Unfettered Letters

Troop surge in Iraq didn’t work

I get really disgusted with some in the media such as Kathleen Parker (7/28, Opinion) who keep insisting that the troop surge in Iraq has worked when it hasn’t. True, violence has decreased, but the primary goal was to get the Iraqi government to take responsibility and demonstrate progress in political stability.

That hasn’t happened. But still, we hear the surge has worked, which prompts the question, “If it has worked so well, then why can’t we start getting out?” Oh, no, we can’t do that, they say, because the downturn in violence is so fragile and so tentative.

Therefore, the reasoning of Parker, John McCain and others makes no sense, and Barack Obama owes no one an apology.

If people will just take the time to observe Obama speaking with reason, intelligence and evidence of his understanding of the true issues instead of just listening to the pundits, I can’t help but think that he will gain your confidence and earn your vote.

Susan Fischer
Leawood

While John McCain is singing his narrow little song about the troop surge in Iraq, Barack Obama is discussing a much wider vision.

He is talking about making alliances with the rest of the world to combat terrorism. He is talking about developing alternative fuel. He is talking about improving education, and so much more.

I feel that if all a man can talk about is an issue of war, then that is what we will get if he is elected: more war.

Barbara Alley
Leawood

Signs of tough times?

In June, more than $58 million was dropped at four local casinos. Obama supporters sent $52 million to his campaign. Major League Baseball attendance hit an all-time high.

Pricey concerts sell out in hours, if not minutes. Thousands get in line to buy Apple’s new iPhone 3G, and a million are sold in the first three days at $200 each.

Thousands line up to see the first showing of the latest “hot” movie, which sets a new box office record of $66.4 million for one day. And the beat goes on…

Are these tough times we live in or what?

John D. Burroughs
Overland Park

Vote ‘no’ on JoCo sales tax

The quarter-cent sales tax proposed in Johnson County is a new tax, not a renewal. The school tax expires. We can lower our outrageous and unconscionably regressive Johnson County sales tax if we stop this new forever tax.

Commissioner Annabeth Surbaugh threatens to raise the mill levy if the sales tax fails. County accountant Scott Neufeld, however, stated that the county already raised the mill levy 0.75 last year to start paying for the jail and plans to raise the mill levy again within four years even if the sales tax passes.

Johnson County has the right to tax up to a full penny. We passed a quarter-cent sales tax for public safety in 1995 with no sunset clause, added to the half cent for general funding. If we pass this new forever tax for “public safety,” they will have their full penny: $120 million annually and rising. We will never vote for it again.

After that, commissioners must increase the mill levy or pass bonds to meet new county needs. Both of those require votes and voters notice. Commissioners want a new, everlasting funding stream. They are just using a current need to justify it to the voters.

Kathy Kist
Olathe Republican Party Chair
Olathe

Thoughts on Woodlands closing

I have been going to the Woodlands since moving to Kansas City in 1994. Racing is a kind of entertainment I find much more enjoyable than slot machines. Judging by the parking lot at the Woodlands on Breeders Cup Day and Kentucky Derby Day, others here in Kansas City think so, too.

Here are some practical ideas:

Work out something on the slot issue so the Woodlands can stay open for live and simulcast racing. Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, is doing well. The racing there gets better every year.

Give the Woodlands a “start-up” deal for three to five years, and then renegotiate the percent.

Promote events to get quality horses from other states to run in Kansas.

Once the Woodlands is gone, there will probably never be racing in Kansas again. Racing is a unique pastime. It is part of our western heritage.

Don’t kill a sport that is fun, exciting and employs many people. It is not cold and heartless gaming like the slots, video poker, lottery and dice games.

Deborah Rhodes
Ferrelview, Mo.

I have fond memories of a community that used to be special with attractions ranging from streetcars rolling through town, beautiful department stores and elaborate theaters — entertainment that would attract people from all around. Kansas City had the NBA, the NHL, the A’s, Fairyland Park, the River Quay.

To see The Woodlands close because of the greed and pettiness of state regulators and politicians is a sin. To lose 250 jobs in this economy is beyond belief.

One wonders how long it will be until Worlds of Fun closes or the Royals and Chiefs find a loophole in their leases. Welcome to Loserville, U.S.A.

Ron Adams
Independence

As a greyhound owner, I was thrilled at the news of The Woodlands finally closing. It is ironic that the issue that finally shut them down was slot machines, as this pari-mutuel racing facility has been begging for slots for a long time.

