Unfettered Letters

Access to contraception

In the waning months of the Bush Administration, new regulations have been proposed that threaten access to family planning services. Bush and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt say abortion and refusal rights are the issue, but this is simply a ruse in their plan to attack contraception. There are already plenty of laws on the books that protect the conscience rights of health care professionals so why the need for more?  Clearly, the new rule is a last attempt by the administration to obstruct family planning and contraception for families that depend on federally funded family planning services. The effects of these regulations are numerous as they expand the power of ideologues to refuse to provide even basic information, counseling and referrals for important health-care services.

The broad and vague terms means that family-planning providers can no longer guarantee their patients access to the full range of comprehensive family-planning services. Ninety percent of Americans support access to contraception, but President Bush and Secretary Leavitt don’t seem to care. In his attempt to protect refusal rights, Bush has begun an unconscionable war against mainstream American family planning contraception. They must be stopped.

Kathlyn Mavis
Kansas City

Let 18-year-olds into KC Live

I am a nearly 18-year old high school senior. I went down to the Power & Light District recently one evening to see for myself what the hoopla is all about. It looked impressive, at least from the outside.

I was confused and disappointed when I learned firsthand about the age restrictions. Although I’d heard many radio ads about the free concerts at KC Live, you must be 21 for admission. This seems blatantly unfair.

I understand the age requirement for the bars, but KC Live should be more accessible. Because of my part-time job in Kansas City, Mo., I pay a city earnings tax that subsidizes the Power & Light District and the events there.

The district should allow 18- to-20-year-olds into KC Live. The security staff could mark the over-21 crowd with bracelets for alcohol purposes. But there’s no reason to close the door on me and my friends.

Robbie Haden
Kansas City

Special parking at Sprint Center

The Sprint Center has special suites that average Joes like me are helping pay for, since I have rented cars multiple times since the tax passed. I will never see these suites, which are occupied by companies that I will probably never know the names of.

I am sure these special suites have better seats than what I have gotten to sit in. I am sure these special suites have wider rows than what I have had to navigate through.

Now these same privileged companies will probably be getting special parking spots that I will not get to use (4/8, .A-1, “School board plans HQ sale; City is interested in the 11-story building for Sprint parking, an annex and a light-rail station”). But who is going to pay for their parking? I am sure it will be the average Joes.

It really makes me shake my head, wondering who our government is for. Everyone, or the privileged few?

Steven Thomas
Kansas City

Secrecy in government

Kudos to the two federal judges who ruled recently against the Bush administration’s policy of secrecy in government.

First, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that White House visitor logs are public record and ordered the Bush administration to stop withholding them from public scrutiny. The Bush administration is the first White House to not release visitor logs to outside groups and news organizations.

Second, another judge decided that the Bush White House must answer questions about the destruction of CIA interrogation videos of two al-Qaida suspects.

Bush has run the most secretive government in recent history. Hopefully, these judges’ rulings will help open the door to the public’s right to know what our government is doing.

Jane Toliver
Leawood

Access to medications

As a pharmacist, I want to applaud Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri for working to preserve access to prescription drugs for low-income patients and families covered by Medicaid.

The government will pay pharmacies less than their cost for certain Medicaid prescriptions because of a new federal rule that includes $8.4 billion in funding cuts. No business can be expected to operate at a loss, and these cuts may force changes in pharmacy operations that will affect the patients that pharmacists are trained to serve.

On top of that, a recent appropriations bill contained a provision that may lead pharmacists to turn away Medicaid patients, whose prescriptions are not written on tamper-resistant paper, starting Oct. 1.

We need to fight fraud, but doctors and pharmacists were not given adequate time to prepare for this regulation, which applies to over 300 million prescriptions annually.

Fortunately, Rep. Emerson has taken a stand by supporting changes to these damaging policies. Her efforts on behalf of Medicaid patients will help ensure that they have access to prescriptions from their local pharmacy — prescriptions that will lower health-care costs by reducing the need for catastrophic care and emergency room visits.

Dennis Hunt
District pharmacy supervisor, Walgreens
Bridgeton, Mo.

Elton John

I was also at my computer at 9:55 a.m. to purchase my Elton John tickets. Four tickets, any price, best available — no seats available. Two tickets, any price, best available — no seats available.

I tried for 30 minutes. I called Ticketmaster’s toll-free order line. I requested four tickets, then two tickets, then none were available. Unbelievable.

Finally, after 45 minutes, I had the “opportunity” to purchase one limited-view seat. No thanks.

For the resale price of two Elton John tickets, my sister and I will be flying to Las Vegas in October for three fun-filled days. Oh yes, we will see Elton John in concert at Caesar’s Palace while we are there.

Donna Matthes
Pleasant Hill

I understand the frustration of calling Ticketmaster two minutes after the Elton John tickets went on sale and finding out they’re sold out. I understand the frustration of seeing Elton John tickets on sale for several hundred dollars over face value.

What I don’t understand is Mr. Henry Rizzo’s forgetfulness (8/12, Letters). As a Jackson County legislator, 2nd District at-large, Mr. Rizzo should know that Jackson County residents received preference when buying single-game tickets to the Chiefs because Jackson County residents paid for the stadium.

