Readers share thoughts on presidential elections, veterans, victimizing women

Electoral College

Over the last several years, there has been a movement to eliminate the Electoral College. Those who are for removing it say it’s antiquated and that, in a democracy, the popular vote should be enough to elect a president.

Why have a board of electors simply rubber stamp the will of the majority? I can only recall two instances when the Electoral College went against the will of the people.

The Founding Fathers were suspicious of mob rule and the susceptibility of the mob following a demagogue.

Yet, the majority of the Founding Fathers wanted a federal republic and democratically elected officials.

A compromise was the creation of the Electoral College to supervise the election of the president. It was a board of rational electors whose job is to protect the office of the presidency and the people from themselves.

I’m all for the Electoral College and always have been.

However, my vote, and my appeal, to those who wish to eliminate the Electoral College now is that we keep the Electoral College at least until after the upcoming presidential election.

Tom Davis

Merriam

Honoring veterans

I urge others to support HR 333, the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act, introduced by Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr., a Georgia Democrat.

Service members who have served a full career and have sustained disability because of their service should receive their full compensation of both retirement and disability pay — no matter the disability rating. Likewise, those who have served and have been medically retired before reaching a full career should be compensated appropriately without any offset.

The Air Force Sergeants Association represents all current and former Air Force members, and as a member, I see this as a priority for this Congress. Please do all you can to help pass this legislation.

Those who serve this nation and are affected by that arduous service deserve no less.

Christopher Castro

Spring Hill

Victimizing women

I read Laura Herrick’s July 9 Midwest Voices column, “Women can take action to prevent rapes,” telling what women “can do” to prevent their own rape. Once again, we have a voice of authority telling women they have to mitigate their actions and life to protect themselves.

This article contributes to the rape culture that insists a woman is responsible for all or part of a sexual assault against her person. It tells men that they should respect “no,” but the column fails to mention that they should instead seek an eager, enthusiastic “yes” from any sexual partners.

I’m not writing to rail against Ms. Herrick, though her column shows her perception of rape culture to be lacking. I’m writing to tell you that printing this column was deplorable and disgusting. I’m embarrassed that a newspaper in my metro area published this.

Please consider your future articles with greater care.

Dawn Prough

Raytown

Boomers vote

What’s your voter demographic? Monitoring the political news, I don’t find my demographic in play.

The candidates explain that they’re doing well in most demographic categories and siphoning off one or the other candidates’ supporters. My demographic of cynical old geezer and geezerettes is rarely or never mentioned.

I vote. I consume goods and services. I pay taxes. I support charitable causes, and I behave in public, most of the time. So why doesn’t my demographic get a mention or consideration from politicians?

Cynical old geezers and geezerettes have become the enemy of the Republican Party, Social Security, Medicare and other programs — federal and state — that provide services and dignity to the elderly. They are attacked by Republicans on a daily basis as a waste of revenue.

Voter-suppression laws proposed by Missouri Republicans are specifically aimed at the older voters. The name of our demographic is baby boomers.

We are the largest voting demographic in the U.S. Don’t let the Missouri Republicans take away your right to vote or your dignity.

Paul Comerford

Blue Springs

Trump supporters

As Republican leaders move to the camp of presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump before the convention next week in Cleveland, are we seeing party unity and a respect for the voters or the hypocrisy that often accompanies the true believer turned loser?

John Nelles

Shawnee

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Readers share thoughts on presidential elections, veterans, victimizing women."