Let facial recognition cameras on buses have a trial run before opposing | Opinion
Trial run
The headline on Toriano Porter’s June 30 column read “‘KCATA knows it has a trust issue,’ so how can artificial intelligence cameras on buses succeed?” The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority indicated it wants to try a system of facial recognition cameras on a few buses for about a year before adding them to the full fleet. I don’t know why law-abiding citizens would oppose cameras that protect them, and I don’t know why Porter opposes the cameras before they have been tested.
- Ken Landes, Blue Springs
A contrast
Two pieces in the June 19 Star showed the sharp contrast between Barack Obama’s presidency and the current one. The events at the Obama Presidential Center described in the news story “Obama Presidential Center celebrated as civic hub in Chicago” (6A) revealed an atmosphere of hope, joy, dignity and civility, which mirrored the Obama presidency.
This contrasts to the present environment in the Oval Office. Columnist Llewellyn King writes that the “fun is running out” for the current president. (Online Edition, U.S. Opinions, “The fun is running out for Trump’s presidency”)
Over the last 18 months, the American people have witnessed vulgarity, former allies disrespected resulting in damaged alliances, blatant self-enrichment, intimidation and silencing of media outlets, the judicial system used to attack perceived enemies, interference with our election processes and initiation of a war with Iran all emanating from the current president. I think I can summarize what millions of Americans have thought every day: It’s no fun watching this either. Actually, it’s painful.
- Douglas B. Bogart, Jacksonville, Florida
Yes, act
After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 29 that a president could not remove a sitting Federal Reserve Board of Governors member without giving her the procedural protections of our laws, Donald Trump responded in a social media post that “we will take appropriate action immediately to make sure that someone who has committed wrongdoing will not be making vital decisions concerning the Welfare of the United States of America.”
On the same day, the court handed down its ruling refusing to hear an appeal to overturn his conviction for sexually abusing a woman and defaming her. So, Mr. Trump, how about taking that immediate action you so strongly advocate to protect the welfare of our United States by stepping down? Or maybe members of Congress should take your words for action.
- Larry Hamman, Lee’s Summit
Supreme doubt
Have been thinking about our three co-equal branches of government having a framework of checks and balances. Confirmed by a Senate vote of 78-22, John Roberts became the 17th chief justice of the Supreme Court on Sept. 29, 2005. The high court was then viewed favorably by the majority of Americans. Today, the Roberts court has an overall approval rating of less than 40%.
Why? The Roberts court has overturned long-held landmark precedents set by previous courts: Chevron, Citizens United, Roe v. Wade, affirmative action, voting rights and gun rights. By establishing presidential immunity and placing independent agencies under direct presidential control, the Roberts court has greatly expanded presidential power at the expense of Congress.
The branches are out of balance. The Roberts court also ruled in favor of the Trump administration in most of its “shadow docket” cases, where written legal reasoning is short or nonexistent. These actions as well as ethical issues of certain justices have reduced confidence in the Supreme Court and elicited calls for reform.
To restore confidence, the justices must seek their own correction, or it will be left to Congress.
- Angela Schieferecke, Prairie Village
Birth’s no right to citizenship
It’s just not right that a person enters this country illegally, delivers a baby, and the baby is automatically a U.S. citizen. That makes no sense. If the immigrant is here legally, then it makes perfect sense. (July 2, 12A, “What the 14th Amendment means for KC and why it’s important now”)
The Founding Fathers did not even realize that this country would be invaded in massive numbers, because of an incompetent administration, when writing the amendment to the Constitution. Hopefully our current leaders will make the right move and correct this.
- Lynn Dishon, Leawood
Know earlier
National Cancer Survivors Month, observed every June, is an opportunity to celebrate the strength of survivors and support progress toward more survivors in the future.
The recently passed Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act is worth celebrating. This law lays the groundwork for Medicare beneficiaries to access new screening tools that detect multiple cancers earlier. Recent studies have found that when used alongside recommended cancer screenings, multi-cancer early detection tests can identify more than four times as many cancers as standard screenings alone.
That matters for older adults, who face a higher risk of developing cancer. It matters for rural families who often encounter barriers to care, and it matters for anyone who has watched a loved one face cancer and wished it had been found sooner.
Cancer Survivors Month is about the people behind the statistics: the parents, grandparents, spouses and friends who are still here because of advances in cancer care. The passage of this law reflects a commitment to building on that progress and creating more opportunities for earlier detection.
Lawmakers such as Missouri U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, who supported this bill, should continue building on this momentum to ensure that the benefits of early detection are within everyone’s reach
- Steve Hentzen, Chairman and co-founder, Prostate Network, Kansas City