What Mr. Rizzo forgot is that neither the county nor Kansas City residents are the prime taxpayers of the Sprint Center. That honor belongs to out-of-town guests who stay in hotel rooms and rent cars. They are the ones who should receive preference, if anyone is.

C.T. Tyler
Corder, Mo.

My wife’s friend, who lives in Kansas City, was the 10th person in line to purchase tickets for the Elton John concert. He purchased four tickets, but the tickets are all singles in different rows and sections.

I went on the Internet and was able to find at least five ticket reseller sites where multiple blocks of tickets together could be purchased for two to 20 times the actual purchase price. I guess the first nine persons must have purchased thousands of tickets, right?

And I thought ticket scalping was illegal in Missouri. I’m glad I don’t like Elton John’s music.

Brad Steinle
Shawnee

Audio-Reader Network

Audio-Reader Network, the radio reading service for the blind and visually impaired in Kansas and Missouri, would like the citizens of Kansas City to know how grateful we are to The Kansas City Star for donating a newspaper subscription to be read on air to people who are no longer able to read for themselves.

Every morning, from 8 to 10 a.m., Monday through Sunday, Audio-Reader broadcasts “The Breakfast Table Times.” which features selections from The Star. We also read the paper every day using our telephone reader program with human, not synthesized voices.

We read to people who suffer from macular degeneration, vision complications because of stroke or diabetes, and other eye ailments. The donation means that people with sight issues remain in touch with their community.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to KCUR 89.3 for carrying our broadcast signal. Visit our Website, http://reader.ku.edu, or call toll free at 1-800-772-8898.

Peggy Sampson
Outreach coordinator, Audio-Reader Network, University of Kansas
Lawrence

Censorship the issue

In response to Paul Gumbel’s letter about porn (8/9), well, it is simple. We don’t live in China. Our government doesn’t censor the Internet, and never will. If they were to start doing so, who knows where they would stop?

There are already many tools you can use to keep kids from viewing Internet pornography. It is the parents’ responsibility to use these.

However, what the government could and should do is adopt the “.xxx” domain and require all porn to be on those, making it significantly easier for programs to adequately filter out the pornography to your standards.

Jon Stone
Santa Monica, Calif., and Fairway

Religious ethics

First Family pastor

As a former member of First Family Church, I have a few comments.

I have known of Pastor Jerry Johnson for many years. He has had a wonderful history of ministry with youth and others.

I began attending First Family six years ago and was fully engaged in the wonderful teaching, music and ministry opportunities.

As time went on, I began to notice that the family became more and more involved in most major ministries. I also observed very little said about the workings and the financial accountability system. As far as I could tell, it was extremely secretive.

As a member and faithful financial supporter, I had limited knowledge on budget and disbursement items. The church Web site gave a very limited picture. There were no consistent budget disclosure or member meetings.

I was concerned about the lack of disclosure and left that church, not disgruntled but troubled and saddened in my spirit. I sense a bit of nepotism in the system.

Steve Grant
Shawnee

Money and churches

Responding to the letter by Rev. R.L. Godden (3/21) about his bad experience with a church in Texas: Even Mother Teresa would succumb to avarice with money within grabbing distance. The problem is that money and power are too big of ingredients in our society.

Religious leaders are supposed to teach how to take in moderation. “…Godliness with contentment,” as Godden quotes from the Bible.

For the movie version of this, I recommend the Frank Capra movie “Lost Horizon.” It may be “way out there” but has the same message.

David Padget
Raytown

Hypocrisy

“Dr.” Jerry Johnston, Ted Haggard, Rush Limbaugh, Tom DeLay, Mark Foley, Bill Bennett, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Newt Gingrich, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, Spiro Agnew, Richard Nixon … and on … and on … and on.

Hey, kids, you too can be a conservative hero! Just wear your religion on both sleeves, wrap yourself in the flag and talk about how much you support the troops.

And if someone should be so indiscreet as to point out the Grand Canyon-sized gap between what you do and what you shout … no problem. Just attack their patriotism and morality. Works every time.

Randall W. Cain
Lee’s Summit

First Family Church

The recent story in The Star exposing the lack of financial accountability and the luxurious lifestyle of the Rev. Dr. Jerry Johnston was interesting to say the least, and perhaps intended to put ministers of the gospel in a bad light. But as a 40-year veteran in the ministry, I can say that for every Jerry Johnston, there are hundreds of pastors like me who have faithfully served God and his church above reproach.

Most of us ministers of the gospel have reared our families in substandard housing on substandard salaries. We have served our congregations with love and compassion, going into the ministry with a sense of a God-given call, willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to fulfill that calling.

With the average congregation in America being fewer than 75 people, that means most ministers serve churches with small budgets.

I thank God that those who preach one way and live another are few and far between, and we pray the world will know that there are many true shepherds of God’s flocks in America today.

Charles Hayton
Kansas City

I was intrigued by the story on the Rev. Dr. Jerry Johnston and his church, but upon reflection, the worst-case scenario is that some right-wing evangelicals are fleecing some other right-wing evangelicals. I don’t approve of such behavior; in fact, I think it’s immoral. But as long as it’s between consenting adults I don’t think it’s any of my concern. Of course, a right-wing evangelical would analyze this differently.

John Bulkley
Overland Park