Readers sound off on Gov. Brownback, distracted drivers, nuclear weapons

Topeka festival

Dear sirs: Can you help me get tickets to the upcoming extravaganza in Topeka?

My family can’t wait to see Gov. Sam Brownback officially elevated to stage one sainthood in the Republican Party.

Seeing him standing on the steps of the state Capitol resplendent in his robe crafted of the finest abandoned highway projects and beautifully restored nurses’ uniforms and trimmed in unissued state employee retirement checks while awaiting the applause of crowd will be a sight.

I just get teary-eyed anticipating it.

The officials of the state Republican Party will appear and drop to their knees in homage, pledging loyalty in unison. How remarkable — grown men behaving like children.

The best will be the parade of legislators, clad in spotless white robes to remind us of their loyalty, devotion, honesty, moral rectitude and ethical certitude.

As they pass they will chant the Legislature’s creed: “All for one, one for all, and we are the all.”

This rare and wonderful spectacle will tell the world about the Kansas way to reach the top. Know nothing, do nothing and brag about it.

James Tiller

Olathe

Distracted driver

If you are a middle-aged Caucasian woman with glasses, have a small white dog and a light blue van and were driving north on Quivira Road between 135th and 119th at about 3:30 p.m. April 29, please do us all a big favor and start using that brain that is between your ears.

Your left hand was occupied by your cellphone, and you were engaged in a conversation. Your dog was in the front seat with you, continually crossing your lap to move between the open window to your left and the closed window to your right, and you were concurrently steering with your right hand and using your right leg and foot to control your speed and braking.

You are an accident waiting to happen.

I shouldn’t have to tell you that most folks find little dogs cute, but not when they have owners who endanger themselves, their dogs and everyone else in their vicinity. Do us all a favor and leave your dog at home, and get off the road if you want to use your cellphone.

I already have experienced having my car totaled by a person who was distracted by using a cellphone while driving.

Jim Kudlinski

Overland Park

Nuclear trouble

On May 2, four international federations representing 15 million nurses, doctors and public-health professionals delivered a joint statement to the United Nations recommending prohibiting and eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide. The statement can be Googled under its title, “The health and humanitarian case for banning and eliminating nuclear weapons.”

There is work under way in the U.N. on a ban treaty, which would declare that nuclear weapons are illegal and their possession should be prohibited.

Nuclear weapons are not safe, and they do not protect us.

For a chilling account of accidents and near misses, see Eric Schlosser’s “Command and Control.” The health of our own citizens has been harmed, and many have died from the contaminants involved in making and testing these weapons.

Nuclear weapons are a problem, and the waste they create continues to increase.

Nuclear waste will be around for thousands of generations, and there is no solution in sight on how to properly store it to protect humans and all future species.

Ann Suellentrop

Board member

Alliance for Nuclear

Accountability

Kansas City, Kan.

Road safety

Driving home from work recently on Missouri 291 between Liberty and the Missouri River bridge, I saw a young man on a motorcycle driving mostly on the yellow line between the two lanes of traffic going south.

When he wasn’t riding between cars at full speed, he was darting in and out of the moving traffic. He is an example of what gives motorcycle riders a bad reputation for being careless, thoughtless and dangerous.

This is, of course, the time of the year that the public starts hearing about motorcycle deaths on our roads, and the finger usually gets pointed at the automobile drivers. But that is not always the case when I see such dangerous examples of driving by motorcycle riders.

I would also like to remind the early-morning walkers and joggers that it is not a good idea to dress like Johnny Cash in black from head to toe when you exercise while it is still dark.

Please be safe out there so you may continue to enjoy this beautiful weather and stay alive to see another tomorrow.

Lynn Pierce

Independence

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Readers sound off on Gov. Brownback, distracted drivers, nuclear weapons."