Letters: KC readers discuss political parties, Chiefs’ Butker and unneeded incentives
A new approach
Lawrence Goldstone’s Dec. 4 column, “It would be difficult to try to fix flawed US Constitution” (5A) about why the Constitution was needed and what it accomplished, was on the mark. However, his discussion that followed about the need for a new document failed to identify, let alone address, key problems of today.
The authors of the Constitution created a system of government but not a political system — by which I mean the interface between the public and the government. The authors feared political parties and the divisiveness they would bring. In George Washington’s farewell address, he warned against political parties. Nonetheless, parties were already forming, and the political system we have today had begun its development.
What is truly needed is the creation of a political system that fosters centrism while still providing encouragement to new ideas. This system would need to address the gridlock at the national level, the extremism at the state level and the lack of attention at the local level.
This rebuilding of an ad hoc political system would do far more to provide for our future prosperity than a revision of the Constitution that cements into place either the left’s or the right’s opinion about how today’s issues should be resolved.
- Barry Heiman, Mission
Still kicking
Chiefs fans are aware that our team is not performing up to its potential. But I want to sing my praises for our placekicker, Harrison Butker. I’m so glad he is on board.
- Janice Meyers, Bucyrus, Kansas
This is leadership?
Gov. Mike Parson has threatened prosecution of journalists who discovered an official Missouri website had posted Social Security numbers of state employees where anyone with a web browser could see them — a problem caused by the state’s lax computer security. (Oct. 15, 1A, “Parson threatens newspaper after story on security issue”)
Parson granted pardons to a couple who pleaded guilty after pointing loaded guns at innocent individuals, (Aug. 6, 5A, “McCloskey sues to get guns back after getting pardon”) while vigorously fighting to keep an innocent man incarcerated. (June 25, 1A, “Parson not convinced Strickland is innocent”)
Under Parson, Missouri withheld public health information — a study that we the people of Missouri paid for through our tax dollars — that demonstrated the effectiveness of mask mandates. (Dec. 1, KansasCity.com, “Missouri health department found mask mandates work, but didn’t make findings public”)
Why is Gov. Mike Parson still in office?
- Todd McCabe, Kansas City
On our dime
Excellent coverage of Fidelity Security Life Insurance seeking tax breaks to move four blocks to a new building at 2700 Grand Blvd. (Dec. 3, 1A, “KC insurer wants millions in tax breaks to move a mile”) On the heels of giving millions of incentives to build a downtown tower that now has no tenant after Overland Park’s Waddell & Reed was purchased by an Australian company, the city is now contemplating giving an even more local company tax breaks.
The Fidelity building would be directly on the streetcar expansion, where there is strong demand without incentives. The company is also asking for incentives for parking spots where employees can drive from the suburbs and park directly across the street from a streetcar stop.
There is no threat the company will leave the area. So we are now giving tax breaks to companies that might move? Any company might move, so, “You get a building! You get a building! You get a building!”
- Rick Gray, Kansas City
With one stone
With the project intended for Waddell & Reed at 14th Street and Baltimore Avenue being kind of dead, why doesn’t Fidelity Security Life Insurance take over that building, since those tax incentives have been granted?
- Robert Brown, Kansas City