Russia, Royals, wage theft

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s saber rattling got him Crimea and might also get him concessions on sanctions — or more.

Saber rattling in the days when they rattled only sabers had limited effect because a resulting conflict would have limited geographical collateral damage.

But saber rattling by a nuclear power against other nuclear powers can have unintended and unforeseen consequences if misunderstandings or mistakes cause events to spin out of control at warp speed in today’s technological age.

Crimea was functional for Russia’s interests under Ukraine. Russia already has one of the largest land areas of any nation on Earth — even without Crimea.

It would seem that with the Russians’ vast technological, geographical and creative resources they could do more with what they already have, instead of coveting or grabbing what little their smaller, less fortunate neighbors possess.

We are only a few games into the new season, and already I have had enough of Rex Hudler. Man, that guy is bad.

Almost everything he says is so inane and off the wall. Another season with the sound off for me.

Wage theft is not new, nor is McDonald’s the lone perpetrator. Wage theft has been around a long time and is one of the many reasons that unions came into being — perhaps the main reason — as they sought a guaranteed fair wage for workers.

When McDonald’s officials claim that outside groups are traveling to McDonald’s to stage rallies, they’re right.

We are grandparents, homemakers, retirees, pastors, students, teachers, firefighters, nurses, lawyers, lawmakers and entire families — people of all faiths, and probably an atheist or two — and, yes, union members, all standing shoulder to shoulder with fast-food workers because we can no longer abide the utter disrespect that multibillion-dollar corporations perpetrate on people who have no voice.

Fast-food workers deserve respect, they deserve to have a voice and they deserve a living wage that is fair and guaranteed. Paying poverty wages is unconscionable, but committing wage theft is downright shameful.

To our Missouri elected officials: We plead with you to shed your deep-seated party positions and focus on the common good that is the bedrock of our democracy and what we elected you to do.

We hired you, and now we ask you to attend to the needs of our vulnerable citizens, those without health insurance. You can make it possible for those Missourians between 19 percent of poverty up to 138 percent to become eligible to receive health-care services ranging from prevention to treatment like you and I have.

You can make it possible for our taxpayer dollars to come back to our state at the rate of $4.7 million a day. You have it within your power to bring 24,000 new jobs to Missouri.

If you expanded Medicaid, more than 250,000 citizens would be eligible for Medicaid, a comprehensive program that provides the essential benefits required by the Affordable Care Act to meet the standards of care. Medicaid also includes a prescription drug benefit that controls costs.

Keep this in mind. You have a chance to demonstrate that you support the state motto: “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.”

I appreciate Joel Pett’s May 4 “Off the Easel” cartoon depicting a millennial kicking a can, but I think it needs tweaking to be more accurate.

I take issue with the phrase “kicking the can down the road” because it implies the can — representing a problem or issue — will remain the same size and shape as its present form.

In reality, it is more like a snowball that builds in size and mass as it rolls down a snowy slope. Government entitlement spending is not static.

By ignoring the effect of this on our future, we actually increase the size of the can. Just ask anyone who ignores his obligation to repay a loan.

Eventually the loan balance, increasing exponentially, is beyond the person’s ability to pay. It is called bankruptcy.

Regarding Barbara Shelly’s May 2 column, “Rex Sinquefield, patron saint of lost causes?” about Sinquefield and the Show-Me Institute, it appears clear she would like the discussion about free-market solutions to be over. I am happy to inform Shelly that it is only gathering momentum.

As for Rex Sinquefield championing “lost causes,” they are not lost at all.

Change takes time. We will continue to push for liberty and free enterprise and a better and more prosperous Missouri for all of its residents.

I am confused. I have seen many comments from politicians and others about how bad the Affordable Care Act is. They’ve said loudly and often that the act should be repealed or nullified.

Yet I have not been able to find any specific reasons given for why the plan is so bad.

It was approved by both the House and Senate and signed by the president, and the constitutionality was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Admittedly, there were serious problems at the start of enrollment last fall, but very capable technicians were brought in immediately and repairs were made. Enrollment then went quite well.

There are anecdotal reports of persons signing up with plans that cost less than they expected and that they are happy with.

The only specific objection I have read is that the plan is supported by President Barack Obama.

If it is so bad, why haven’t the objectors pointed out specific reasons other than generalities and anecdotal reports?

It is interesting to note articles informing us that Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook) joins some of the other wealthiest 1 percenters in making a sizable charitable contribution.

Other articles inform us that many members of Congress as well as President Barack Obama are also multimillionaires.

And these wealthy people are telling us that the very wealthy should be taxed more to help the poor.

Some of these elected officials, who are famously wealthy themselves, are very miserly in making contributions to charitable organizations.

If they are really concerned about the poor, they should lead the way and make significant contributions to some of the many organizations with that mission.

Or are they concerned about the poor?

Are they merely trying to create a wedge issue that would promote the erroneous idea that the Democrat Party is concerned about the poor, unlike the heartless Republicans who are not?

Honor these two Kansas City icons: John W. Bluford III, president/CEO of Truman Medical Center, and James E. Stowers Jr., founder of American Century Investments and Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

Based upon the accomplishments of the men, who are well known by the majority of Kansas Citians, I wish to suggest that the following Kansas City institutions be named in their honor:

• The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine be named after John W. Bluford III for his services to the medical community.

• Kansas City International Airport be named after the late James E. Stowers Jr. for his services to the business community.

Space won’t allow me to state all of the accomplishments of these two individuals.

However, I believe that most Kansas Citians would agree to these suggestions.

Mr. Bluford and Mr. Stowers deserve the recognition.

This story was originally published May 6, 2014 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Russia, Royals, wage theft."