Readers react to Bernie Sanders, health care and taxes

Sanders for president

The Gilded Age (1870-1900) closely resembles our present era. Poverty was widespread, workers had little control over their lives and wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few who basically ran the nation by virtue of their financial influence.

Then came progressives such as Theodore Roosevelt, who believed in fairness above all else. He believed that corporations have no business interfering in politics and that poverty is a threat to the lifeblood of a democracy.

Roosevelt did what he thought was right, regardless of the consequences to his career.

Such a man is Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democratic candidate for president in 2016.

His independent spirit, integrity, wide political experience and concern for the poor and middle class are the living embodiment of Roosevelt’s Square Deal policies.

I believe Sanders’ heart is with the common people of this country, and we would be foolish not to support him wholeheartedly.

It’s time for a real change in a progressive direction.

I urge my fellow citizens to support Sen. Sanders for the Democratic nomination for president.

Michael Zygmunt

Kansas City

Medication advice

Several weeks ago, I sustained a frightening and painful injury at home.

The efforts of my husband and daughter and my emergency visit to my doctor helped get my situation under control temporarily.

But my condition required weeks of intensive medical help, along with a variety of expensive medications.

Fortunately, the problem began to clear itself much earlier than expected.

Unfortunately, my doctor had ordered a six-month supply of one of the meds costing my insurance company about $1,200. I was able to discontinue use of this medication before the first package was completely used.

Because I am on medication for an existing condition, my husband and I are now going to be in the Medicare “doughnut hole” for the balance of the year and will be without full prescription drug coverage.

My family doctor said I should’ve accepted only the first packet of this medication and had the pharmacy hold on to the rest for my use if needed.

Unfortunately, no one told me this until it was too late.

I am grateful to my family and my doctors for handling my condition so professionally and successfully, but a word to the wise regarding the handling of the prescription drug in advance would have helped.

Joyce Kidd

Kansas City

Steve Rose column

Leveling baseless personal attacks is a standard ploy to avoid civil discussion of an issue, and that is exactly what Steve Rose did in his Aug. 9 column, “Eilert stands fast against the anti-tax bullies,” about the Kansas Policy Institute and me.

This scant space precludes refutation of his claims, but here is the real issue: Johnson County residents are getting factual information about a proposed property-tax rate increase from Kansas Policy Institute that The Star and some county officials won’t provide.

The Star has been sitting on results of a KPI-sponsored market survey that shows 71 percent of county residents oppose a tax rate increase for more than a week now. The Star and the county call it “modest,” but it is actually 13.93 percent — a 7 percent hike in the tax rate on top of a nearly 7 percent increase in valuations.

According to the Department of Revenue, Johnson County property taxes increased 146 percent between 1997 and 2014, while inflation was 44 percent and population increased 36 percent.

That doesn’t count cities or school districts — just the county portion.

Citizens have a right to form their own opinions as to whether taxes should be increased, but they cannot do so when important information is withheld.

Dave Trabert

President

Kansas Policy Institute

Overland Park

Slow on gun permits

Since the issuance and renewal of concealed-and-carry firearms permits were taken from the Missouri Department of Revenue and given to the sheriffs in 2013, people in Jackson County have been reporting delays of as long as six months in getting their permits renewed.

Several media reports indicate there is a backlog of nearly 21,000 citizens awaiting renewal.

In most counties, renewal amounts to the deputy or clerk making a phone call for a background check, printing the permit and taking the fee — all in 15 minutes or so.

Is Sheriff Mike Sharp too incompetent to do that or just so opposed to citizens’ personal defense rights that he makes this process unnecessarily difficult?

And why do the residents of Jackson County tolerate this abuse?

Christopher Meissen

West Plains, Mo.

Business, government

Many people thought the Citizens United ruling was a terrible decision that allowed businesses to unduly affect government policy through their campaign donations.

The Indiana Religious Freedom Act was condemned by several businesses that threatened to withdraw their companies from Indiana.

This is direct intervention by a business to influence the laws of a state, but no one complained.

Wal-Mart last month said that it was removing products that contain the Confederate flag from its shelves. This is an obvious attempt to curry favor with a political element of our country.

I think business should stick to business and leave government and morals alone.

If it makes a profit sell it, and if it doesn’t quit selling it.

Pope Francis has issued a statement about the state of the Earth and how we should be better stewards. While I respect the pope, I think he should also stick to his area of expertise.

Our country was founded on the principle of separation of church and state, and it should remain that way.

William Gray

Overland Park

Presidential hopefuls

As a conservative, I am annoyed to no end to read The Star’s opinion page. One writer recently referred to the GOP presidential hopefuls as a clown car of candidates.

Every one of these candidates is more qualified to be president than this dishonest one we’re stuck with for a couple more years. They are all accomplished people, unlike President Barack Obama.

These liberal writers are oblivious to the dishonest maneuvers that the Democratic Party enlists.

I put these writers in one of three categories: 1. stupid, 2. uninformed, or 3. evil.

Steve Prosser

Overland Park

Dictator Trump

I’m politically independent but lean toward the right.

However, I would never vote for a declared independent because we have a two-party system, and I like it that way.

I watched the Fox News debates last week with interest. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump was predictable — a spoiler — one who doesn’t think he has to play by the rules.

He has disdain for politicians and Congress, and he enjoys talking down to us lesser beings.

He’s just another entitled rich guy who thinks he’s smarter than everybody else.

Trump as president would be far worse than President Barack Obama. Trump would denigrate and talk down to foreign leaders, Congress and anybody else who disagrees with him.

Trump is crude and reckless with his mouth, his actions and his relationships.

“You’re fired” may make for a clever TV reality show, but the world of politics doesn’t operate that way for a reason.

The ones that do are called dictatorships.

Bob Ulini

Leavenworth

Media meddling

After reading commentary in your paper, it is my understanding that the media will follow and interview only the candidates who have the highest numbers in the polls.

To me, that means the media are deciding who is important enough to be president.

This is very unfair to the voters.

We, not the media, have a right to decide who we think is qualified for president after hearing from all the candidates.

Jane Fallek

Lenexa

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers react to Bernie Sanders, health care and taxes."