Unfettered Letters

Founding Mothers

Happy 235th birthday, America. Here’s what I think our Founding Mothers might say about things today (because you know they really did exist):

We still have had no woman president. We still have no equal pay for equal work, and women’s legal health care rights are being taken away.

Libby Cunningham
Prairie Village

Honoring U.S. soldiers

The public television station is showing the pictures of our service men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan along with their names, ranks and hometowns. It is very impressive and honors our dead. It should bring the present wars home to many and the past wars to some of us. As the Chinese saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

It is disappointing that many in our Congress want to eliminate the infinitesimal amount our public television receives from Congress. But Congress members don’t want to eliminate their large special interest giveaways.

Collins F. Kindred
Smithville

Kudos to lifeguards

Fortunately, this story didn’t make the news. The recent crushing heat opened up the Cleaver Family YMCA to many non-members seeking relief. It’s a great idea to have the Y as a cooling center, and as a longtime member I fully support the practice.

Our 18-year-old daughter, Maggie, has life guarded at the Cleaver Y for the past two years. One Friday, Maggie had to put her training to use to assist a young girl who was new to the Y and underestimated her swimming ability. Maggie’s quick thinking may have averted a tragedy.

I’d like to thank the Y for the excellent training Maggie has received and continues to receive. The lifeguards do a great job watching over us and stepping in when needed.

The next time you’re at the Y, or any pool, take a moment to thank a lifeguard. It would brighten their day to hear they are appreciated.

I’m very proud of what Maggie did. More importantly, I’m glad the young girl is all right and I hope she gets to enjoy the Y for years to come.

Richard Bradford
Kansas City

Selfish freeloading

Isn’t it curious that the same people who bemoan “leaving this debt to our children and grandchildren” are the same folks who for the last 30 years said deficits don’t matter? They are the same folks who are willing to watch the economy collapse rather than raise taxes and pay this generation’s share.

It ain’t rocket science, because we need to raise taxes and cut spending

John Meyer
Blue Springs

Puppet governor

Gov. Sam Brownback, could you please let us know when your debt to Kansans for Life is paid in full so that you can then take on the job of governor of the state of Kansas? We have quite a few serious issues that affect either all Kansans or at least a far greater number impacted by legislation, harassment and contrived regulations against any organization associated with abortion.

These significant issues — such as unemployment, the budget, health care, education, the environment, businesses, agriculture and energy — are quite complex and really could use some significant and focused attention. Perhaps it has slipped your mind, but being a puppet for Kansans for Life didn’t work out very well for Phill Kline.

I appreciate The Star’s pre-election work giving candidates’ responses on issues. It’s a valuable comparison tool. Could the following question be added? “If elected, do you intend to pursue legislation, programs and initiatives based upon your personal beliefs, or the consensus of those of your constituents?”

Lisa Hays
Overland Park

Beautiful wind farms

Midwest Voices columnist Tim Tankard prefers open-pit mines to wind farms (7/16, Opinion, “Even gaping coal pits are better than windmills on Kansas plains”). I heartily disagree.

I cannot think of any land use uglier or more ruinous than open-pit mines. Landscape appeal is in the eye of the beholder, but the significance of surface-mined land goes well beyond aesthetics.

The detrimental effects of the San Juan Coal Mine and power plant, near Farmington, N.M., are not limited to just the site itself. Since 1973, 40 million tons of coal combustion wastes have been dumped into unlined pits at the site, according to the Sierra Club.

What price does one put on the toxic pollutants, which have leached into surrounding ground and surface waters? Wind farms do not pollute aquifers and streams, nor do they contribute toward global warming by emitting greenhouse gases.

If these hidden costs could be properly measured, how would the cost of wind-generated electricity compare to coal-fired?

John R. Ratzlaff
Merriam

Civil War terrorists

I proudly fought with the U.S. Navy Seabees in Kandahar. And I am also a proud descendent of 4th Missouri Confederate Infantry Capt. John Ragland, veteran of Wilson’s Creek, Pea Ridge and the Atlanta Campaign.

The Star’s Brian Burnes on July 24 accurately wrote in “Terror’s lessons” about northern atrocities during the Civil War, tactical similarities between Union and Taliban occupations, and Supreme Court decisions on Lincoln’s habeas corpus violations. While Burnes’ story is more accurate and less discriminating than most, The Star still put on the front page a combined picture of a Union and U.S. Army uniform. My ancestors weren’t terrorists. They were good and fine Americans, who fought with their friends and neighbors for a just and honorable cause.

Reporter Rick Montgomery’s side story describes Kansas City being built, following the war, by union and confederate veterans working together. My family is part of that, and we’ve had veterans from every war since. As I look at that front page picture, I see my ancestor in his grey Confederate uniform, changing into U.S. digital camouflage. I am very proud of both.

Kenny Ragland
Kansas City

Fixing the U.S. budget

In seventh-grade civics class we learned that Congress controls the purse. The fact is they have already spent the money that we do not have. They have so far avoided providing sufficient revenue. They seem surprised that Discover has capped their credit.

The president is in the branch of government called the administration. He or she “administers” only what Congress has authorized.

And yet House Speaker John Boehner claims this is the president’s problem, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wants the president to supply his plan.

Hey boys, I think the president’s plan is the unreasonable hope that Congress will do its job. Raise taxes to pay for the toys you have already bought and played with.

Ron Platt
Overland Park

Illegal immigration

In one of her latest rants, Mary Sanchez writes that because there are 11 million illegal immigrants in our country, our government cannot possibly round them up and send them back where they came from. So we should welcome them to our country, leave them alone and let them live the “good life” off our tax money.

I would round them up and send them back where they came from if I were running this country. I would spare no expense and spend all the time necessary in doing so.

I would also put a tracking chip in their bodies and give them a one-way trip to their border. Enough is enough, already.

Richard W. Dahms
Country Club, Mo.

Angry U.S. citizens

I’m madder than a wet cat. I paid Social Security for 48 years, and now I need Medicare because my health is failing. Now the U.S. government wants to take away my money.

The government already took part of my Social Security for the windfall rule. The government collected a lot of taxes from my paychecks. Now it wants my pitiful retirement income, and further wants to wipe out Medicare.

How can we, the old and disabled, afford health insurance? I paid Medicare taxes for 48 years. This government has implemented many wasteful ways to spend all of our tax dollars, to line the pockets of wealthy corporations, and put this nation in the red, with programs and spending that give benefits to a small select population of the wealthy, not the massive working class.

One of my doctors told me he wasn’t going to see Medicare patients anymore, because Medicare pays $33 for an office visit, and they are cutting that. He wasn’t the first to tell me this information.

One of my former employers notified me they were going bankrupt and would discontinue the small amount they have been sending.

Barbara Hopkins
Kansas City