Posted on Mon, May. 12, 2008

Kansas coal-plant politics

Many of our Johnson County legislators, including Rep. Pat Colloton and Sen. David Wysong, have been quoted in the media as saying that their constituents made the difference in why they voted against new coal plants in Kansas. This is the way it should be. Lobbyists and big business should not make all the laws just because they have the money and power.

Regardless of your beliefs on the need for clean energy solutions to curb climate change, we should all feel good that many of our lawmakers are doing exactly what we ask them to do: Listen to their constituents and stand up for what is right.

Everyday citizens can make a dramatic difference in their world when they educate themselves on issues and develop a dialogue with their elected leaders.

Government works for you when you work at it, too.

Kim Hanson

Leawood

After seeing the picture of Rep. Melvin Neufeld on The Star’s editorial page (5/8, “Dawdling at Kansas taxpayers’ expense”), I was moved to reflect on The Star’s consistent, even-handed reporting of the Holcomb coal plant matter.

Rep. Neufeld, in his manipulating and “bundling” has shown the essence of the matter for me. Rep. Neufeld sadly sees this issue as a political win-lose matter when it is, in fact, a matter of morality and ethics.

Thank you for your reporting of this matter. It is not only a state but a national and world concern and perhaps a matter of the sustainability of the planet.

George Wolf

Overland Park

Does anyone else wonder why, when a veto- override attempt passes it is final, and in this case the coal plants would have prevailed. However, when a veto-override attempt fails, the battle never ends and the legislators will try again as soon as the next day.

I believe there should be a time limit of at least two years before an issue can be brought up again. It would certainly save a lot of the legislators’ time, and they could be working on more productive issues for the state.

Vera M. Taylor

Olathe

Where’s the outrage?

I was really bothered by a story (5/7, Sports) stating that a former player for the Minnesota Vikings was charged with assault and accused of holding a plastic dry-cleaning bag over the head of his 2-year-old son.

Michael Vick had some dog fights, and he dominated the news. Meanwhile, this little-known football player’s actions received only a sentence on the bottom of the sports page. I wonder how all the readers who wanted to see Michael Vick hanged feel about this.

We will never know because it’s not about dogs, but instead about the 2-year-old child of a little-known player.

We all need God.

Carl Heggie

Kansas City, Kan.

Crime and trash in east KC

If Mayor Funkhouser wants to spur investment in east Kansas City, here are a couple of top priorities to address:

•Crime: Drugs, prostitution, burglary, and armed robbery are out of control in east Kansas City. In 23 years of investing in single-family homes on the east side, crime is the worst I’ve ever seen.

One of my best tenants, a couple buying a house on contract from our company, came into my office recently and said that the husband was robbed at gunpoint and had his car stolen in broad daylight while working on the car in his driveway. They are planning to move out of Kansas City.

If we continue to lose our best families, there won’t be any KC left.

•Trash: Tons and tons of it on the streets, curbs, sidewalks and vacant lots. Who wants to live in a trash dump?

What are we to do? The good people are moving out, and that leaves us with the drug dealers, prostitutes and other criminals.

Stephen Summers

President, Glennco Inc.

Independence

Handguns in parks

I can think of a dozen people who would be alive today if they had not been shot with a handgun. We are the only so-called civilized country in the world where anyone — children, the mentally ill — can obtain a gun. Now it seems the government will allow handguns in our national parks (5/1, A-1, “End to parks gun ban moves ahead”).

When will this madness stop? We must speak out and let our congressmen know this is not acceptable.

Shirley Baker

Overland Park

Time for campaign reform

We need campaign reform.

There should be a time limit. It is insane to start the next campaign the very next day after an election. Our elected officials should spend their time in Washington to do the job they were elected to and get paid for by the taxpayers. It would be easier to judge them by their accomplishments while in office.

A shorter campaign time would also save an enormous amount of money that could be used for many different needs. It would also save the candidates’ energy, which could be used for working on the job.

A shorter campaign time would also help the public stay interested in the subjects at hand and increase voter participation.

As a naturalized citizen, I value my right to vote. It is a privilege I treasure.

Ruth H. Iliff

Overland Park

Boroughs for KC?

Maybe to avoid the confusion of “KC North” and “North Kansas City,” we could eliminate “KC North” altogether.

Instead, Kansas City, Mo., could have “boroughs” like New York City: Clay, Platte and Jackson. At the rate the Clay and Platte boroughs are growing, their populations will each eventually be equal to that of the Jackson borough. Then we will no longer view them either collectively as KC North or as outskirts.

Darrell Coleman

Owner, Eclektica Salon in Briarcliff Village

Kansas City

Help stop human trafficking

A recent article on human trafficking (4/25, Local, “Public safety: Guilty plea in sex-trafficking case”) drew attention to a pervasive problem hidden in communities across the country.

