Letters: KC readers discuss politics over safety, Kamala Harris’ speech, idling cars
Not leadership
Since when does the government not tell us what to do in the name of public safety?
Long ago, before the tobacco CEOs lied about addictiveness, smokers royally complained that concerns about second-hand smoke might restrict smoking in public. Then science proved it posed a danger, and eventually laws were passed against smoking in public places.
Restaurant owners predicted closures from loss of clientele. They instead saw increased crowds because nonsmokers found a smoke-free atmosphere was much more pleasant. Now it is easily accepted that smoking is banned in restaurants, bars and airplanes.
Seat belts are the same story. Seat-belt deniers fiercely refused to wear them. Like arrogant, passive-aggressive teens, they challenged the laws and claimed individual freedoms. Now the fervor against them is nearly nonexistent as study after study has shown they save lives and, along with air bags, help prevent devastating injuries.
Today, public safety is threatened by vaccine deniers. But because of political division, few mandates to get people vaccinated are working.
Will we eventually overcome the deniers? Or will the fundraising potential and electability worries of many politicians sustain them? Given the ferocity of deniers and their misinformation, the outcome remains in doubt.
- Dennis All, Shawnee
Her actual speech
I read a letter to the editor Sunday (19A) about Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and wondered if its author heard the same speech that I did.
He excoriated Harris for “comparing” the Capitol riot to Pearl Harbor, 9/11 and the Civil War. Harris did factually say that on Dec. 7, 1941, Sept. 11, 2001, and Jan. 6, 2021, our democracy came under assault. However, she did not “compare” these events in any way. She merely said that Jan. 6 would occupy a place in our collective memories with these other historic events.
She didn’t even mention the Civil War, as the letter alleged. She did not assign any “better” or “worse” to the events, which is what comparisons do.
So, I have to wonder why this letter writer was so outraged and defensive.
To anyone not in the thrall of Donald Trump, the attempts by the rioters to reverse the outcome of a national election and to threaten the lives of our elected officials in the halls of Congress was an assault on our American democracy and Constitution. And Jan. 6 will be remembered.
- Suzanne B. Conaway, Kansas City
How we got here
In the Monday front-page story, “Pelosi opens door to virus aid in spending plan,” retiring Republican Sen. Roy Blunt says he thinks the COVID-19 problem isn’t funding but lack of strategy by the Biden administration for not getting a handle on the virus. He claims President Joe Biden focused too much on vaccinations instead of testing.
Really, Senator? Asking for a friend, but what was your guy Donald Trump’s strategy? His mantra was to reopen for economic recovery as the virus spread. He thought cleaning people out with “disinfectant” might be a good idea. He was too concerned with his “ratings,” as if the presidency were a game show, and called criticism of his COVID-19 response a hoax. As of now, at least 839,500 Americans have died, according to Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. Is that a hoax?
Biden inherited this mess from Trump and has done more to stop the spread of this virus than Trump ever did. Oh, and Sen. Blunt, if your guy had taken this seriously and had been a proactive leader, we wouldn’t need all this testing now.
By the way, our Republican governor, Mike Parson, says there is no longer a COVID-19 emergency in Missouri. You two need to keep your stories straight.
- Karen Marie Zentz, Raymore
Shut it off
A ubiquitous sight: Everywhere I go I see people sitting in parked cars, which are running, totally absorbed in their cell phones. Do they not realize their running cars use gas even when they aren’t moving? They are wasting gas and money and polluting the air unnecessarily.
And it’s not unusual for me to go into a store to shop, then come back to my car and see these people are still at it.
What is the matter with the human race?
- Diane Capps, Kansas City