Readers react to the Kansas City earnings tax, global warming and Kris Kobach
KC earnings tax
The Dec. 2 article “Missouri lawmaker moves to repeal KC’s earnings tax,” explains how this past summer Sen. Kurt Schaefer floated the idea of repealing local taxes based on the increase of the minimum wage.
In 2010, Rex Sinquefield, a man who donates a lot of money to politicians and causes, financed a statewide vote to have the earnings tax re-approved by local voters every five years. In 2011, Kansas City residents voted to keep the tax.
The option for repealing it will happen again when it goes to a vote in April 2016.
The mayor has said that taxes are essential to avoid making drastic cuts in basic services. Schaefer thinks this is unconstitutional and hurts more than it helps.
Based on what I just read, I believe the taxes should stay as they are. Repealing them would cause more damage to people who work hard and risk their lives every day for the safety of me and my fellow citizens.
The men and women who would see the most damage to their paychecks work in the police and fire departments.
How is it fair to them to take a cut in pay so that someone at a minimum-wage job gets paid more?
That is not fair at all.
The people who work in the police and fire departments have taken special classes and have spent time and money to be where they are in life.
They also risk their lives every day to save others, whereas people who work everyday simple jobs don’t have to have special classes or qualifications.
Megan Duntz
Lyons, Kan.
Melting glaciers
Your recent articles in The Kansas City Star about climate change reminded me that as I drive up to Iowa to my hometown I see the hills along each side of Interstate 29 going to Sioux City.
They were formed by glaciers that pushed the ground and rocks to the side during the Ice Age.
I’ve often wondered — and maybe The Star could assign a team of reporters to investigate — whether the glaciers melted because the American Indians were heating their teepees with fossil fuels or wood to keep themselves warm.
If the glaciers did melt because of fossil-fuel use, it would add great credence to your stories and should be mentioned.
If not, maybe you should rethink your position.
John Kettler
Shawnee
Kobach’s folly
Let me get this straight. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and his assistant, Eric Rucker, have been beating their chests and harping about the integrity of our voting process and spending thousands of taxpayer dollars generously handed over by Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick and his cronies for what (12-3, A4, “Illegal voting case results in guilty plea”)?
I read in The Star that a couple in the process of moving from Kansas to Arkansas in the fall of 2010 voted in both states for different candidates in different races and did not vote twice apiece for anyone.
Kobach, of all people, should know a fraud when he sees one, but this is just pathetic.
In light of the huge issues affecting Kansans and other Americans as well, this whole campaign looks like little more than a feeble political publicity stunt gone wrong and a waste of precious taxpayer funds, which could be better spent for health, education, housing, roads or almost anything other than this quixotic pursuit.
Ron Sidener
Leawood
Unsavory food
In the last year, we have noticed a marked change to our favorite fried chicken and fish restaurants. The chicken and fish used to have a crispy, tasty crust and flavor.
Now the chicken and fish are coated with a batter than absorbs a totally different flavor of oil, and it’s all greasy.
It’s not just one or two chains. It’s become prevalent in all the newer places.
The cooking oil almost tastes rancid.
Why change?
If providers believe customers want healthier foods, then we need to tell them we also want food that is palatable. We really like rotisserie chicken, but there are only a few places that actually get the chicken cooked through and through.
It’s not economical to drive 20 to 40 miles for decently prepared foods.
Is it because the ingredients now come from another country?
If that’s the reason, then don’t be surprised if sales decrease.
Food costs too much these days for people not to enjoy the meal.
Carol Clopton
Kansas City
This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Readers react to the Kansas City earnings tax, global warming and Kris Kobach."