Readers react to gasoline prices, drivers of big vehicles and terrorism

Low gasoline cost

There is a glaring inconsistency in the cost of goods shipped by truck when oil and gasoline prices were soaring versus these days as they plummet.

Has anyone noticed food prices or other goods being adjusted lower to reflect current oil and gasoline prices?

I’m looking forward to hearing from the economic and marketing experts on this subject.

Joe F. Dragosh

Mission

New truck drivers

I was wondering, when a person buys a new pickup or sport utility vehicle does he have to sign an agreement that he will drive at least 10 mph over the speed limit at all times?

Bill Betteridge

Independence

Terrorism in U.S.

Anything that can happen will happen. Those who have answers for everything and contend they will take steps to make sure it never happens again are being disingenuous.

Timothy McVeigh on April 19, 1995, blew up a closely guarded federal building in Oklahoma killing 168 innocent people. It was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in America.

Yet McVeigh, as an American Christian, would have passed every vetting process, no matter how stringent. So listen carefully to the politicians, the armchair generals and the other know-nothings on TV and radio as they outline their grand plans for the future of America.

Just have a grain of salt handy.

Kenneth Lee

Raytown

Oscar nominations

I am having difficulty understanding the rationale to have diversity regarding the Academy Awards, which is purely subjective (1-22, Editorial, “Oscars should reflect America’s diversity”).

I have no problem with changing the composition of the governing board. If that is the intent, then by all means. But if the intent is to make sure that actors, actresses and directors of color have “adequate” representation in all categories, that is another matter.

How does that work, and based on what? Is there to be affirmative action in the Oscars? Define the rules and regulations before anyone runs amok and wants to boycott the event.

I have not seen many of the nominated films and probably won’t until they are on Redbox. But is it just possible that the nominees for best picture, best actor, best actress, etc. are just plain better than the rest?

Subjectively speaking, of course.

Kevin M.

Kuebler, M.D.

Olathe

E-tax editorial

We enjoyed the Jan. 24 Star editorial, “Tax increment financing 101: A look at area’s big public subsidy.” We would like to encourage you to continue writing editorials explaining the positives and negatives of issues that are important to your readers.

In our digging into TIFs and the earnings tax, we came across an Economic Activity Tax on Page 39 of the city’s budget. Here is another $77 million paid out in incentives to developers. A big percentage of this comes from the earnings tax.

Our concern is how many more funds like this are out there? Just how many dollars does our city give to developers each year?

We would like to see an editorial explaining the Economic Activity Tax and any other funds siphoned from the earnings tax or funds dedicated for economic activity. Just how many dollars are we giving away? Your readers deserve to know.

Dan Coffey

Citizens for Responsible

Government

Kansas City

Facing challenges

During my 95 years, I have tried to live a good life. For all of us, life is filled with challenges and temptations, and we are faced with the choice of saying yes or no.

Early in my life, when on a date, I found myself with other couples gathered for a time of fellowship.

Suddenly, for me, the joyful atmosphere changed. A bucket filled with ice and beer was passed around. I was the only one to say no when offered a beer.

Many years later, during a high school class reunion, a young lady who was my date during the beer-drinking party came to me to say thank you for saying no. She said I was a good example for her over the years.

Today, the challenges are many, and our answers help us mold the lives we want to have. As we seek to live a good life, this step toward saying yes or no can bring honest-to-goodness happiness.

Doug Sutherland

Raymore

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Readers react to gasoline prices, drivers of big vehicles and terrorism."