Selfish Kansas City Royals, your vaccine denial lets down the kids who look up to you
Royal ignorance
To say I am disappointed about so many Royals players being unvaccinated for COVID-19 is an understatement. Death rates are up in our country, and one reason is that so many people refuse to be vaccinated. The infections go on and on.
Professional sports players are an example for young people. They have let down their teammates and their fans. On top of that, they travel and expose others. Haven’t they paid attention to science?
I am stunned at their selfishness and ignorance. I will not attend another game this season.
- Mary Roddy, Roeland Park
Not personal
In response to the 10 Royals players who have refused to be vaccinated agtainst the coronavirus, I want to point out something that shouldn’t be missed. These Royals are not just hurting their team. Their decision is not a personal choice that occurs in a vacuum. It harms others by contributing to variants, the rising rates of COVID-19 and misinformation.
As someone who is double vaxxed and boosted who recently got COVID-19 for the first time, I find it upsetting that players I used to root for took it upon themselves to ignore scientifically supported best practices (ignoring that these same players go under the knife and take supplements and medicine backed by medical professionals).
They lack a commitment to their team. They lack a commitment to public health, and, sadly, they lack a commitment to Kansas Citians. We deserve better than these 10.
- Camden Hanzlick-Burton, Roeland Park
Their choices?
If Missouri women no longer have a choice over their bodies for reproductive health, how come male baseball players have a choice over their bodies when it comes to vaccination?
- Bernadette Stankard, Overland Park
Self-control
Are we so frazzled by pandemic exhaustion and confusion about the facts that many Kansans won’t vote Aug. 2 or will vote against our best interests? What is the best choice for Kansas?
We are proud, self-reliant, hard-working, generous people. I am glad I was born and raised here. Although we’re suffering a painful divide on some political issues and many have extreme loyalty or vivid distrust regarding our so-called political “leaders,” I’ve never doubted that we share 90% of the same important values.
Sure, some of us are “crazy liberals” and others are “right wing extremists.” But we’re proud of our state and country and their unique and precious constitutional institutions based on compromise and preserving individual freedom.
We’re conservative by nature. We respect the accomplishments of the past — what our predecessors learned from their mistakes and their successes. We know better than to tear down things quickly, particularly if we don’t have a tried and true solution.
We value individual choice, not government control. The proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution would take away personal responsibility. It’s critical that we not diminish the freedom protected by our constitution. We don’t want the amendment. Please vote no Aug. 2.
- Jay Bremyer, McPherson, Kansas
Fix up Raytown
A recent guest commentary by Raytown Alderman Ryan Myers urged voters to approve tens of millions in bonds for road improvements and reconstruction and additional millions for storm-sewer improvements and reconstruction in the city. (July 13, 15A, “Raytown’s budget hasn’t kept up with modern realities”)
Voters are reminded that Raytown’s mill levy has not changed since Jimmy Carter was president and that more than 40% of Raytown’s roads are considered failing.
What is left unsaid is that we don’t know what the interest rates will be, how much Raytown will incur in underwriter fees, whether soaring inflation will delay and diminish the scope of projects, or whether we’ll get one dime from the trillion-dollar federal infrastructure law. Also left unsaid is that the tax is for general municipal purposes. That means the revenue raised could be spent on something else, leaving other programs needing to be cut to pay the principal and interest in the future.
However, knowing all of this, I will vote yes Aug. 2 and ask others to consider doing the same. We’ve needed the repairs for a long time. If this initiative fails, we might be planting trees in potholes.
- Clyde Waltermate, Raytown