Readers sound off on voting independent, Donald Trump, minimum wage
Independent voter
I was looking at my voter registration card the other day. This all-so-important card is virtually useless to me as an independent because in Missouri I can vote in the primaries only if I choose a particular party’s ballot.
That’s the reason I protest the primaries, especially the presidential primary. The candidates all want my vote, yet they don’t respect my voice or my choice to be an independent.
Political parties are not mentioned in the Constitution, so parties are not an indispensable part of our electoral process. As an independent, I demand the right to vote for a candidate — not the party.
Where is the candidate who speaks out against the parties’ control over the election process? Gallup reports that 42 percent of Americans self-identify as independent.
A leader with vision would want to free my voice from an electoral system that excludes me as an independent. Although my vote may not be missed by any of the candidates, I feel better knowing I am not perpetuating a broken system by compromising my voting principles.
Natesha Oliver
Kansas City
Anyone but Trump
OK it is time to up the writing campaign to voice our concern about the current leading Republican presidential candidate (3-16, A2, Commentary, “No Rush to get behind Trump”). Billionaire Donald Trump is on his way to maybe get enough delegates to steal the nomination at the Cleveland, Ohio, Republican National Convention.
If he does that there will be very little the GOP can do to deny him that nomination. So we have to do something now.
If we are serious about saving our country and not letting it turn into the bigoted world that Trump and his supports see, then we need to reach out to those GOP chairmen and chairwomen in states that are still on the table.
Insist that they mobilize their states to get behind anyone but Trump. Come out and endorse Republican presidential candidates Sen. Ted Cruz or Ohio Gov. John Kasich — anyone but Trump.
The longer we wait the more momentum Trump will have and his band of followers will be even more divisive, combative and have a collective ego almost as big as his. He is big on insulting others, but where are his ideas?
He rips others’ policies, but where are his? Wake up America or you may just get what you wish for.
Jerry Harper
Lenexa
Minimum wage
The minimum wage puts more money into the economy. Companies won’t hire help if they don’t need the help.
California raised its minimum wage, and its economy grew. Folks who don’t make living wages don’t have money to spend, and the economy sags
Henry Ford paid his workers more than twice the going rate so they could buy his cars, and everyone prospered.
Albert Henry
North Kansas City
Tobacco products
Yes, I applaud the measures in the Kansas City area to raise the age to buy cigarettes to 21. We must protect our young people.
At 18, they can join the military and get shipped overseas and maybe die defending our country. We can’t have them smoking at such a young age.
It could be bad for their health.
Tom Dodson
Kansas City
Royals appeal
My husband and I and my son and his girlfriend were in Arizona for spring training this past weekend to catch a little baseball fever. The weather was perfect, and the games were packed with Royals fans.
I feel compelled to tell the Royals’ players and organization and the wonderful Kansas City fans how proud I was to be a Royals’ fan from Kansas City. People all over Scottsdale, Glendale, Surprise and Phoenix came over to talk to us about how great the Royals were last year and how fun they were to watch.
It was amazing. No hatred. No meanness.
Just smiles and compliments.
They stopped us when we were walking down the street. They came over to our table at a restaurant.
They talked to us in the bus to the airport.
They stopped us when we were shopping in stores.
It didn’t matter what team they usually root for. They all had nothing but praise for a great year and a great team.
Thank you, Kansas City and the Royals, for being a great city of fans and for being a great team. Your character has not gone unnoticed.
Go Royals!
Debbie Kremers
Shawnee
This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers sound off on voting independent, Donald Trump, minimum wage."