Unfettered Letters

Use gas to save gas

Barack Obama advises us to inflate our tires properly to save gas. He also could advise us to inflate them with nitrogen, which would maintain pressure longer, be safer and get better gas mileage.

Bob Friskel
Kansas City, Kan.

Jail guilty priests

With the papers and news full of people being sent to prison for as long as life for abuse and rape, why are the priests above the law?

To me they are as much or more accountable. Is a mere apology by the Catholic Diocese sufficient? Let them do time.

Mae Miller
Kansas City

Local teams are losers

Kansas City is becoming the “dead zone” for competitive, professional sports franchises. It’s not about money. With the Royals and Chiefs it’s about the management of two sports organizations who’ve let two once proud teams slide into mediocrity. And mediocrity, in this case, is an overstatement.

Ultimately, it’s the athletes on the diamond and playing field who make the plays or not, but it’s the front office of the Chiefs and Royals that put these players there. In recent years, neither franchise has had the ability to recognize the quality of athletes it will take to rebuild these programs.

The Royals’ owner and front office have let their farm system slide to the point where it’s no longer a good source for new players to bring along to help this ball club. The result is evident with every losing year that goes by.

As for Chiefs fans this season, their progress will likely be measured in TV blackouts. A new general manager might help, but right now any playoff chances in the near future look as grim as the current defensive line.

Larry Bowser
Kansas City

P&L parking infuriates

The situation regarding parking in the Power & Light District is exasperating. After driving around and around for nearly a half an hour, I finally found what I thought was a parking spot on 11th and Walnut. There was not a No Parking sign, but when I came back I had a ticket for $38.50.

I should fight this, but it is not monetarily feasible since I work in Kansas and would have to take time off to come to court. This parking fiasco is going to make the district suffer, because I have heard the same complaint from several of my friends.

I will not be coming back to the Power & Light District. I will spend my time and money in places that are more accessible.

Larry Hoover
Baldwin City, Kan.

Tranquillity on the train

I recently took a trip to St. Louis via train. It was the first time I had ridden in a train, and I found it enjoyable. My advance-purchased ticket was less than the cost of fuel a car would have used.

It was really relaxing. I could sleep or read on my own time. This mode of transportation offers many benefits and should be used more often by the traveling public.

Traveling by train is safe, environmentally friendly, helps reduce road congestion and is much less stressful than a crowded highway filled with one person per car.

I think public transportation should be promoted more in this country instead of focusing only on building more roads.

Brett Bergman
Overland Park

Time to get green, KC

Kansas City is cleaning up the city, trying to make it a prettier. But instead of “thinking green” and making it more of a pollution-free environment, we are creating more roads that stretch farther.

Why not take what we already have abandoned and build over it? Why don’t we spend money to reuse resources? We could easily create rain catchers or more gardens.

Adam Ungashick
Kansas City

If you can’t say something nice …

People are always telling me not to smoke. I never respond. I have told a few to come back when they are 76 and tell me about it. Some of them are 300-pounders.

I am courteous enough not to tell them they should start smoking or quit eating and get off their can. Seeing them is sickening and, yes, they have disability cards.

M. Wayne Sheddrick
Blue Springs

Bravo to wedded Wheatons

Refreshing story, (8/25, A-1, “5 times 50: A wedding band of brothers; The Wheatons share something besides kinship: Each has been married at least half a century”).

Nice going, Wheatons. Nice going, Wheaton wives. Bravo! This is much of what makes America a great country. People who are faithful and stick to a commitment. They work out problems and go on with life. Well done.

D. Bruce Stahl
Overland Park

Vote for the good of the country

American dream is up to you

What’s wrong with America?

Many people in this country blame the government for the high unemployment. Every person who buys a new car, TV, cell phone or other electronics made and owned by foreign companies sends dollars overseas and puts thousands of American workers out of a job.

The people who made America a great nation came from other countries because America offered them the opportunity and freedom to attain what we call “the American dream.” Our government was not created to guarantee every American their dream — it is the responsibility of each of us to strive and work for our own success in this country.

During the last 28 years of Barack Obama’s life (his whole adult life) he has become a very wealthy person under 20 years of Republican presidential administrations. And now he wants to “change” things in Washington.

Paul Clum
Lone Jack

Do’s and don’ts for voting

The time is coming soon for us to vote for the good of the country.

Here are some do’s:

Do vote for Obama if you want to save these United States.

Do vote for democracy, so we can get out of our economic crisis and this phony, deceitful war and bring our troops home.

Do listen to both sides, think and make up and speak your own mind.

Do vote for the good of America.

Here are some don’ts:

Don’t be like sheep and be easily misled.

Don’t listen to the negative, mudslinging campaigns, namely by the Republicans.

Don’t let scare tactics influence you. Think for yourselves.

God bless America.

K.J. Huff
Overland Park

Conventions are all show

Regarding the political conventions, we have to somehow separate substance from show-biz.

John Couture Sr.
Kansas City