Too much Mahomes, Jackson County tech, Rittenhouse verdict

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We are very fortunate to have such a talented and well-spoken quarterback as Patrick Mahomes. That being said, is there no other Kansas City Chief we can put on the front page of the sports section? His picture was on that page Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of last week.

Football is a team sport. Let’s give accolades to some of the other great players. I think even Patrick would agree.

- Ellen McAndrews, Lenexa

You’re covered

Herbal and natural remedies won’t prevent or cure polio, or COVID-19 and its variants.

Your healthy youth and freedom from polio are the result of millions of kids who were vaccinated.

Here’s hoping you and your family are spared from COVID thanks to the millions who are vaccinated.

- Dave Doerste, Overland Park

Defense disgust

Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona tweeted an anime cartoon showing him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and chasing President Joe Biden with swords.

Anyone else would be visited by the Secret Service and the FBI, and might face jail time for threatening the president.

However, most Republicans, who screamed about comedian Kathy Griffin holding a Donald Trump mask, have chosen to ignore this violent cartoon.

Why did our brave GOP U.S. representatives from Missouri all vote not to censure Gosar? (Nov. 18, 3A, “In rare rebuke, House censures Gosar for video”) Were they too afraid of insulting their god, Trump? Were they worried they’d upset their voting base if they reprimanded Gosar?

I’m guessing “yes” as the answer to both questions. They should be ashamed of themselves. But they’re probably not.

- Suzanne Conaway, Kansas City

About character

The entire discussion on what to teach in schools about our country’s history could be easily resolved, if the participants could agree on the following irrefutable truth: The United States of America was built with hard work, great courage, perseverance, ingenuity and often also prudent governance — but the country was also based on the relentless displacement, even extermination, of the indigenous people; on longtime cruel slavery; on exploitation of working people; on cutthroat competition; on discrimination against nonwhite people; and on widespread despoliation of the environment.

No nation can in the long run avoid looking at its own history honestly, or else the suppression of truth will lead to a decline of character.

- Klaus Karbaumer, Platte City

Some upgrade

For the last 10 years, I’ve paid my Jackson County property taxes online. It was quick and easy. Not this year. Some whiz-bang at the county decided to change what had been working just fine.

After being told a dozen or so times I was unauthorized to enter the system, I instead drove to Lee’s Summit City Hall to take care of my property tax bill in person.

Better hold your breath: The county might have some other “improvements” in mind.

- Whit Welker, Lee’s Summit

For our democracy

Talk about a leap of faith. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft thinks Missourians are not in touch with God well enough to vote properly on ballot measures, so he’d like to take that right off the table. (Nov. 13, 1A, “Missouri secretary of state wants to increase GOP seats in map”) He also wants to redraw congressional districts so Democrats are even more underrepresented in Washington, D.C.

The single most important thing our U.S. Senate and House need to do is pass the voting rights bills: the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. In these hyperpartisan times, when the country seems split down the middle, we must keep it as balanced as possible, allowing all to have a voice. Gerrymandering, restrictive rules for voting, state legislative overreach — all must be eliminated.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler and Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, I urge you to support this legislation, knowing full well that you will not. What does that say about you, actually? Our democracy is in peril, and you continue to react with partisan selfishness, in lieu of defending our way of life. Shameful.

These measures are meant to even the playing field, to benefit all the people, for the future. Without them, our democracy will continue to fail.

- Linda Muller, Cleveland, Missouri

This is justice?

I am dismayed, no, appalled, by the not guilty verdict of Kyle Rittenhouse on all homicide charges.

There is a Wild West mentality taking hold in our country. You can be a vigilante with impunity. You can carry a lethal weapon across state lines and shoot three people, killing two, and walk away saying it was self-defense when clearly taking a loaded rifle to a demonstration was indicative of intent to use it.

The judge showed himself to be clearly prejudicial in inexplicably dropping the underage firearms charge. I don’t understand what the members of the jury saw and heard that would clear Rittenhouse of reckless use of a firearm. Justice was not served.

- Susan Howard, Kansas City

All the same

The state and party don’t matter. Our elected politicians, state and federal, act like petulant children.

- Joe McMillian, Olathe