Readers sound off on police shootings, anti-drug programs, financial literacy
Police shootings
During the last decade just four persons per year have been fatally shot by Kansas City police (1-3, A1, “Putting KCPD killings under the spotlight”). And of these, most were armed.
Yet a lengthy Kansas City Star articles use these facts to demonize the police.
Insinuating racial bias, the articles say that African Americans were shot at double the rate of their percentage of the population.
What was not pointed out is that the crime rate in the black community is much higher than the African American population percentage.
In fact, nationwide, white cops fatally shooting unarmed black men constitute only a fraction of fatal police shootings and virtually none the result of police misconduct.
The Star is recklessly promoting the myth of epidemic misconduct among white police officers.
Regrettably, it is the overwhelmingly law-abiding black community that most desperately needs Kansas City police protection, and The Star, by using its best efforts to hamstring the police, is making all of us, and most particularly the black community, far less safe.
Given the current climate, police officers are understandably super-cautious. Consequently, 2015 murder rates in major cities were up over the previous year.
Police daily risk their lives protecting all of us. They guard us while we sleep. The Star should be ashamed.
Lee Levin
Overland Park
DARE program
About 200 million students have been exposed to Drug Abuse Resistance Education since it began in 1983.
But in today’s society, DARE should be taken out of school curriculum because the program does not reduce drug consumption among kindergarten- through 12th-grade students.
Although the intention of DARE is to reduce drug consumption, evidence shows it actually increases drug consumption.
DARE programs in schools are decreasing. A 2012 study revealed about 60 percent of school districts had abolished the program since the mid-2000s.
U.S. citizens have to ask themselves: Is DARE worth the time and money just to see consumption of drugs by students increase?
Society has evolved; so should DARE.
Shannon Nelson
Lee’s Summit
Financial literacy
High schools require a deeper and more sophisticated economic education for students to succeed in the world. Financial education is essential to better navigate America’s society, and educating oneself on the workings of the economy can help lead a more stable life.
Only 17 states require a personal finance class to graduate, and even then some classes are inadequately taught. If a class is taught in a manner that deems the subject irrelevant, then what’s the point?
Personal finance classes need to be detailed and in depth. How does one explain taxes, savings and budgets to an immature mind in a clear, precise fashion?
Financial education should be a mandatory and well-taught subject in high schools.
Some resistance exists toward financial education. Many say that it is not a school’s responsibility to dictate how an individual spends his or her funds.
Others state that it is the responsibility of parents to teach such subjects. While said arguments are valid, an influential force such as a school system should be able to guide students on the right path.
Financial literacy is an essential skill to learn for success and as such should be taught widely and professionally.
Chun Yi
Lee’s Summit
Hope for new year
May the new year sparkle
With the light of knowing that
Good will come, peace will reign,
The sun will shine brilliantly
On those who wait patiently
With the hope promised long ago
When a child came blamelessly
And conquered sin wholeheartedly
And talked of good and mercy
And lived the words he spoke
And died to prove the point
That love has a gentle way
Of casting light that glows
And glows endlessly
Past the stars, beyond the sky
All the way to eternity.
Therese Horvat
Basehor
This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 9:43 AM with the headline "Readers sound off on police shootings, anti-drug programs, financial literacy."