decide which political party to join.

The pattern I noticed was that anything that would help an individual, Democrats usually voted for it and Republicans always against it. Anything favoring business or the wealthy, Republicans always voted for it and Democrats had mixed votes.

This showed me where the Republicans’ values lie, and they are not in helping middle- or low-income people.

I encourage you to print this information again so that the true values of the Republican Party can be easily observed.

- Claire Barron, Prairie Village

Looking up

Thank you for your Uplift section on Sundays. It helps me keep my cool before I read the Opinion section, which generates a bunch of thoughts (mostly negative). I prefer to think and express positive thoughts these days. I don’t always succeed, but at least I want to try.

- Gerry Wilson, Lathrop, Missouri

I’m docked

Growing up near Troost Avenue, I occasionally took my small family to one of our wonderful county lakes. Whether you want to fish, sail or have some water time, Lake Jacomo, Longview Lake and Blue Springs Lake have something for everyone. It was great to get out of the city and be “lake people” for an afternoon. The staff and dock hands are always courteous and help us to be safe and to have fun.

I was really discouraged Saturday that on a visit to one of these lakes, only the pontoon boats were available, for $275 a day. I saw many fishing boats, kayaks and canoes in the slips unavailable to rent. I was told staff members were trying to reduce the number of folks on the water.

I wanted to take out only three passengers, while the pontoons can accommodate up to 10 people. I said I didn’t understand, so they told me they wanted to lease out only the expensive, high-volume boats.

I hope an accommodation can be made in the future for lower-income Jackson County families.

- Steve G. Livingston, Kansas City

Just obey

There is a simple rule everyone can understand that will put a stop to needless police shootings and to the needless settlements: When a police officer tells you to stop, just stop.

- Rick Marien, Overland Park

Counting up

I enjoyed Sam Mellinger’s Sunday column recognizing the 50 most influential Kansas City sports figures. (B1, “Ranking the most influential people in KC sports history)

I had to think King George (Brett) might not have been pleased landing at “only” No. 4, just behind the quickly anointed wunderkind, Patrick Mahomes. I also noted the absence of Royals broadcast Hall of Famer Denny Matthews and the Chiefs’ tragic hero, Joe Delaney.

- Bill O’Neill Shawnee

Not his audience

On Page 2A of Sunday’s Star, President Donald Trump asks America to trust him, (Trump’s pitch to voters: Trust me, economy will be soaring in 2021) yet on 8A a headline reads, “Trump promotes posts from racist Twitter feed.”

As an aging African American, I have seen many right-wing politicians like Trump who have made it painfully clear that they are more than willing to tear apart this country along racial lines in order to remain in power.

Considering Trump’s penchant for supporting those with long histories of bigotry, racism and white supremacy, and his urging of followers to do the same, it goes without saying that his words “trust me” are not meant for voters like me.

- Eddie L. Clay, Grandview

This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 5:00 AM.