Readers react to politics, federal ID requirements and youth crimes

Candidates’ run

We in Kansas may feel that recent politics have soured others toward us, but we are small potatoes compared with Texas.

Since the Civil War, Texas has exuded a bigotry and vigilante conservatism constructed from the failed Confederacy and is now personified in Sen. Ted Cruz.

As you read editorials and watch the news media, the other candidates are characterized by such words as “robotic,” “out of touch,” “buffoonish,” “ socialist,” “dull”; only Cruz has been termed “dangerous.”

John Nelles

Shawnee

Federal ID cards

For those who are worried about the federal Real ID standards causing their driver’s licenses to become a de facto federal identification card, we already have a federal ID card. It is called a Social Security card (albeit without a picture but sometimes required to prove identity), and the number on it is assigned to you from your year of birth until the grave and sometimes beyond if you have a surviving spouse or children. Unfortunately, that fight was lost long ago.

Cathy Elliott

Overland Park

Youth crimes

For years, many of us in the law-enforcement community believed that to get tough on crime we had to put juvenile offenders in custody. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work. Forty-two percent of youths in Kansas who are released from secure facilities are reincarcerated within three years.

That’s why I am pleased that the Kansas House and Senate passed juvenile justice reform bills that focus on community-based alternatives for troubled youth. These reforms allow us to remain tough on crime while also being smart on crime by addressing the behaviors that lead youths to break the law in the first place.

Research shows these programs work. In fact, a recent report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids said rigorous family-coaching programs that effectively deal with emotional problems and aggressive behaviors can cut reoffending in half or more compared with the usual out-of-home placements.

I applaud legislators for addressing this important issue and hope the final bill will emphasize these alternative programs. As a result, more kids will get the coaching needed to turn their lives around, which means safer communities for all of us.

Donald Ash

Wyandotte County

Sheriff

Kansas City, Kan.

KCI assistance

Thank you to the people on my bus from Kansas City International Airport Terminal B for their help. After I arrived on a Delta flight, four lovely people helped me board the bus and loaded my suitcase.

I was not sure of my parking location, so the bus driver drove around until we located my car, and a gentleman passenger rode with us so he could get my suitcase into the car.

God bless you all for your concern and help.

Marilyn Hail

Leawood

Streetcar memory

With all the news about streetcars in town, it reminds me of a time many years ago when my boss at the Metro gave me the job to go to Union Station and welcome visitors aboard the light-rail car we had from St. Louis.

I was to show them through the car, which was sitting on the track at Union Station.

I was thrilled when Wendall Anschutz, the Channel 5 newsman, was to work with me. He sure was a nice gentleman.

Sadly, he’s gone.

Harold Ambrosius

Kansas City

Bigotry freedom

The Missouri legislature is on a campaign to enhance religious freedom by passing a state constitutional amendment to allow business owners to discriminate against people whose lifestyles they disagree with.

Our Jefferson City religion guardians want to ensure that a Christian baker doesn’t have to bake and decorate a cake for a same-sex wedding. They consider it an abomination to force a florist to sell flowers to a same-sex couple for their wedding.

I’m no student of the Bible, but from what I do know, Jesus never advocated hatred or discrimination. He taught followers to love their neighbors, to give to those in need and to repay evil with kindness.

From this point of view, the proposed amendment wouldn’t free Christians to follow their founder’s teachings. Rather it would legalize a practice that opposes what he taught.

Then, of course, there is the U.S. Constitution that outlaws discrimination of this type.

Keith Evans

St. Joseph

Casino smoking

The U.S. surgeon general has concluded there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 41,000 citizens die from heart and lung diseases each year as a result of secondhand smoke exposure. So permitting smoking in casinos is, quite literally, sickening.

Smokers are a large portion of casino clientele. Banning smoking in casinos will severely affect casino revenues. Please.

Smoking has been banned in restaurants, workplaces and other venues. Have people stopped working, eating out or going to movies or sporting events?

Of course not. The air quality at those venues became more breathable and less harmful for everyone. When will the state legislature do the right thing for casino workers and patrons and ban smoking in casinos?

Although I very much enjoy testing my skills at video poker, nothing ruins the experience more than sitting next to a smoker. This toxic evil has been banned in all other public venues.

Isn't it past time for smoking to be banned from casinos for the benefit of patrons, workers and all?

Gary Bradley