Letter writers share views on ‘right to farm,’ KC’s streetcar system, voting
No on right to farm
A casual reading of the ballot wording for Amendment 1, “right to farm” amendment, appears reasonable. However, I encourage voters to read the actual text of the proposed amendment.
I have two major concerns with the amendment:
1) I am frustrated with special-interest groups using the Constitution to enact statutes that cannot pass the established legislative process. If these statutes cannot withstand the normal legislative process, then they are probably not good public policy.
2) The wording of the amendment is too general, and interpretations will be settled in our clogged court system. It seems to me Missouri farmers already have the inalienable right to farm, as does any other business of the state.
This amendment would establish a bad precedent for other special interests to propose their business practices “be forever guaranteed in this state.”
As a side note, I addressed my concerns to my representatives, state Rep. Jay Houghton and U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, who have publicly supported this proposed amendment.
I received no response from Mr. Houghton (he received my correspondence), and Congressman Luetkemeyer provided a standardized constituent-response message that did not address my specific concerns.
After careful consideration, I will vote no on Amendment 1.
Philip E. Glenn
President
Glenn Acres Farm Inc.
Fulton, Mo.
Voting information
I’d like to say thank you to the editorial board for its July 14 piece, “Advice to the ‘suspended status’ voters of Kansas.”
I’d like to emphasize this: Your voting rights may be suspended even though you remember registering to vote.
We live in Johnson County, and the Johnson County Election Office does us the great service of sending out a voter-information card before every election — even the primaries. My certificate of registration, voting place and information on advance voting by mail are all clearly stated on my personally addressed postcard notification.
I don’t know what happens elsewhere. But, if you have not received a copy of your voting information by mail, the best place to look for help is probably your county election office.
It is also possible to search for your registration status at the secretary of state’s website.
And, the League of Women Voters is nonpartisan and a good source of information.
Dianne Evans
Overland Park
Streetcar in midtown
Regarding the sales tax and the Kansas City streetcar project extension, a true-or-false quiz:
Third District residents are elated that we are included.
Third District residents can’t wait for a streetcar running from Main Street on Linwood Boulevard to Prospect Avenue.
There are numerous attractions on Prospect Avenue.
If for some reason the project doesn’t materialize, Third District residents won’t be stuck with the sales tax.
All of the above are false.
Chuck James
Kansas City
Osterheldt column
I am writing in response to Jeneé Osterheldt’s July 12 column, “Don’t let size make you feel like a 0.”
I have been underweight my entire life. I am 40 years old and have a very hard time shopping anywhere.
People act as if it is OK to say things about a skinny person’s body. But society says we are discriminating and being just plain rude if we use the word “fat.”
More clothing manufacturers should realize there are all different types of people instead of trying to stay with average, whatever that means. I enjoy shopping as much as the next girl, but it is getting more and more difficult.
I welcome choices, and not the one that “I need to put more meat on my bones.” Lane Bryant is a choice, right?
Jennifer Murphy
Blue Springs
Executive controls
With respect to the Department of Veterans Affairs debacle, Benghazi, Internal Revenue Service scandal and Ukraine land grab, here are a few observations.
First, no corporation, government, presidential administration or political party has been without its share of similar tragedies, situations and errors in judgment.
Second, we can’t tell other nations what to do. We can influence and consult, use diplomacy and our armed forces, but we can’t tell another sovereign nation to do what we want and how we want it done.
Third, the buck stops at the president’s desk. A truism in any large organization — and the executive branch has more than three million employees and military personnel — is that you can directly control one level down in the chain of command, personally influence a second level down, have some effect three levels down, and that’s it.
You have to use your direct reports to do the right thing and make sound decisions with their direct reports on down the line, and sometimes someone does something stupid or criminal.
I think that over-the-top, personal criticism of any president demeans the office and makes us look weak and divided as a nation. We need to show some class.
Dave Smiley
Shawnee
Wordy news stories
The Associated Press once hired Rudolph Flesch (“Why Johnny Can’t Read”) to improve newswriters’ ability to communicate. He suggested shorter sentences, with an optimum limit of 17 words.
I notice AP writers and others now lead off with several times that number of words in the first paragraph. Editors are obviously allowing such tedium into print.
This is occurring while the print-media management ponders why readership has declined over recent decades.
Just trying to be helpful.
Norm Ledgin
Stanley
Obama gets blamed
In 1919 after World War I, the League of Nations in a way divided the world among the conquerors — England, France and Italy. David Lloyd George saw the future of oil and wanted Iraq, and thus Iraq stayed under British control until 1932.
That the previous administration could possibly think that Iraq would welcome another Christian country to liberate Iraq and import American democracy is beyond belief.
Lawmakers softened regulations so that the banks and Wall Street were able to do what they wished. They got the U.S. into the Great Recession.
In the first part of the 21st century, two wars started and Republicans gave out big tax cuts and introduced a prescription drug bill.
And now, after all these unbelievable actions, the easy way out is to blame the present administration.
Maria Baldwin
Kansas City
Dear Sen. Roy Blunt
The recent bill that Sen. Mitch McConnell proposed about cleaner coal, and which you are supporting, seems very self-serving to the wealthy corporations that help both of you keep your jobs.
You guys have never worried about the environment and your legislative decisions will affect our children’s future.
If you guys don’t understand that we need to become more energy-efficient with solar and wind power, you are not qualified to lead.
Years from now, great historians will criticize you beyond belief for your lack of wisdom.
The amount of coal we burn and the carbon emissions spewed into the environment are simply unacceptable. We can and must do better.
China and other nations are already taking the lead. Are we going to be left behind because politics and profits are more important than future generations?
We will have coal energy for a long time, but it is time to look ahead at alternatives and do better.
We know that industry and advanced technology have already created 200,000 new jobs and will create many more in the future.
Mr. Blunt, you guys need to wise up real soon before it’s too late.
Richard Kesler
Ronnie Murray
Fair Play, Mo.
Hamas rockets
Can anyone tell me why Hamas is shooting rockets into Israel other than to kill innocent civilians, and is anyone in the Palestinian Authority (Fatah) leadership trying to stop them, and if not, why not?
Paul Warner
Leawood
This story was originally published July 15, 2014 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Letter writers share views on ‘right to farm,’ KC’s streetcar system, voting."