Missouri court said J&J sold baby powder with ‘reckless disregard,’ but it goes abroad

Reprehensible

After the Food and Drug Administration found asbestos in Johnson & Johnson baby powder, the company vowed to stop selling baby powder containing talcum in North America. However, it continue to sell it all over the world.

I have in hand a voting proxy for J&J’s April shareholders meeting, urging attendees: “Vote against a proposal to discontinue global sales of baby powder containing talc.” Continuing the company’s “significant reprehensibility” noted by the Missouri Court of Appeals in upholding a multibillion-dollar verdict for 22 women who established that talc-infused baby powder caused their ovarian cancer, J&J urges shareholders to uphold the sale of this dangerous product globally.

The appeals court, which was upheld by the Missouri Supreme Court, found Johnson & Johnson acted “with reckless disregard of the health and safety of others.” Reprehensibility continues.

- Carolynn Fischel, Prairie Village

Self-sabotage

There were two factors of hypocrisy when it came to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars last week. Smith did the wrong thing for the right reason. Yet the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences stated that it “does not condone violence of any form.” It’s strange that organization gives awards for violent movies, such as “The Godfather.” But I guess making huge money makes it OK on the screen, but not in real life/time.

Second, we all know the adage: Don’t poke the sleeping bear. Some comedians make fun of people for a living. But sooner or later, repercussion and consequences will have the last laugh. And when the “bear” retaliates for being disturbed, where does the blame lie?

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies without admitting fault, finding it easier to blame others as a poor substitute for moral reasoning — or worse, ignorance of culpability.

- Kenneth Goodwin, Blue Springs

A short ladder

Missouri lawmakers are discussing the fact that teachers in our state are among the lowest paid educators in the United States. However, their solution is flawed.

Career Ladder was a program from several years ago that required a new teacher to teach for five years before becoming eligible to even participate. The program requires hours of volunteer work in the community where the educator teaches.

Having taught for 33 years and having been a participant, I was among many teachers who volunteered at summer camps, nature centers, Meals on Wheels, tutoring students, beautifying school buildings, starting clubs for students, assisting at hospitals and more. It was like working a second job.

Teachers received a small check after completing hours of volunteer work, processing stacks of paperwork, getting a large number of signatures, turning in photos of their work, listing dozens of student names who participated in the program and so on. The paperwork was worse than doing your taxes.

Many educators quit the program because of the paperwork involved and the additional time the program was stealing from their families. With the current price of gasoline, teachers wouldn’t have much money left from their small Career Ladder checks.

- Lynn Pierce, Independence

Turn it around

Congratulations on your editorial endorsing ranked-choice voting. (March 30, 12A, “Ranked choice voting can break the extremist fever”) For many years, both political parties have worked hard to divide American citizens. Ranked-choice voting can help turn that tide. Thank you.

- Claude Thau, Overland Park

Words of man

Over the years, thousands of words have been written both locally and nationally regarding who is pro-choice and who is pro-life.

People who study human minds tell us we forget much of what we read.

So the more simple the better understood — for example, traffic regulations, sunrises and the right to life.

Where there is a law, there is a lawmaker.

- Walt Zuk, Kansas City, Kansas