Readers weigh in on terrorism, divorce and GOP politics
Media message
The terrorists in the Turkey airport mass murder support ISIS and used guns during the initial assault that killed more than 40 people (6-30, A8, “After attack, Istanbul tries to get back to normal”).
The self-professed ISIS supporter in Orlando used a gun to kill more than 40 people.
Why then is the mass murder in Turkey labeled terrorism and the Orlando mass murder all about gun control?
Mike Weaver
Lansing
Informed voting
Within hours of the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, there were petitions calling for a re-vote. At the time of this writing, more than 3 million people have signed.
It sounds as if there were a lot of uninformed voters. Does anyone worry about that happening here? In November, will we be regretting the outcome because we just didn’t know?
Tell me where we can find nonpartisan information. The only sources I know are the League of Women Voters or the actual voting records of incumbent candidates.
Newspapers do a fair job, but television and cable news are not reliable.
I think many rely on the rhetoric of candidates who will say almost anything to win a vote.
It worries me that many will go to the polls without good information or that others will give up, disgusted with the choices. Please, try to find out the truth about the candidates and make informed decisions.
Mary Anne White
Bonner Springs
Divorce in service
I urge officials to take action to repeal or greatly modify the unfair Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act.
Military members are the only U.S. citizens who have a separate divorce law which, in effect, awards for life a portion of the military member’s retirement pay to an ex-spouse regardless of fault, circumstances or the duration of the marriage.
At a minimum, I urge officials to support an immediate change to three aspects of this law.
First, base any award of a portion of the military member’s retirement pay on the member’s rank at the time of the divorce, not many years later when he or she actually retires. Second, terminate any award to an ex-spouse when the ex-spouse remarries. Finally, limit any award to a former spouse to no longer than the duration of the failed marriage.
Military members should be treated like every other U.S. citizen, with awards on a case-by-case basis.
I urge lawmakers to introduce legislation to repeal or, at least, greatly modify this unfair law.
Dale Lutzen
Kansas City
Dangerous roads
The Kansas City Police Department seems almost entirely oblivious to the insanity on our streets. Who needs NASCAR when we have Ward Parkway, Southwest Trafficway and Rockhill Road, where absolutely no level of lunacy warrants police intervention?
Drivers going 50 to 60 mph are common on those streets as is 70 mph and up on the Broadway Extension and Bruce Watkins Drive. Every major street has become a free-for-all.
I’ve driven in Chicago many times, and it is far safer than here.
With the illegal turns, refusal to use signals or acknowledge speed limits, texting, phoning, tailgating, racing, drivers who can’t keep their oversized vehicles on their side of the line and testosterone-crazed idiots demonstrating their alleged manliness, it’s a wonder any of us get home alive.
Douglas Maag
Kansas City
Shady GOP politics
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump is many things, but stupid he is not. He is well aware that his asinine commentary and actions are not likely to get him elected.
What then?
Perhaps, methinks, he has no interest in the presidency. The president, after all, has to put up with Congress, and Trump has always worked solo.
Actually, he’s on a carefully planned trip to destroy the Republican Party. And why would that be, you ask.
The answer to painfully obvious.
The so-called collusion of GOP presidential challengers Ted Cruz and John Kasich was kid stuff compared with the collusion of Trump and Bill Clinton that is looming large on the political horizon.
Bill Clinton and Trump, after all, are best buds, and the elimination of the GOP would guarantee Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton the White House.
Stranger things have happened, sad to say, and Bill Clinton and Donald Trump are well known for shady shenanigans.
Larry Kauffman
Kansas City
This story was originally published July 1, 2016 at 6:58 PM with the headline "Readers weigh in on terrorism, divorce and GOP politics."