Readers share thoughts on safe driving, Bernie Sanders, poor presidential choices
Driving safely
I am somewhat amused by the thought process I observe relative to the roads and highways in Kansas and Missouri. Both states have so many miles of four-lane roads, yet there are daily accidents that block traffic.
Someone will suggest a median cable be erected to avoid head-on collisions, while on the other side of the state line officials consider increasing the speed limit.
If drivers are unable to drive safely on four-lane roads at the current speed limit, why would anyone expect them to drive more safely with higher speed limits?
Maybe it would make more sense to employ more highway patrolmen in both states.
I can’t understand how quickly people forget what they are supposed to absorb in drivers education classes.
Cars have lights so they can be easily seen, and signals to communicate with other drivers. If you are making a turn, you turn in to the closest lane, not the farthest.
Speed limits are for ideal conditions. There could be times when 30 mph is too fast for conditions on an interstate.
Drive sensibly, and you may save a life. What is the hurry?
Phil Hansen
Olathe
Sanders, crime
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders should remember these words he said on the Senate floor April 13, 1994, before passage of the 1994 crime bill: “There are some people in our society who are horribly violent, who are deeply sick and sociopathic, and clearly these people must be put behind bars in order to protect society from them.”
Then Sanders voted for the bill. Sanders bought into the then-prevalent “super predator” theory and supported several crime bills in the 1990s that led to the mass incarceration that followed.
Sanders cares about the criminal justice system only when he can put it into an economic inequality context, which was pretty clear in his speech.
Two years after the passage of the crime bill, Hillary Clinton as first lady made the “super predator” speech, a commonly held and erroneous opinion that had wide support at the time.
There is something to be said for supporting your husband, but when it comes down to it, she didn’t vote on it. Sanders did.
It turned out very badly, but Sanders shouldn’t pretend that he was not on board with it.
Bev Bohn
Overland Park
None of the above
“May the least horrible candidate win” was the final quote in the May 8 article, “Decided voters mean a nasty campaign.”
Billions of dollars will be spent to buy an election between two choices viewed by those surveyed as “very negative” (Democrat Hillary Clinton, 42 percent; Republican Donald Trump, 53 percent).
The dirty laundry of each will be poured into our living rooms, mailboxes and phones for the next six months — some of which might stick to Clinton’s inaugural gown, which is most likely gathering dust by now.
Millions of eligible voters will not show up at the polls or even bother to register to vote.
The Electoral College actually decides elections. Is it too late to program our voting machines to add the line, “None of the above”?
Janette C. Borst
Overland Park
Trump’s show
Republican billionaire Donald Trump’s run for president should be considered a wake-up call for America. His style and manner of campaigning is like nothing you have seen before.
No politician in modern times comes close to conducting himself the way Trump does.
His comments on the campaign have challenged people from all walks of life to listen and take notice.
No person or issue has been off-limits, regardless of religion, race, sex, wealth, political position or any other status.
He has promised everyone that he would fix America. However, he gives no details regarding what is wrong and how he would fix it.
His comments in debates and speeches certainly exposed other candidates.
It was sad to see the candidates rip each other apart. Further, it was difficult to determine where the Republican Party really stands.
Trump appears to enjoy being boastful and saying what he wants.
He is wealthy and finances much of his campaign.
He not only has attacked other candidates on the issues but on their character and personalities as well.
There is no doubt that Trump’s actions are being fueled by the media. Trump’s comments and mannerisms continue to generate interest and attention.
What’s next?
Eugene Lipscomb
Shawnee
This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Readers share thoughts on safe driving, Bernie Sanders, poor presidential choices."