Readers react to the Keystone pipeline, the Iran nuclear agreement and immigration

Keystone pipeline

It has not been established how many and for how long the Keystone XL pipeline will provide jobs. But one thing is for sure.

All the money and security deposits will not reverse the environmental damage caused by the Exxon Valdez, the BP tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico and many more oil spills here and in other countries.

Maybe people who favor drilling can ask the people of these areas and see whether they have recovered and talk to the people who lost family members. How many beautiful sea birds and fish were killed after being covered by the nasty oil?

The surviving dolphins seem to have health problems.

Money from the Keystone XL pipeline cannot buy everything.

Maria Baldwin

Kansas City

Nuclear pact with Iran

If Congress rejects the hard-won nuclear agreement with Iran, it would be an invitation to a disaster of unknown consequences.

Iran has negotiated for two or more years with the Western world and agreed to the minimum requirements we set forth.

Nuclear inspectors can monitor those terms. Iran, in the negotiations, has agreed to some terms it does not desire, just as the Western nations have set aside some of our initial requirements.

That is what the negotiation process is all about. Iran gets the embargo lifted. Its people can profit from the economic gain.

We have initiated action that can lead to further negotiations and profit from having, if not a friend in the Iranian nation, then at least not an enemy.

Japan and Germany were our enemies in a bloody world war. They are two of our best allies now.

Israel has its own internal problems, and trying to make an adversary of Iran can only lead to unknown consequences spelling disaster.

This agreement has been judged fair and reasonable by our main allies. Let’s trust their judgment and take advantage of what can be a historic moment in the 21st century.

We must learn from two world wars that the only result was worldwide tragedy. No one was a winner.

I have been to Iran twice, and the people were among the most hospitable and friendly I have met in all my travels.

Here is an opportunity for a win-win situation. We must take advantage of this agreement.

Nancy Cramer

Raymore

Illegal immigrants

What is happening to the rule of law in this country?

How can taxpayers allow children of foreigners who are illegally in this country to attend our public schools and universities and grant them in-state tuition that even U.S. citizens from out of state do not receive?

These children and their parents should all be deported, which is what would happen to any American in a foreign land illegally. Do any other countries allow illegal immigrants to attend schools for free and receive free medical services, etc.?

This only encourages more illegal immigration in the future. I say they should be deported to their land of citizenship.

Has everyone gone crazy here?

Carl Smith

Fort Leavenworth

Denigrating dentists

I am outraged and deeply saddened by the murder of Cecil the lion.

Others have done an eloquent job of speaking to the character of the man who shot him and to the practice of this type of hunting. What concerns me is that in everything I have seen and heard about the man who did the killing, the fact that he is a dentist is always mentioned, sometimes as the only other identifying characteristic.

I am sensitive to how dentists are portrayed because my father was a dentist. He was a kind and gentle man who, as a child, went hunting once with his father and knew that killing was not for him.

I know many dentists who are much more like my father than they are the killer of Cecil the lion. I believe we do them and their profession a disservice when we continually reinforce how Cecil’s killer makes his living, and I would argue that being known for this action is description enough.

Kay Hopkins

Leawood

Politics in new KCI

After reading your Aug. 30 editorial, “Move forward wisely with plans to improve KCI,” on replacing Kansas City International Airport, here is my question: Why should we believe what the politicians, airlines or contractors say about what the actual cost of replacement would be?

The politicians are probably furthering their political agendas while the others are lining their pockets.

Bill Bologna

Liberty

Labor Day travels

This Labor Day weekend, AAA expects more than 35 million travelers to hit the road. The Midwest heat can cause a vehicle’s interior to surpass 140 degrees, but holiday travelers can stay cool with simple tips and proper use of vehicle air conditioning.

Before the trip, ensure that your air conditioning is in working order. Don’t delay maintenance if you notice any inconsistencies.

Parking your vehicle in the shade, cracking the windows and using a reflective windshield cover significantly reduce heat buildup.

When first entering, simultaneously lower windows to push out hot air and use maximum air conditioning to help quickly lower the temperature. If you have a remote start system, set the air conditioner for automatic operation to begin the cool-down process even before entering the vehicle.

Automotive manufacturers are installing powerful, smart air-conditioning systems with cooling capacities equal to a small home’s.

If it gets too cold in the front but is still too hot in the back, redirect front vents to the ceiling or sides to maintain airflow to optimize your vehicle’s air-conditioning system.

These tips should help holiday travelers have more comfortable trips.

David Barber

Independence

Thanks to Brownback

Turn your television on or read your newspaper. There are shootings every day.

Thank you, Gov. Sam Brownback and your partners in the Kansas capital, for putting guns in the hands of anyone regardless of his or her background or training to use those firearms without a permit.

Thank you, governor, for giving tax breaks to corporations and businesses without regard for the poor and middle class.

How do you feel about the sales tax you’re paying? Have you purchased a new car in Kansas lately? The sales tax will kill you.

I am sure the governor is aware that many Kansans are shopping more in Missouri, which is not helping our budget. Is this your plan, governor?

Thank you, Gov. Brownback, for opposing gay marriages instead of accepting the ruling of the high courts. Get real and get with it.

The people of Kansas need to remember this when going to the polls in the next election. Gov. Brownback and all of his political partners should start packing.

There are no more rainbows over Kansas.

Bob Yannuzzi

Overland Park

Caring for veterans

There is room for improvement in every area of every life, but at the wound care clinic in Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center I find little room. Little rooms, little staff and big hearts.

I am the wife of a Vietnam-era veteran living with many wounds from war. My husband’s wounds are visible and invisible.

Dr. Wilkins, Jamie and Pam at the wound care clinic have treated both for more than a year. My husband can now sit to eat his dinner with me, and we see improvement every week.

Dr. Wilkins works on his days off. He calls us at home at 7:30 p.m. if we have concerns he can’t address during a regular business day. I only pray the doctor’s family knows how he blesses so many veterans and their families.

Thank you, Kansas City Veterans Affairs wound care clinic.

Heather McCoy

Kansas City

Mellinger column

It took me a while, but now I love Rex Hudler (8-30, B1, Commentary, “The Tao of Hud”). Hud, you’re a gem.

And it took me a while to get used to Sam Mellinger as well. But I have to say, I really enjoyed his very well-written profile of Rex.

Good work, Sam.

Diana Blancho

Olathe

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers react to the Keystone pipeline, the Iran nuclear agreement and immigration."