Readers share views on taxes, 18th and Vine, ‘religious freedom’

Taxes, immigration

Here are questions on tax increases without an election: How much of my money do you feel entitled to take without asking me? Why do you feel entitled to take it?

I don’t even live in Johnson County, but I am against tax increases without a popular vote.

On another note, I keep hearing that being opposed to illegal immigration is racist. Really?

How can opposing the entry into the U.S. of illegal immigrants be racist? Racist is a convenient way to say, “I don’t agree with your views, and I need to marginalize you somehow.”

On to the current tussle over the Supreme Court nominee, the Constitution says the president shall nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate appoint Supreme Court justices.

If the Senate declines to hold hearings, the withholding of consent is assumed and the advice is “Try again.”

Oscar Miller

Easton, Kan.

18th and Vine plan

I wonder whether the Kansas City Council would consider taking some of the money it is proposing at 18th and Vine and use it to finish the unfinished and abandoned project at the Brywood Shopping Center (4-22, A1, “$27.6 million sought for jazz district”).

Don Merker

Raytown

‘Religious freedom’

I applaud both Democrats and Republicans for quashing Senate Joint Resolution 39, commonly called the “religious freedom” amendment to the state Constitution (4-28, A1, “ ‘Religious freedom’ amendment stalls”).

The lawmakers’ action has given me a glimmer of hope that reason and sanity still exist. In a time when it seems that fear and hate-mongering have taken root and won’t let go, it shows there still are legislators we can believe in.

Anne Barker

Lake Tapawingo

Japanese apology

Since 1991, Japan has apologized to Korea four times for abuse of Korean comfort women. Yet, some former Korean comfort women and their support groups find the apologies unsatisfactory.

An apology unaccompanied by compensation from government funds appropriated by the Japanese legislature does not express sufficient sincerity.

Only compensation from privately raised “sympathy” money has been offered.

Unfortunately, blow-torching out of Japan a completely acceptable apology with compensation passed through Japanese legislature may never happen.

Forty-six surviving comfort women, out of the 238 who registered in South Korea and many others who never registered but are living, now in their 80s and 90s will die with hearts beaten to a pulp.

Maija Rhee Devine

Lee’s Summit

Global image

We returned from a cruise to Australia and New Zealand, on which we enjoyed the company of people from all over the world. It was a relief to escape the toxic political environment that poisons our airways daily.

When meeting people from other countries, the usual pleasantries of “Where are you from?” were exchanged.

Upon learning we were from the United States, people’s first comment was always, “What is going on in the U.S. with Donald Trump?”

No matter what country they were from, they all shared the same concern. They expressed fear of the damage worldwide that Republican presidential candidates Trump or Sen. Ted Cruz could cause.

We were told time and again: “The United States is the most powerful leader in the world. Everything the U.S. government leaders do has a direct impact on the rest of the world, both politically and economically.”

People universally considered both Trump and Cruz to be huge threats to world peace and shuddered at the thought of either of these bullies having his finger on the nuclear bomb button.

All voters should consider the big picture and the global effect of electing anyone who incites hate and bigotry and who uses bullying tactics instead of sane diplomacy.

We are better than that, I pray.

Dodie Horgan

Kansas City

Streetcar surprise

On opening day for streetcars

I went to ride on those machines

With 150 other folks

Packed in there like sardines

’Twas only when our streetcar

Had reached 17th and Main

That I noticed that our driver

Was that dad-burned Clay Chastain!

Bruce Erickson