The question that occurs to every person of conscience after reading of human trafficking is, naturally, “What can I do?” One answer is simply, “Keep your eyes open.”

Victims of trafficking are often encountered by the public in the course of daily business. Signs of a victim of trafficking include someone who does not speak English, lacks a passport, is fearful or depressed and shows evidence of abuse, such as bruises.

If someone suspects a case of trafficking, they may call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, established by the Bush Administration, toll-free at 1-888-373-7888. Once a victim is identified, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services helps provide food, access to shelter, legal assistance, job training and health care.

By working together to fight this injustice, Americans can help eradicate the scourge of modern-day slavery.

Daniel Schneider

Acting Assistant Secretary

for Children and Families,

U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services

Washington, D.C.

Two’s company, Bill’s a crowd

It is obvious that the reason Hillary has not thrown in the towel is she is trying to work out a deal with Obama to run as his vice president.

The problem Obama has with this is he hasn’t figured out how much extra security he will need to watch his back and to keep close tabs on Bill.

Glenn L. Audsley

Lexington, Mo.

Kind stranger pays grocery bill

My husband and I were at the Wal-Mart at Interstate 29 and Barry Road on May 8 at 8:30 p.m. with our two kids. We were at the checkout lane buying groceries, formula and baby food, when the gentleman behind us struck up a conversation about how he remembered “those days” when he had to buy baby food, and lots of it, for his now 5-year-old child.

The cashier told us our total. I asked my husband for the debit card, and as I turned around to swipe it, the gentleman behind us was already swiping his card for our purchases. The total amount due was $123 and some change.

My husband and I were blown away by the generosity he had shown our family. We know his first name was Brad. In our state of disbelief we are unsure of his last name. We know he drives a white SUV.

We want to thank him again for his unforgettable kindness and huge heart. It is great to know that there are people in this world who would do something like this for a complete stranger. Thank you so much, and God bless.

James and Jenny Killion

Kansas City

Graves, Barnes and oil

I was happy to read that Kay Barnes isn’t afraid to stand up to U.S. Rep. Sam Graves and the Washington establishment on the issue of gas prices (5/6, A-2, “Barnes criticizes Graves’ energy policy”). Sam Graves and other so-called representatives are doing the bidding of big oil companies, who are raking in even bigger profits while ignoring the lives of everyday Americans who can barely afford to fill their gas tanks.

With gas prices going up, up and away, those in Washington who work for lobbyists and corporate bigwigs instead of everyday Americans are going to find themselves out on the street.

M. L. Stone

Gladstone

Rockhill Tennis Club

It is sad to read about the imminent demise of the Rockhill Tennis Club (5/8, Opinion, “Dispute pits tennis club vs. Nelson museum”). Once touted as the “oldest tennis club west of the Mississippi,” it will be missed.

I worked at Rockhill for 16 years until mid-2003 and met many wonderful people there as members, neighbors and employees.

As early as 2002, the Nelson was making moves to close the club. It was one of the reasons I chose to leave. Unfortunately, the house and grounds are in need of updating, and probably only the Nelson has deep enough pockets to fund it. They’ll just hold out their hat, say it’s in the name of “art,” and the money will flow in.

Hopefully whatever they choose to do will be true to the Rockhill neighborhood and bear no resemblance to the “Butler Building” across the street.

Shaun Lee

Lee’s Summit

Linking global warming to hot air

I have read reports that 2007 was 10th warmest year since temperature records have been kept.

Hopefully some foundation will fund a research project to determine the corollary between the reported warming of the Earth and the heated political campaign. Surely the hot air that political candidates and their supporters have been spewing in the past two years must have warmed the atmosphere to point that the resulting increase in temperature can be measured.

The study might also reveal that the jet stream, when it is unnaturally bent by bitter political speech that hits the airwaves from the broadcast sites, results in too much rain in some areas, not enough in others, tornados, blizzards out of season and other changes in the weather, which are nearly as sudden as changes in politicians’ promises.

Kal Makela

Lenexa

Closing eyes to ‘Bodies’

Some individuals who are so enamored with the dead bodies exhibit at Union Station, “Bodies Revealed,” have suggested that those of us with more discerning tastes just ignore it and not complain.

That’s easier said than done: I find it necessary to close my eyes while driving to miss the billboards around town, and I turn off the TV to avoid all the promotions about it. Neither is very much fun.

I guess not having an “open mind” means you don’t have any rights not to be subjected to this stuff.

Terry Clevenger

Leawood

Harriman-Jewell concert a gem

Sunday was one of the nicest Mother’s Days. My grandson treated me to a concert by Juan Diego Florez, an internationally known tenor. The music was just beautiful.

What a wonderful opportunity to see such world-class entertainment right here in Kansas City.

Special thanks to Dr. Harriman and the Harriman-Jewell series for bringing this caliber of talent to our area.

Mary Schloegel

Raytown

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