Unfettered Letters

Royals solar charge

With the recent addition of the largest solar panel installation in Major League Baseball, I’m proud to call the Royals my home team. This home-run improvement shows foresight, as solar and other renewable energies — including wind and geothermal power — reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.

Instead of burning fossil fuels to power large buildings, which accounts for 70 percent of electricity use and causes climate change, more industry leaders and power companies should follow the lead of the Royals and Kansas City Power & Light Co.

This decision was not made for the benefit of the spotted owls and mountain landscapes that typically inform environmentally friendly upgrades.

This decision is the equivalent of a grand slam. It directly benefits the people of Greater Kansas City, whose air will be cleaner, asthma rates lower and economy more secure in the future as a result of this proactive decision.

I hope this encourages other Kansas City businesses to step up to the plate and be similarly realistic about where the country’s energy picture is headed.

Matthew Mulder

Lee’s Summit 

 

Illegal immigration

Comprehensive immigration reform is fine, but it does not include any form of amnesty.

Growers could use the H-2A visa program that provides them with an unlimited number of temporary foreign workers, but there must be a way to track these visas to ensure strict compliance.

And what are the other hard-to-fill jobs? Construction? Manufacturing? Transportation? Service and hospitality?

With the state’s high unemployment rate, immigration advocates show absolutely no concern for those of our neighbors who are out of work.

Let’s work on putting Americans back to work before we worry about illegal immigrants.

Use E-Verify for all jobs, and the majority of the illegal immigrant problem will take care of itself.

Randall Paul

Kansas City

 

Stomping on freedoms

In campaign stops around the country, security personnel and even local police have been given instructions to keep certain people out of campaign gatherings. Press, opposition organizations and people on black lists are forcefully blocked or physically removed from rallies and meetings.

This is a dangerous practice in a nation that cherishes freedom. In a country where the right to say whatever you want and associate with people you wish, efforts by security and police to bar certain people should be discouraged and even stopped.

Just because a candidate or officeholder doesn’t like his adversaries, that does not mean those politicians should be able to make up the rules as they go.

Permitting this practice is a step closer to a police state.

America should not be a place where people who hold a rally for freedom are allowed to stomp on the freedoms of others.

Reggie Marselus

Lenexa

 

Kobach overreaches

I see that in addition to his law practice and advising the people of Arizona, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is now an “adviser” on immigration issues to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

When exactly is it that Kobach performs services for the people of Kansas who sign his paycheck?

Joe Whisler

Westwood

 

Paying for college

Regarding some people’s suggestion that students pay as they go through college, I would point out that was much easier to do 30 years ago. College costs have increased much faster than inflation, and minimum wage hasn’t kept up.

Even at a public university, most students would have to have a job that pays more than $25,000 a year to net enough to “pay as you go” for tuition, housing, books, fees, food, transportation and incidentals.

With unemployment rates stuck around 9 percent, how feasible is that?

Mary Hutchison

Kansas City

 

Re-elect Barack Obama

This is for those people who have forgotten the big mess that President George W. Bush left. Barack Obama’s worst day as president cannot hold a candle to what Bush did to this country.

Re-elect Barack Obama. He will be cleaning up the Bush mess for the next four years to come.

Let’s do what is best for the common good.

Renata J. Beaudoin

Independence

 

Bishop’s stand in case

Bishop Robert Finn says the law as applied to him is vague and unconstitutional (2-16, A4, “Bishop’s team fights charges”). The law seems clear to me.

Any person, especially in authority, is obligated by the church and civil law to report suspicious child abuse. Defense claims the grand jury falsely implied a legal duty on Bishop Finn under the reporting statute.

Because the church has a reporter agent, Bishop Finn is relieved of any further obligation?

So now would that mean the reporter, and not the bishop, must bear the brunt?

Who knows? Maybe this false argument would fly with a jury, but I find it indefensible.

Willa Pierce

Kansas City

 

No to gun control in U.S.

I see that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is promoting the gun control proposed by the United Nations.

Do she and the U.N. not remember Prohibition in the United States in the 20th century?

Let me reiterate: Prohibition was a colossal failure and was ended in 1933 because it did not and could not succeed. Clinton’s gun control will fail just as Prohibition failed to control alcohol.

If this passes, only criminals will have a big market in fire arms, and law-abiding citizens will be the victims.

Can’t Hillary read any history?

I hope Congress can see through this obviously flawed scam.

Our freedom is the result of our being armed. Most of the world knows this, so why don’t we?

Robert Patterson

Lee’s Summit

 

Health care benefits all

Why are folks upset about the Affordable Health Care Act when it benefits everyone? It will make health care accessible to those in need.

One can’t lose coverage because of a pre-existing condition. One cannot be denied coverage. Each state will have health insurance pools to help those in need purchase the required health insurance.

There are many shortsighted governors, Kansas’ included, who have refused millions of dollars to create and operate those pools.

We are required to have car insurance upon purchasing and licensing a car, although many let it lapse and those of us with insurance end up footing the bill. We are required to have homeowners insurance when purchasing a home. The mortgage company will not allow that to lapse. So what’s wrong with requiring folks to purchase health insurance?

The burden is lifted off taxpayers, and insurance companies make more money.

Perhaps it should be called the “Affordable Health Insurance” Act. Maybe then folks would get on board.

We’ve all lost dear ones because they lacked health insurance. If the Affordable Health Care Act saves even one life otherwise lost because of a lack of coverage, it is well worth it.

Charlene Pryor

Overland Park

 

Don’t hate rich guys

The Star reports that Mitt Romney is richer than President Barack Obama. However, both are multimillionaires — therefore why should anyone care who has more?

Besides, those who criticize candidates for their wealth are merely hypocrites. After all, who amongst the critics would turn down a multimillion-dollar raise?

Steven Go

Overland Park