I called all Kansas’ members of Congress about Iran. Only one answered | Opinion
Dead lines
This past Monday, I called Reps. Sharice Davids, Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Derek Schmidt, and Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran. I was calling about the unhinged rhetoric coming from President Donald Trump toward the people of Iran. None of the offices answered the phone except for Davids’. The young man there listened to me and said he would pass my message to the congresswoman. Kansas’ other representatives in Congress appeared not to want to talk to anyone.
When you read newsletters from our Republican representatives, it appears they meet only with people who agree with them. Davids’ newsletters are filled with opportunities to address her constituents’ needs. Her newsletters do not indicate that you must be a Democrat for her to listen. She is open to everyone.
What I do not understand is this: Why don’t our Republican representatives stand up for the farmers and all the other people they represent? Why don’t the farmers stand up for themselves? Why are our Republican representatives and farmers so receptive to lies and won’t address the facts that the costs of food, housing, health care and gas are increasing?
- Karen Bradfield, Lenexa
Silence equals?
Our president’s lawless pursuits, including ignoring due process and engaging in war without congressional involvement, beg for strong responses from Kansas’ political delegation.
Silence portends either agreement or cowardice.
- Phil Anderson, Manhattan
Plaza plan
Location, location, location.
The Star recently published a story about the Kansas City Symphony’s plan to construct a concert hall near the Country Club Plaza. (March 31, 1A, “Kansas City Symphony to build new concert hall in Plaza area”) The 4,600-seat facility would host symphony concerts, plus performances from touring concerts and films.
Wouldn’t it be better if the concert hall were built inside the Plaza, preferably on the proposed but now-abandoned Nordstrom site at 47th and Jefferson streets? There is plenty of parking, fine dining, retail stores and hotels within walking distance. It is a location that has hosted large events (the Plaza Art Fair, the Christmas lighting ceremony) that attract thousands. This spot could be the new shining gem within the crown jewel of Kansas City. Plus, the symphony is not asking for any tax incentives.
Let’s invite daily visitors into the heart of the Country Club Plaza.
- Roger Paul Hodapp, Kansas City
Deferred action
The war on Iran is a terrible thing. Everyone is missing the historical context of how the world got into this situation. You have to go back to 1979 to find the root cause of this problem.
Jimmy Carter was an honest man, a sensitive man and a religious man. He was also the worst president since Warren G. Harding.
When a mob of radical Iranian fanatics invaded the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979, Carter did nothing. When the military told him that any rescue mission would have to be conducted by the end of February because rescuers would need that many hours of darkness to get the hostages out of the country, he hesitated and wanted to let diplomacy try to reach a settlement. Both failed.
Here we are 46-plus years later, and Iran is bolder and more militant than ever. Its puppets, Hamas, the Houthi and Hezbollah, have killed thousands and threaten more destruction. All because one weak president would not act to defend our citizens when he had a chance to stop this when it started.
I will gladly pay $6 a gallon for gas if it means New York City is safe from nuclear destruction.
- Dick Davenport, Lee’s Summit
A new view
Scott Curtis wrote in his April 10 guest commentary that Kansas needs better candidates for U.S. Senate. (7A, “We need better Senate candidates to serve Kansas, not this president”) I totally agree with him that Roger Marshall has shown what kind of senator he is, and it’s not good. Where are our new Bob Doles and Nancy Kassebaums?
However, I disagree with Curtis’ dismissal of Adam Hamilton. His basis seems to be that Hamilton would run as an independent (which 45% of voters identify as), or that he has not announced some kind of 15-point policy plan. The fact is that people don’t vote for detailed policy statements, but mostly for slogans that fit on bumper stickers, T-shirts or baseball caps.
Or perhaps the author objects to Hamilton’s calls for civility, compassion and kindness — that’s bad? Or maybe he doesn’t believe that senators should be mediators who can view different sides of an issue to work toward bipartisanship? If not our elected leaders, then who is he suggesting should do it?
Why not give people such as Adam Hamilton a chance rather than recycling the same old political hacks and cronies?
- Terry Clark, Kansas City
Power of wealth
The infinite greed of the wealthy is racing the middle class toward extinction. Elimination of income tax in Missouri is one of the current initiatives to pad their wallets. The result would be to shift a huge portion of the state’s operating revenue from the wealthy to everyone else through significantly higher sales taxes.
It is difficult now for young families to buy homes. It will become impossible if an even higher portion of their income goes to taxes. Our elected officials support policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of everyone else because their political careers depend on them appeasing their benefactors.
The Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling made it possible for the wealthy to essentially buy their policymakers of choice. This outsize influence of the wealthy is compounded by having a corrupt federal administration full of billionaires with no oversight or accountability. Their shameless grift and corruption has been patterned nationwide at every level of government.
We must take back our government from the wealthy. The first step is comprehensive campaign finance reform. We need principled policymakers in government, or the middle class will rapidly collapse under artificial intelligence-powered wealth accumulation.
- Jonathan Phillips, Osage Beach, Missouri