I’m a Republican, but bullies like Kris Kobach and Ron DeSantis don’t represent us all | Opinion
Try some empathy
As a registered Republican, but a centrist, I am compelled to vote more and more for Democrats. The reason is simple: So many Republicans in office today are simply bullies.
How did this happen? My guess is that being a bully today in the Republican Party works — it gets votes. Voters on the right have become increasingly angry and wish to punish those who do not agree with their Fox News mentality.
The bullies, including Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh (“Roadrunner”) Hawley, Florida Gov. Ron De Santis and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, are the least empathetic of men. We see the same with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vlad Putin.
I doubt this started with Donald Trump, but he certainly proved its value with his veiled bigotry.
Without empathy for people, what do we have? Great leaders have empathy, including Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin Roosevelt.
No fake news here — we’ve seen it live. The bullies are in it for themselves, and power is their sole motivator. They are not above cruelty to gain and hold power. And they do not represent all the people.
- Herman Kirkpatrick, Leawood
Voters’ voices
I agree with Marilyn McLeod’s guest commentary on ballot initiatives in Missouri. (Feb. 26, 20A, “Don’t make it harder for Missourians to be heard”) The ability for the people to put issues to a vote without the legislature’s action is an important check on lawmakers, and that check puts Missouri ahead of Kansas.
On our side of the state line, legislative leadership is also out of step with the public on many big issues. Unfortunately, since Kansas does not have ballot initiatives, politicians are free to ignore the will of the people on things such as KanCare expansion, public education and marijuana legalization.
This makes me question the winner-take-all method we use to choose our representatives. If our legislatures are meant to represent the entire population, shouldn’t our elections make it so the entire population has representation? A more proportional election method would broaden voter representation by giving all voices a seat at the table, and our elected bodies would better reflect the people they represent.
Missouri lawmakers who want to block ballot initiatives should instead look at reforming how they are elected. Rather than assuming that it’s the voters who are wrong, perhaps they are the ones who are out of touch.
- Richard Pund, Overland Park
For our children
Poor mental health among children is a growing problem. In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently published survey of adolescent mental health, 42% of teens had experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness, and 22% had seriously considered suicide in in 2021. Both are significant increases from even 10 years ago.
As a physician working in a children’s hospital, I have seen firsthand the worsening mental health crisis for teenagers and children. The mental health care system is overwhelmed. Often, children wait days, weeks and sometimes months to receive the proper treatment and therapy. There are not enough social workers, therapists, psychiatrists or inpatient psychiatric care facilities to accommodate all who need help.
There are multiple bills in the state legislature aimed at improving mental health care access for children and teenagers. I encourage you to reach out to your representatives and ask them to support improving access and funding for mental health services for our children.
- Benjamin Merrill, Kansas City
Make the case
New Attorney General Kris Kobach is back to his old tricks to suppress votes. His latest attempted manipulation is stating “ballot harvesting” happens with “significant regularity.” (Feb. 23, 1A, “Kobach, Schwab take opposite sides on ballot drop boxes”)
It would be so nice if he would actually prove this is happening in Kansas. Where? When? Number of votes? As a voter, I expect proof, not just words.
- Susan Tozier, Olathe