Readers share views on Donald Trump, Russia, term limits
Next U.S. president
I am hearing friends say that billionaire Republican presidential contender Donald Trump “tells it like it is” and “cannot be bought by blackmail or lobbyists” and that “if he was able to become that rich he must be able to fix our nation’s financial issues.”
Please remember that we live in a democracy. There are plenty of dictators in this world who can change things in their countries at any time by yelling, criticizing, insulting, and forcing people to do things their way.
We have a system that protects us from that. Our system is imperfect, but it requires agreement. We need leaders who strive to find common ground and forge agreements while respecting others.
The presidential election is not a reality TV show. We need to step out of our entertainment mindsets and look for a respected, respectful, experienced government leader who has strong principles and a record of governing by consensus.
Deborah McIntire
Kansas City
Yielding to Russia
In little-reported events, the retreat and decline of President Barack Obama’s America showed when Iraq’s president told our secretary of defense he could keep his Apache helicopters and forward-deployed American forces (12-17, A15, “Iraq is offered more U.S. support”). Why?
Because Iran told him to do so. Similarly, the U.S. pulled out F-15 fighters deployed to Turkey to protect Turkish airspace and to fly cover for U.S. air operations in Syria. Why? Well, Secretary of State John Kerry was in Russia sidling up to the Russians when this move was made. Coincidence?
I think not. They were withdrawn because the Russians demanded it.
The region is now dominated by Iran and Russia because of Obama’s policies and deal-making.
Many think it is OK to yield the area to Russia and let it destroy the Islamic State. Of course, it is not doing so.
Taking a longer view, when the countries in the region purchase their armaments and aircraft from Russia many people will lament that good-paying jobs are not available in the U.S. So it turns out that the thing actually being degraded and destroyed is the defense industry and its jobs.
Maybe I’m wrong. Could be that if we don’t build weapons no one will.
Jim O’Connell
Shawnee
Term limits
I wonder what the career political class thinks of the outsiders leading in the presidential polls and challenging the business-as-usual crowd in Washington, D.C.?
Wall Street bankers, investors, corporations and insurance, medical and pharmaceutical companies have long had their way in Washington.
Our legislation has been greatly influenced by these special interests through our career politicians. How does one stop this influence?
Vote them out, right? That’s not likely.
The best answer is term limits. Those opposed to term limits have the advantage because it would take a constitutional amendment to do it.
Term limits could end the career politicians and hopefully end crony capitalism and reform our tax codes and entitlements and rid government of corruption and waste. In return, we would have a fairer government for and by the people.
Several presidential candidates from both parties say they support term limits.
James L. Atkinson
Kansas City, Kan.
Cash rules baseball
Another Kansas City Royals season is over. We fans can revel in the second World Series championship for our team.
We were fortunate to witness it. Our team won the way baseball should be played, with timely hitting, a solid defense, good pitching, aggressive base running and a healthy dose of luck.
The Royals have players who seem to embody what all great players should — love for the game and the fans. This group had what fans want in a team except for one thing. Loyalty.
In professional baseball, loyalty is dead. It is trumped by greed.
Case in point is Alex Gordon — who grew from the second coming of George Brett to bust to arguably baseball’s best left fielder. He’s a player of undisputed character and determination whose loyalty to the Royals and their fans is unquestionable, right? Wrong.
Greed trumps loyalty again. Big-money TV contracts and multimillion-dollar contracts have killed the concept of loyalty. The average middle-class fan cannot afford to go to a game.
Shameful. Loyalty is dead. Big money wins.
Kenneth Williams
Leavenworth
Worshiping sports
I am so angry at the way we idolize pro sports. We idolize and covet the players while accepting mediocrity.
A child getting a 75 percent is a “C” student. A nurse who gives 75 percent of the meds correctly might kill patients. A restaurant that gets three out of four orders correct would be out of business.
Yet we pay billions and idolize these players who make millions. Please put the perspective into your own jobs.
The best team in football is 12-2. The next time you get to be the employee of the month for performing your job at 85 percent or the second place is 71 percent (a C-) use the excuse with your boss that 75 percent is worth millions.
Bob Johnson
Lee’s Summit
Bergdahl’s case
After reading the Dec. 15 article, “Soldier who walked off post could face life in prison,” in regards to the upcoming court martial of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for deserting his post, and then being held for five years by the Taliban, I have to agree on one remark made by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Yes, Bergdahl is being viewed as a traitor, but no he should not be executed.
If he is tried and found guilty on all counts, he could forfeit of all of his benefits, be reduced in rank, dishonorably discharged and sentenced to spend the rest of his life at the Fort Leavenworth prison with no chance of parole. Bergdahl appears to have turned against his country and now could face charges.
There is no excuse for people who bring dishonor and disgrace to our men and women in uniform besides bringing shame to our country and the military past, present and future. As a retired veteran of the military, I honestly have to say, “I have no respect for someone like that.”
Tony Lordi
Kansas City
Salvation Army
Never pass up the silver bells,
It sounds so clean and clear.
It peels for us to listen,
It peals for us to hear.
There are families that are hungry
Some homes are cold and bare,
Their pantries are empty and wanting
We need to answer there.
The silver bells are calling
Listen, they are calling to you and me
Let’s fill the buckets to the top
An answer to their plea.
Pat Searcy
Overland Park
Denouncing hate
At the instigation of our mission team, our church put “Muslim Lives Matter!” on our church street sign and gathered around it on Sunday to take a group picture. I will be hand-delivering that pic along with words of support on Wednesday to our local mosque and the attached school.
At Southwood United Church of Christ, we are very concerned about the heightened rhetoric in our nation against Muslim families. This kind of rhetoric of fear and hate has historically brought out the worst in us as Americans and Christians.
Hate crimes are now at all-time highs against our Muslim brothers and sisters. Southwood invites all Christians to live out Jesus’ call to truly love our neighbors and all American descendants of refugees to maintain the hospitality that is a founding principle of this nation.
Rev. Michael
L. Stephens
Raytown
This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Readers share views on Donald Trump, Russia, term limits."