Readers share thoughts on Earth Day, politics, licensing

Earth Day veggies

This Earth Day is a great time to explore effective ways of slowing climate change and conserving Earth’s natural resources for future generations.

A 2010 U.N. report charged animal agriculture with 19 percent of man-made greenhouse gases and recommended a global shift to a vegan diet. A subsequent World Watch study placed that contribution closer to 50 percent. Meat and dairy production produce more water pollutants than all other human activities combined.

Last fall, England’s prestigious Chatham House declared that reducing meat consumption is critical to achieving global climate goals. A report from Oxford University found that global adoption of a vegan diet would reduce greenhouse emissions by two-thirds.

As we replace fossil fuels with sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar, we must replace animal foods with the more sustainable vegetables, fruits and grains. Being mindful of this can help us make better choices at the supermarket.

Brittany Fletcher

Kansas City

Return to old times

President Abraham Lincoln called for a “proper practical relationship” as the best way to return the secessionist states to the Union. What we see from current Republicans is neither proper nor practical, nor an attempt at a relationship on the state and national levels.

The current trends seem to be attempts to pit racial, religious, economic and regional factions against each other and is reminiscent of the antebellum rhetoric of the 1850s.

This does not seem to be what we want to return America to.

John Nelles

Shawnee

Licensing joy

Can Kansas and/or Johnson County do anything right? Well, here is a different synopsis that is absolutely true.

I renewed my Kansas driver’s license recently. I did not use the phone check-in process but just picked up my tablet and took off for the department of motor vehicles.

After checking in and settling down to read my book, my number was called within five minutes. It took no more than 15 minutes to process my renewal application.

Of course, I didn’t care for the photo that was taken of me, but who does? In all, I was at the department of motor vehicles no longer than 20 minutes. I made sure those who served me were congratulated for their efficiency.

I left a very satisfied taxpayer indeed.

Pat Binda

Overland Park

Pension cuts

The Central States Teamsters say they don’t have enough money to continue to pay our pensions. It’s everybody’s fault except the people who handled the money.

If the pension is in such bad shape, why did the Teamsters pay lobbyists millions of dollars to get the law passed and make sure it stayed passed?

Where did that $6 million come from? It came from our pension fund. Teamsters officials are just concerned about extending their salaries. We worked 30 to 40 years for our promised pension. Now they want to cut up to two-thirds of the monthly amounts. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is against us. No cuts.

Linda Hocker

Lee’s Summit

Voters’ questions

Do we need border controls and limits on who may enter the U.S., or should we welcome all who seek and find shelter in the U.S. by accommodating the diversity they provide?

Should we, as Americans, welcome diverse lifestyles and become a hodgepodge of community developments or should we seek to teach our new citizens to become accustomed to traditional American values and ways while still having the freedom to teach and celebrate their own family histories?

Should we have one national language that all citizens are expected to learn or should we continue sending out information in two, three or more different languages?

Should we support special interest groups with special privileges because of grievances of the past or should we continue to push for equality for all as inequalities become apparent?

Should we maintain and continually improve a military second to none to be used in defense of America and in support of our allies and those too poor to support themselves?

Should America be isolationist or seek to be a force for good in the world? Do you support individual freedoms over government controls?

What you believe will determine how to vote.

Calvin Day

Kansas City

Ode to candidates

In good times, even hard times

Through times of thick and thin

Let me see

The person who’ll

Be steadfast, deep within.

One who’ll honor godliness

With honesty each day;

Won’t compromise integrity

For power, gain or pay.

Through perils and frustrations

That try to break one down

Let me see

Courageous deeds, well done,

In every town.

To those who tempt rebellion

To common decency

Let me see

Those who’ll defy them

That dare disrupt our liberty.

When I’ve seen compassion

And truth beyond a doubt,

Let me see

The fortitude my parents spoke about.

When handshakes of good men prevailed

And each man heard the call

Of allegiance to America,

Then fought for one and all.

Of such for my country’s sake,

Forever.

Let me see

The one who’ll give God all the glory.

That’s the candidate for me.

Dee Ann Foley

Doxsee

Kansas City

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers share thoughts on Earth Day, politics, licensing."