Readers share thoughts on Greg Orman, Sen. Pat Roberts and Missouri ballot amendments

Orman hypocritical

Although born in Kansas in 1919, my ancestry is largely Scottish. I have always been proud of it and enjoyed being “tight.” Whenever my uncle and I talked long distance, the caller always reminded the other whose nickel it was and not to talk too long.

However, the voting last month in Scotland to leave Great Britain led me to look for a new ancestry — maybe English or Indian — so I wouldn’t be called stupid. Fortunately, the majority voted using their brains.

Will Kansans use their brains in the coming election? One TV ad stresses that the problem is the leadership in Washington, D.C., involving President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

How hypocritical, because the candidate responsible for the ad, Greg Orman, has supported that leadership.

Vincent Muirhead

Lawrence

Roberts desperate

I just saw a news spot featuring Sen. Pat Roberts and former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney touting the Kansas City Royals on Roberts’ campaign trail (10-28, A6, “Romney, Dole wear Royals blue, want Kansas to stay red”). Really?

No one in Kansas pays for that stadium. And that is proof why Roberts is desperate, out of touch and just needs to go to his home on the plains, wherever that is, after the election.

Paula Gettino

Kansas City

Vote on Nov. 4

No one can sit on the sidelines any longer. We all have to vote in 2014 and 2016 before it is too late.

We have the power of our votes. Government officials will feel our power at the ballot boxes across America.

Please exercise your power, and vote on Nov. 4.

Florentino Camacho Jr.

Kansas City

No on amendments

This year, Missouri voters have been overwhelmed with proposed constitutional changes from our legislature. When approved, these are very difficult to change or remove.

We do have a term-limited legislature, but lawmakers review and reject most proposals each year, so why send so many for permanent existence?

One of the annual legislative tasks is to review and correct or eliminate previously approved laws that have been shown to be defective over time. Unintended consequences are common. The present amendments are complex and therefore likely to be partially defective over time.

They will likely confuse our courts as well. They should be approved as regular laws that can easily be corrected in the next year or two.

Although the content of the amendments may have value, as a former Missouri legislator, I believe the choice of enactment is wrong.

Voters would be wise to vote no on all these complex amendments. The legislature could then review and approve them for regular law status if appropriate.

Roy Holand, M.D.

State Representative

1997-2004

Springfield, Mo.

Yes on Amendment 2

On Nov. 4, every citizen in Missouri will have the opportunity to help change Missouri law to benefit abused children.

Constitutional Amendment 2 would allow juries to have information about a defendant’s prior sex crimes against children (if a judge determines the evidence is not unduly prejudicial to the alleged perpetrator).

Missouri is the only state that prohibits this type of evidence, commonly called propensity evidence, in all cases and circumstances. Federal courts and 15 other states permit prosecutors to introduce evidence of past criminal acts with few or no exceptions. The remaining states permit that evidence in some circumstances.

Missouri children deserve to have the strongest — not the weakest — protection against child sexual abuse. Please join The Child Protection Center in voting yes on Amendment 2.

Lisa L. Mizell

CEO

The Child

Protection Center

Kansas City

Roberts must go

After seeing yet one more outsider stump for Sen. Pat Roberts, I feel compelled to question why Sen. Roberts is not touting his longstanding record of serving Kansans if he had such a record to be proud of rather than bringing in well-known Republicans who are just as clueless about Kansas issues, needs and values as Roberts (10-28, A6, “Romney, Dole wear Royals blue, want Kansas to stay red”).

I suppose because these Republican icons are willing to put on a Kansas City Royals hat or shirt or a K-State hoodie, that makes them as connected to Kansas as Roberts. Hogwash.

I, for one, would like to know what Roberts has done for Kansans the last 47 years he has been in Washington, because his poor record of attending committee meetings and voting with special-interest groups makes it appear as if he’s not interested in doing the job he was elected by Kansans to do.

It’s time for Roberts to go. He’s forgotten whence he cometh or possibly doesn’t care.

Elect independent candidate Greg Orman for U.S. senator. He actually lives in Kansas and knows that voters are frustrated with the status quo.

As Roberts heads back to Virginia after the election, I’m sure he’ll be murmuring, “There’s no place like home.”

Sandy Burrell

Lenexa

Sprint advertising

Hysterical, screaming women. That’s the new Sprint CEO’s idea of a compelling TV commercial? Bring back Dan Hesse.

Peter Connors

Lee’s Summit

Striptease governor

Gov. Sam Brownback is the striptease artist of Kansas politics.

He stripped funding for our children’s education. He stripped away Kansas tax dollars and gave them to the wealthy Koch brothers. He stripped away health care from Kansans and financially damaged rural hospitals when he refused federal funds for Medicaid expansion. He stripped aid to our disabled residents and gave it to KanCare.

He has not yet been caught stripping federal Medicare dollars from Kansas retired seniors. But he has already been caught making that proposition.

Dave Peterson

Lenexa

Davis for governor

With the election just days away, I have a sense of foreboding offset by a sense of hope. At age 70, I think this is the most important election of my lifetime.

Until recently, I have always felt comfortable sharing my opinions about issues in the form of letters to the editor or testimony before the Kansas Legislature. However, in the last few years I have become aware of an increasing sense among some Kansans that they need to remain silent, that their voices are no longer welcome in conversations about the future of Kansas.

As a senior citizen of Jewish heritage, I have some sensitivity to the world history of oppression. For me, Tuesday’s election is about restoring to Kansans the right to think and be different — without worry.

With Democrats Paul Davis and Jill Docking as leaders in the governor’s office, Kansans would sleep better at night and go about their daily living with greater tranquility.

Davis and Docking will restore a sense of kindness, compassion and civility to a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Ira Stamm

Topeka

Real values issue

I know there are many, many pressing issues in the world that should be of my concern. I know I should be worried about the Islamic State, the spread of the Ebola virus, taxes and national debt.

I am aware of the fact that I should be angry that this independent candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Kansas, Greg Orman, is a closet liberal while incumbent Republican Sen. Pat Roberts doesn’t even know where Kansas is on a map.

I know those are the big issues. But I can’t help but think if someone could just persuade the stores to keep the fake Christmas trees in the warehouse until after Thanksgiving, they would have my vote.

Eric Meyer

Leawood

Royals Octoberfest

Two thousand and fourteen,

The Royals at their best.

Baseball like we’ve rarely seen;

It’s been the Octoberfest!

John D. Colle

Blue Springs

This story was originally published October 29, 2014 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers share thoughts on Greg Orman, Sen. Pat Roberts and Missouri ballot amendments."