Readers share views on U.S. military, Kansas budget, guns
Harming military
In recent years, Congress and the administration have harmed military purchasing power by cutting annual pay raises, targeting housing allowances, cutting health-care benefits, etc.
Approval of any change to the commissary or exchange systems would certainly be viewed as just one more step on the part of national leaders to callously harm those who fight and die for this nation — and loved ones who support them.
As a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association, which represents all current and former Air Force members, I think that approval of more cuts would be harmful and irresponsible.
I urge people to support full commissary funding and to take a stand on behalf of service members. They have earned and need this benefit program.
Mark Clark
Chief master sergeant
USAF, retired
Grain Valley
Cuts in Kansas
For all these jobs Gov. Sam Brownback says he’s bringing to Kansas, my daughter just sacrificed hers.
A week ago she called me from her driveway in the middle of the afternoon, stunned. She’d just been laid off from her job and had nine years of office belongings in the back seat of her car.
She had worked for a social service agency in Kansas that relies on the state for part of its budget. Twenty others and counting were handed the same severance letter and a cardboard box to pack up, then were escorted from the building.
Nine years of service abruptly came to an end. As a member of the Kansas Public Retirement System facing a financial crisis, she is eligible to withdraw her retirement account.
Since there’s not much chance anything will be left in this beleaguered fund in 30 years, she’ll take the money and run while she can. One more of the thousands of little cuts (pun intended) that will bring down this pension program for other Kansans.
This is happening all over Kansas. One has to ask: How’s that sunshine-y thing working out for you, governor?
Lee Karbaumer
Platte City
Veto new gun law
Aren’t guns wonderful? At least the gun-obsessed Republican members of the Missouri legislature seem to think so (5-14, A1, “Guns, voter ID dominate end of Missouri session”).
If the law they just passed is signed by Gov. Jay Nixon, nearly every Missourian will be able to carry a firearm, concealed or openly, within the state, without training or a permit.
What could possibly go wrong?
In addition, citizens will be free to shoot and kill anyone whom they perceive to be a threat to them. It is the so-called “stand your ground” law.
I imagine the gang bangers will love that. They will be able to kill any rival gang member they see, then claim they perceived they were threatened.
Such a deal. Sounds like open season to me.
If you believe, as I do, that this is one crazy law, then contact Gov. Nixon and ask that he veto it.
William R. Lenz
Kansas City
Socialist failure
I am writing in response to the May 16 article, “Hospital crisis takes grim toll,” about the deteriorating economic conditions in Venezuela.
The article does a good job of highlighting the economic conditions in Venezuela, which are resulting in very serious medical conditions, but it does not address the root cause.
The worsening economic conditions are not the result of a natural disaster but years of a failed socialist economic policy, typical of many South American countries. High oil prices were used to bail out the failed economic system by transferring wealth from oil to purchase social votes and voter loyalty.
It is a clear example of what happens to all socialistic countries, some faster than others, over a long period of time.
This article would have been a great teaching moment for many of our young people who have no idea why socialism is always a failure.
Many of our youth and young adults go all the way through our education system and never understand that wealth must be continuously created and cannot be stored and/or transferred. Once it is no longer continuously created, it soon begins to disappear, with resulting shortages and human tragedies.
Dave Stackelhouse
Lee’s Summit
Religious freedom
In response to the phrase “separation of church and state,” liberals and the American Civil Liberties Union have used this for so long that many people think the phrase is in the Constitution.
“He who states his case first seems right until another comes to challenge him.” Proverbs 18:17.
The First Amendment prohibited the government from establishing a religion to which the states must pay homage. The First Amendment provided assurance that the federal government would not meddle in the affairs of religion within the sovereign states.
Today groups like the ACLU have attempted to create an environment whereby the government and religion are enemies. The Supreme Court has been a destroyer of American values and religious freedom.
Originally, the Supreme Court did not have jurisdiction over religious matters, but it has usurped this authority. People of faith are losing their religious freedom with current laws and are asked to compromise their faith for other people’s choices.
Why are the Democrats and liberals so fearful of protecting religious freedom? People with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender choices can always go to another vendor for cakes or weddings and not have to put business owners out of business or cause them to compromise their religious beliefs.
Terri Streeter
Kansas City
This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Readers share views on U.S. military, Kansas budget, guns."