Readers react to terrorism, Kansas City’s earnings tax and clean energy
Terrorism tool
I propose that the media have become the handmaiden to terrorism. If the goal of terrorists is to create fear and to terrorize, the media appear to be hell-bent on being their megaphone.
Every time the networks, cable news, newspapers and the Internet increase their level of “freak-out,” without giving one iota of perspective, they become that megaphone.
Since early March 22, they have pounded the airways and light waves with the horrific images of the Brussels airport and subway station and blow-by-blow descriptions of every snippet of speculation about who, what, when, where and how this might have happened.
This must amp up the fear. As such, the terrorists win.
Despite what we all would like to believe, the world has always been a dangerous place. And, terrorist attacks have become the way of the world. As such, the cost in human terms and the tragedy is staggering.
These are by no means trivial events. Yes, the Constitution guarantees the free speech right of the media to report on them but not to obsess about them.
When the media obsess, they become the tool of terrorism.
Bill Sort
Leawood
Approve E-tax
On Tuesday, voters in Kansas City will decide whether to retain the city earnings tax.
The Sierra Club is recommending a yes vote on Question 1 to retain the earnings tax.
The tax supports environmental programs that improve the health and quality of life of Kansas City residents and visitors.
The general fund supports curbside recycling and recycling-center programs and energy-efficiency investments in city buildings.
It also funds the city’s Office of Environmental Quality, whose core mission is maintaining and improving the environment.
The Sierra Club is launching a grassroots campaign to support the earnings tax to counter Missouri mega-donor Rex Sinquefield.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sinquefield contributed $1.8 million in a recent one-week period to the anti-earnings tax campaigns in St. Louis City and Kansas City.
The Sierra Club has released a report focusing on environmental programs supported by the earnings tax and the importance of a healthy city center.
As a city resident who recycles and wants to see our city succeed, I see the benefit of the earnings tax.
I will vote yes on Question 1 on Tuesday, and I hope other Kansas City voters will join me.
Claus Wawrzinek
Political Chair
Sierra Club, Thomas
Hart Benton Group
Kansas City
Clean energy
I was dismayed to learn of the Supreme Court decision to halt the Clean Power Plan — the first effort to reduce harmful carbon pollution.
Although there has been a lot of intentionally misleading misinformation about the plan, it would have huge economic benefits for Missouri, and all of us should support the plan despite the Supreme Court decision.
As a graduate student studying the effect of clean energy, I know how vitally important it is to support growing our clean-energy economy in Missouri.
By supporting the expansion of wind energy, Missouri could benefit from the creation of thousands of new jobs. Farm families that lease their land for these wind farms could receive $4,000 to $8,000 annual income per turbine.
In addition, recent studies found that the Clean Power Plan would save 1,200 lives in Missouri and bring long-term savings to ratepayers — a win-win.
Addressing climate change cannot wait for the courts or any other political challenge to play out. Our health, safety and well-being depend on making the right decisions.
For the best interests of our state, we must urge Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon in Jefferson City and U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill in Washington, D.C., to continue progress on developing a robust homegrown initiative for the Clean Power Plan in the state of Missouri.
Eli Horowitz
St. Louis
Double standard
The media — both the Republican National Committee-backed Fox News and the “Clinton National News,” or CNN — are desperate to discredit and destroy GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump.
Their coverage of the pushy female reporter who insisted on getting into Trump’s face is another example (3-30, A2, “Campaign official accused of battery”).
She was restrained by one of his bodyguards and was able to show that she had received bruises on her forearm. She wants to press charges. The media are all over this claiming brutality, intent to harm, anti-feminism and abuse.
If it were a male reporter being as aggressive as she was and he was restrained there would be no story at all, but being a women it became a big deal. The women who want equality with men want to compete, but only if they retain the special privileges traditionally given to women.
Men who want to remain chivalrous to women and treat them with respect are finding it difficult to do when women insist on competing in traditional male activities.
However, the bottom line is obvious: Stop Trump, any way you can. His followers, male and female, have so far been able to see through the media manipulations and continue to vote for reason and for Trump.
Calvin Day
Kansas City
This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers react to terrorism, Kansas City’s earnings tax and clean energy."