What should have shut them down is the concern for the beautiful greyhounds. Too many greyhounds are put down every year by the racing industry.

Kansas is among the few states with a greyhound racing track. Kansans should be embarrassed to support this activity.

I hope this activity will be banned in Kansas — and the other states that still allow it — for the right reason: the magnificent dogs.

Bob Magnus
Kansas City

Bush is ‘ideal president’

It was pointed out to me that we, the public, never doubt President George W. Bush and his morality, honesty, loyalty or conviction. We’re never in doubt because he is an ideal president in these dangerous times. He is well liked throughout the world’s leadership in spite of the media’s reports, and he speaks well, always from the heart.

The Democrats are furious because they have not been able to find an ideal candidate like George W. Imagine offering two misfits like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for us to elect. We surely are aware of Obama’s inexperience, questionable background and double talk.

John McCain is known as a straight talker and has a reputation of good judgment and experience and a patriotic background. He may not be an ideal candidate, but he is near to being ideal.

James F. Westhues
Overland Park

Union Station’s fate as transit hub

This is one of those times in our history where civic need is more important that convenient solutions. Union Station was designed to facilitate the conveyance and connection of people to and from everyday towns and exotic destinations alike.

Today, Union Station stands ready to fulfill this mission once again. However, we find the freight railroads and transportation engineers uninterested in tackling a difficult problem: capacity in the “trench” (7/25, Local, “A Union Station hub fails to get backing; A narrow passage can’t be widened, a consultant says”). The freight railroads have enjoyed almost exclusive use of this rail corridor since the decline of passenger rail travel lead to the advent of Amtrak, which now serves our station with two St. Louis trains and the Southwest Chief.

In the heyday of Union Station, the railroads successfully managed freight and passenger traffic through the same narrow trench that exists today. It is time now for innovative thinking to find a creative solution to this capacity problem — one that places Union Station at the heart of our regional transportation plan.

Matt Kauffman
Kansas City

Ranked-choice voting

I agree that apathy is a major reason people don’t vote (7/27, A-1). One way to change this is through a new method of voting that has been adopted in other U.S. cities such as San Francisco and Minneapolis. In this system, voters rank their choices in order of preference: first, second, third and so on.

This method of voting can increase voter turnout because every vote counts, even if the voter’s first-choice candidate is defeated. It also prevents the need for runoff elections like those held for Kansas City council and mayoral elections. This could save Kansas City huge sums of money.

There is a group working to bring ranked- choice voting to Kansas City. For more information, please see www.rankmyvotekc.org

Ruth Lee
Kansas City

Mike Sharp for sheriff

For the first time in several years, the voters in Jackson County are seeing a spirited race for the office of sheriff. Each of several candidates boasts of their experience in law enforcement.

As a former police chief, I can tell you that law enforcement experience is only one of the tools necessary to run an efficient and effective law enforcement agency. Management skills and business savvy are equally important. Mike Sharp has worked on the streets as a policeman, and he has started, owned and grown a successful business.

I urge the citizens of Jackson County to elect a well-rounded professional sheriff to manage their tax dollars and manage their sheriff’s department. I recommend Mike Sharp as the best candidate for the office of sheriff.

Larry Joiner
Retired Police Chief, Kansas City
Smithville

Kenny Hulshof for governor

Kenny Hulshof, Republican candidate for Missouri governor, realizes our reliance on foreign oil is driving up all consumer prices, including food, and has stood firm in his support of biofuels. Much of the world’s agriculture and food transportation are reliant on oil, and drastically higher oil prices increase prices all along the food chain. Thankfully, Hulshof understands the impact the domestic biofuels industry has on gas and diesel prices.

According to the International Energy Agency, demand for oil would increase by a million barrels a day without biofuels. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that gasoline prices would be between 20 to 35 cents per gallon higher without ethanol.

Ethanol may not be the total solution, but it’s certainly better than doing nothing.

The decision by Sarah Steelman, Hulshof’s opponent, to flip her position on ethanol is shortsighted. Doing away with the state’s E-10 standard would not lower the price of groceries or livestock feed. However, it would make gas more expensive.

For those who are truly concerned about keeping food, feed and fuel costs down, Hulshof is the best choice for governor.

Greg Sharpe
President, Missouri Soybean Association
Jefferson City

Thow ’em all out

Why wait for term limits? We can throw out those tax-grabbing politicians this year.

On Aug. 5 and Nov. 4, speak loudly. Throw ’em all out.

Richard W. Fatherley
Kansas City, Kan.