Don’t complain about this Chiefs season. Appreciate 9 years of dominance | Opinion
Don’t complain
Instead of complaining that the Chiefs aren’t doing as well as we had hoped this season, why don’t we applaud the fact that they have dominated and entertained us for the past nine years with Patrick Mahomes as the captain of the ship?
We have been so spoiled by the excellent play of the Chiefs that we can’t understand or forgive any mistakes they make. We expect too much and complain too often. Let’s recognize their achievements as a team and thank them for the years they have excelled beyond our expectations.
That being said, I still believe they are the talented and exceptional team that we in Kansas City are proud to call ours. Let’s not be so quick to judge their shortcomings, but rather praise their accomplishments.
- Marianne Weber, Roeland Park
Nursing needs
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to rescind the Biden-era minimum staffing rule is a step backward for nursing home residents and the workers who care for them. HHS claims the rule “disproportionately burdened facilities” and threatened access to care in rural and tribal communities. But what about the burden on residents who depend on staff for basic needs and on workers already stretched impossibly thin?
Staffing levels are the strongest indicator of quality care. When facilities argue that safe staffing is too heavy a burden, it raises a troubling question: How can an industry entrusted with the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors complain when asked to meet even the bare minimum? The reality is that the ceiling of what many facilities do is the minimum required. Cutting corners has become routine, and residents pay the price.
This rollback is deeply disrespectful to nursing home staff members. It tells them their exhaustion and heartbreak don’t matter. It signals to families that an industry’s convenience outweighs their loved ones’ safety. Instead of retreating from accountability, leaders should stand firmly with residents, families and staff.
Safe staffing isn’t a burden. It’s the foundation of decent care.
- Libby Hastings, Communication and public relations coordinator, Kansas Advocates for Better Care, Lawrence
Who’s first?
According to the Dec. 7 story “Trump admin says Europe faces ‘civilizational erasure’” (16A), the latest annual update to the United States’ national security strategy has a foreword by the president that states, “In everything we do, we are putting America First.” It also has a section titled “Promoting European Greatness.” How is making Europe great again putting America first?
- Robert O’Rourke, Leavenworth
Solar reality
Starting Jan. 1, 2023, Missouri law has stated that homeowners associations cannot ban solar panels, but it set reasonable restrictions for their placement. The HOA in my neighborhood does not allow solar panels to be street-facing. My house faces south, so my solar panels would have to be on its north side. This greatly reduces the efficiency of the system, making it cost prohibitive. In my opinion, this is going against the spirit of the law, and HOAs such as mine and others are getting away with it because the law is too vague.
It has been three years since this law took effect. I think it’s time our legislators step up and clarify it so that every Missouri homeowner has access to solar panels.
- Brendan Anderson, Parkville
No respect
I was raised as a Christian gentleman and taught to show respect and good manners to all people. Donald Trump openly calls people “vermin” and “garbage.” I find his behavior crass, uncouth, unchristian and embarrassing to our country.
- Kevin Flattery, Kansas City
American way?
The Department of War (not Defense) is flexing its muscles by destroying manned small-power boats that possibly are carrying illegal drugs to an undetermined destination. Maybe, if we still had the Department of Defense, these crafts could have been tracked to their intended destinations and then the boat operators, the recipients of the drug shipments and possibly the entire network of drug distributors could be identified and arrested. This would seem to be a responsible and logical approach.
Now, if the Department of War chooses to expand its tactics, it could just decide to blow up some of the drug-carrying semitrucks that slip across the Mexican border as they cruise along our highways. But then the resulting mess would need to be cleaned up and not just sink into the sea.
I cannot think our members of Congress and voters really believe the current tactic by the War Department is the American way for justice. If we claim to be a Christian nation, we should act like one and oppose these barbaric tactics.
- Alan Bell, New Haven, Missouri
Show kindness
This is the season when we look forward to both giving and receiving. How about giving some kindness? Many of us know the aphorisms: “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” “The best portion of a good man’s life is in his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.”
In the coming days, you will attend gatherings of friends and family. Let’s remember to make the most of these opportunities and bring joy to those gathered by expressing kindness to each of those there. Your kind words will be what people will remember most about the gathering. Both the receiver and the giver will remember those moments with fondness.
- Charles Stiles, Overland Park