Readers react to Kris Kobach, Donald Trump and rising sea levels
Kobach off base
When Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach pushed through the law requiring new voters to show birth certificates to register, I thought, “Well, that is reasonable.” As time went on, I realized the many problems that law was causing.
▪ My friend’s grandmother was born at home on a farm in western Kansas and has no formal birth certificate. The Motor Vehicle Office is 10 miles away and only open two days a week. Should she be kept from voting?
▪ A neighbor who, because of divorce, has had three last names had to retrieve documentation to show all those name changes to register to vote.
▪ When calling on elderly Kansans as a precinct woman, I found many who do not have state identification.
Voting is a fundamental right of all American citizens. How can Kobach call the League of Women Voters (a group passionate about voting) communists?
These women are the most patriotic of all. As vice president of the Johnson County Democratic Women, I declare we stand with our sisters in the League of Women Voters.
Kobach is the outlier.
Mary Kay Ziegler
Overland Park
Trump, shooting
I have watched the sound bite several times. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says he could go out in the street and shoot someone and his poll numbers wouldn’t go down.
Then I wait for the TV news anchors to comment. Nothing. They all seem to be afraid of saying anything negative against this candidate, who seems to be controlling everything about this election cycle.
I am amazed. It’s getting better than a sitcom.
I hope Americans can soon step back, pause and realize the insanity. Otherwise, it could be a long four years.
Jeffery Bennett
Kansas City, Kan.
Candidate Trump
Referring to Michael Gerson’s Feb. 19 column, “Trumpism is an existential threat to conservatism,” I hope many readers paid attention. Donald Trump would be a disgrace to our country as president.
This man is egotistical beyond description, bombastic and rude. I am baffled how conservatives can support Trump.
Republicans have choices, and almost anyone would be better than Trump. God help us all if he gets elected.
Ruby Ruschhaupt
Kansas City
Rising sea levels
If you think coastal flooding has nothing to do with the Heartland, think again (2-23, A1, “Rising sea level sets off alarms”). We will be affected, even in the Midwest, by rising sea levels.
We are part of the problem. We contribute significant carbon emissions from our coal-fired plants and from transportation, both personal and commercial.
The Army Corps of Engineers, the primary federal agency tasked with safeguarding our coastlines, cities and harbors, is funded by taxpayer dollars. New Orleans, which handles our inland harvests for global export, will be affected. Wall Street, itself, is vulnerable.
Ultimately, protecting our coastal cities and associated infrastructure should be a national priority. We will all have to pay to adapt to rising sea levels. Water connects everything.
Elaine Giessel
Overland Park
Political gridlock
Republican, Democrat. These two words have defined our political stances on everything from gay marriage to corporate welfare since the Civil War more than 150 years ago. We associate ourselves with “right” and condemn the “wrong” without pausing to ask the true democratic question: What do I think?
Our duty is to vote for what we believe instead of trusting how others tell us to vote. A multifaceted system would provide greater freedom of beliefs. More party choices mean a better chance of representing opinions fully.
Deep-rooted polarization distorts our perception of others’ ideas, no matter how great they may be. Gridlocked Congress is one example. When was the last time we were satisfied with how it worked?
This direct confrontation without thought of worth kills the greatest ideas before they get a chance to sprout.
I am not fooled into thinking everything would be perfect with more than a two-party system.
Gridlock would sometimes happen.
However, by escaping our current situation and promoting independent thought, we would force our intellect to direct our future instead of a commercial we see on TV.
Kody Preud’homme
Blue Springs
This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Readers react to Kris Kobach, Donald Trump and rising sea levels."