Readers share views on Bernie Sanders, lead poisoning, U.S. currency
Sanders, Warren
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton is a politician. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is an economist. Which would you want to decide our future?
I want an honest, straightforward person like Democratic presidential contender Sen. Bernie Sanders and an intelligent woman who understands how the world works.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren as his running mate? In my view, it’s a match made in heaven.
Wesley Hill
Blue Springs
Lead poisoning
I hear that Flint, Mich., is beginning to replace its lead pipes, which have been poisoning the city’s residents. However, Flint officials need to ask themselves whether just replacing the lead pipes is going to completely solve the poisoning problem.
Mark Greene
Shawnee
U.S. currency
Methinks U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has too few things to do.
Here’s a suggestion: Instead of redesigning the U.S. currency and creating a contentious national conversation about the people pictured on bills, I suggest Mr. Lew use the power and resources of his office to focus on job creation and economic development.
That way he could play an important role in honoring people by creating economic opportunities to put the currency in working people’s hands. Use the currency — and more of it — instead of designing it.
Then and only then does currency design sustain and reward all Americans.
Richard F. Thomas Jr.
Kansas City
KCI efficiency
Kansas City International Airport doesn’t need to be beautiful.
No one goes to an airport for its ambiance. People go because they have to or it’s the quickest way to get somewhere.
All KCI has to be is efficient, which it seems to be now. I’ve flown to many airports, and KCI is the most efficient one I’ve been to.
Bill Moses
Liberty
Computer reliance
The United States is now about a 70 percent service economy. Manufacturing is nearly gone. Construction is sort of stop and go.
Recently a computer server was down. No service could be done. I had to turn away clients. It took all day to get the server running again.
“Error, server timed out.” That is all I saw for about five hours.
My anger and frustration level maxed out. I was ready to commit violent acts. If the United States is all service-industry driven, it is time to understand how dependent we are on computers.
If we do not have 100 percent backup, it is going to go wrong in the future.
Richard Blaisdell
Kansas City
‘Religious freedom’
Our hospitality community is in danger. As a nonprofit responsible for the economic growth of the region, Visit KC believes Senate Joint Resolution 39 is bad for business and bad for Missouri’s economy.
Kansas City welcomes more than 24 million visitors annually, generating $3.1 billion in visitor spending and $153 million in state tax revenues while supporting 46,000 jobs, which we want to protect.
This legislation puts frontline employees’ livelihoods at risk. Fewer events mean fewer hours worked, translating to smaller paychecks. This isn’t speculation. It has actual consequences, as can be seen in other states and in our own.
Anti-LGBT legislation of this nature would wreck Missouri’s reputation and economic vitality, stifling growth and employment.
I urge people to contact their representatives and express their concerns. SJR 39 is not who we are. Let’s continue our growth and momentum.
Ronnie Burt
President & CEO
Visit KC
Kansas City
Reward of kindness
I recently ran errands, one of which was to pick up two prescriptions at the CVS Pharmacy on Northwest 64th Street. The young man took this 80-plus-year-old’s information and proceeded to tally up the amount I owed.
A fellow standing nearby came up to the service counter and gave cash to the young man waiting on me, and it was more than 50 percent of my bill. I was overwhelmed by his generosity and thanked him from the bottom of my heart.
He made mention of a mission for his church. I do not know the name of this generous man or his church. Needless to say, there are, indeed, people who can make and bless a person’s day.
My sincere thanks to this kind soul, and I will pay it forward.
Sharon E. Brunjes
Parkville
This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Readers share views on Bernie Sanders, lead poisoning, U.S. currency."