LETTERS 05/14/08

I believe that improving medical coverage and education is a better solution to the HIV problem than conspiracy theories spouted by a previously unknown minister.

Richard Adams

Kansas City

Writing letters to politicians

Anyone who writes the president, senators, representatives or, for that matter, any high-level politician should know how their message is handled.

Your letter is handled by a low-level clerk who opens it, looks for a check and, if he doesn’t “round file” it, he will select a subject to comment on. The clerks have hundreds of pre-written comments on the computer. The clerk will select a subject, type in your name and address and punch “print.” There are gaps in the text where your name will automatically be added to make it seem personal.

Unless your name comes up as a high-level contributor, your comments will never reach the addressee.

Don A. Eberle

Freeman, Mo.

Medical marijuana in Missouri

For the second year in a row, House Speaker Rod Jetton has ignored repeated requests from patients, doctors, nurses and fellow Missourians to give medical cannabis legislation the attention it needs and deserves.

Like last year, Jetton waited until House committees are only hearing bills that have passed through the Senate to assign HB 1830 to the House Crime Prevention and Public Policy Committee, ensuring that it will not be scheduled for a hearing. This is unfortunate because this particular committee could have examined how medical cannabis legalization might enhance public welfare and address patients’ needs.

Legitimate medical cannabis patients must now live with the fear of being criminally persecuted, and doctors who would safely recommend this therapeutic herb are forced to remain silent for at least another year.

Shame on Jetton for abusing this bill as he has abused patients.

Jacqueline Patterson

Bolinas, Calif.

Legalizing medical marijuana would allow seriously ill patients to have safe access to cannabis. As a nurse I have seen how much difference cannabis can make to a patient. Believe it or not, doctors sometimes recommend it on the DL.

Polls have shown that a majority of people in the U.S. want medical cannabis to be available to seriously ill patients.

John Schneider

Harrisonville

Regulating oil profits

At last one of our politicians, U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski of Pennsylvania, has demonstrated enough intestinal fortitude to introduce legislation to throttle big oil’s windfall profits (5/11, Opinion, “PRO-CON: Should Congress regulate oil company profits?”).

This unchecked, unregulated monopoly has done more harm to this country than the terrorists ever dreamed of.

Rep. Kanjorski and his peers need to go one step further by creating a regulatory body that will keep the greedy mercantile exchange and oil company profiteers in check.

Years ago the railroad robber barons ran roughshod over the economy, and public safety and Congress created the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate them. If any entity ever demonstrated the need for regulation, the oil companies are at the top of the list.

I would hope our elected officials will recognize this threat to our economy and way of life and act responsibly to end this current act of domestic economic terrorism.

William A. Brown

Kansas City

Kent State anniversary

I was a senior at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, so I am able to respond to Ben Nicks’ (5/10, Letters) allegations concerning the tragedy with firsthand information.

 

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