Readers react to cold weather, Ginger Rogers and Kansas

Shorts in cold

When I was a student at the University of Kansas during the 1960s, it was the habit of many male students to walk across campus in the winter with their coats open. That seems so tame now.

Every day I see Kansas Citians, including little kids, running around in freezing weather wearing shorts, T-shirts and no coat. It’s almost comical watching the kids, dressed as if it were July, wait for the school bus with their teeth chattering and their feet stamping.

If adults want to dress like that, it’s their business. But what are parents thinking when they let their children do it?

It’s a wonder they all don’t catch pneumonia. People do the darnedest things in the name of fashion.

Richard Lovett

Kansas City

Ginger Rogers

Recently, President Barack Obama compared Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Independence’s favorite daughter, Ginger Rogers. Obama said Clinton had to do the same moves as leading men except backward and in high heels.

What an insult to Ms. Rogers. She was never known as a liar, cheat or thief. Neither was Ms. Rogers responsible for not protecting four American diplomats in Benghazi and allowing their demise.

This is reason to go to the streets in Independence.

Ginger Rogers helped carry this country to the light during America’s darkest years of the Great Depression.

Independence knows Ginger Rogers. Independence is a friend of Ginger Rogers. And, Hillary Clinton, you are no Ginger Rogers.

Joseph Lavender

Lenexa

Following Kansas

I read in The Star on Feb. 20, “Missouri senator pushes bigger tax cut,” that Missouri legislators want to follow the lead of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback to lower state taxes. That sounds like a good plan.

Nothing could go wrong.

Mike Crawford

Kansas City

Technology pluses

Some say people have become too dependent on technology, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Although technology is very prevalent in everyday life, it isn’t just used for entertainment.

It’s used for learning, keeping up with people and events, giving us better transportation, advancing medical procedures and many other helpful things.

When some people think of technology, they think of teenagers attached to their smartphones or the dangers that come when people text and drive.

Many people don’t think of the advances in everyday life that come with technology. If people could see past how people use technology and would focus on the advantages, it would improve how people feel on the topic.

Kailey Cooley

Liberty

Office couple

Who is the person closest to a president and has his or her ear on an almost daily basis? In most cases, it is the wife or husband.

This is not addressed in the Constitution. But if the president has to be a natural-born citizen, shouldn’t the person who is the closest to the president also be natural-born?

Irvin V. Patterson

Lee’s Summit

Embarrassments

Has Secretary of State Kris Kobach done anything for Kansas other than file charges against two retirees in Arkansas for making a voting mistake when they moved from Kansas? And, of course, declaring that the League of Women Voters is a communist organization?

For that matter, has anyone heard from Sen. Pat Roberts since his panicky re-election campaign? I won’t even mention our governor other than to say maybe he’ll quietly go away and take remedial courses on finance and education.

Joe McMillian

Olathe

Animal abuse

What people don’t realize about dog racing (2-29, A4, “Plan to reopen Woodlands running into opposition”) is that it is nothing but legalized animal abuse. It must be stopped now.

It’s only about the money. The dogs are used and abused — sometimes to death. They are kept in cramped cages up to 22 hours a day, and many are euthanized if they aren’t fast enough to race or grow too old.

Just explain to your kids and grandkids why these dogs are killed. I am ashamed to live here.

Bob Magnus

Overland Park

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "Readers react to cold weather, Ginger Rogers and Kansas."