Unfettered Letters

Enough with the gloom and doom

Two articles in The Star's 3/10 Business section perked my gray cells.

The headline of the first article, "13 percent of metro area employers plan job cuts," reinforced the gloomy economic news. Reading past the headline informed the reader that 74 percent of the area employers planned to stay the same and 11 percent planed to hire more workers. Two percent didn't have a clue what was happening.

I don't want sugar-coated news, but I'm tired of always seeing the accent on the negative. Why not "11 percent plan to hire additional workers," or "Some plan cuts and some plan hiring?"

The other article from the business blog, "Stretching that unemployment check" stated that the maximum unemployment benefit in Missouri of $320 per week covers just 26.4 percent of the cost of living in Kansas City. A little math tells me that if that is true, then it takes about $60,000 a year to cover the cost of living in Kansas City. I'll bet a lot of families are doing fine on less than that.

Bob Baltzell
Independence

Imaginary crash scenario ‘disgusting’

The article “Plane was a roller coaster” (2/17, A-2) featured an interview with a flight instructor who gave an imaginary scenario of what took place in the passenger cabin during the last moments of Flight 3407 as it crashed on its descent to Buffalo, N.Y. As a retired airline pilot, I found it completely disgusting.

This is not news; it’s macabre sensationalism. It has nothing to do with what really occurred. This type of journalism is not even fit for the sleazy tabloids.

The relatives and friends of those passengers must be horrified. Publishing an article like this serves no purpose. There are enough true horrors in this world without concocting “grim” fairy tales. Please consider the loved ones left behind.

Foe Geldersma
Kansas City

‘Breaking news’ isn’t new

Why is it our local television must run the same news stories over and over and over? I keep seeing “breaking” news announcements, only to find it’s a story they have been recycling for the past three days. It’s just a matter of time until the lead story will be the Hindenburg explosion or the sinking of the Titanic.

News is defined as “newly received,” not the dog who fell through the ice four days ago. I’d rather turn on the news and see the reporters playing cards and looking bored than dredging up anything to fill the broadcast time.

N.L. Sacco
Raytown

Floridian enjoys Star Letters

This short letter is long in coming, but here goes. I have a friend who lives in Blue Springs, and she gets your paper. She sends me articles by Garrison Keillor and Ellen Goodman, which I enjoy reading, plus the Letters page.

I enjoy your paper very much, especially the Letters. I didn’t know you had so many wonderful people out there. It’s a delight to read their opinions, whether I agree with them or not.

Belle Block
Delray Beach, Fla.

Starting the day with The Star

It starts my day to be able to sit in the quiet of early morning reading The Star and having my coffee. I’m able to pick what I want to read or not. I don’t have to listen to someone else telling me on the TV what I don’t care about anyway. After this peaceful start to my day I’m able to cope with everything else.

My paper is delivered very early every day, no matter what the weather is. I love the Food section and try a lot of the recipes. I also plan the grocery shopping trips by looking at all the stores’ ads. This also saves me money. I hit all three stores if there are enough savings. We don’t get these on TV, either.

Thank you to all The Star employees.

Florence McReynolds
Lee’s Summit

Mary Pat Miller’s letter (1/11, “Thankful for daily Star”) expressed my feelings better than I could about The Star. Cups of coffee and perusing The Star get each day off to a great start for me.

I can’t comprehend doing without either, so please keep my paper coming. I’ll supply the Folgers.

Nancy Leisinger
Liberty

Auto show coverage

There were dozens of significant vehicle introductions at this year’s Detroit auto show, as well as the newsworthy honor bestowed on the locally built Ford F-150. The F-150 was chosen by a panel of 50 automotive journalists as the 2009 North American Truck of the Year. The criteria for winning included innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value.

After returning from the show and getting caught up on my reading of The Star, I expected at least a mention of some of the more innovative vehicles introduced. On 1/13 The Star had a mention of the Prius (Business, “Upgraded Prius introduced”), as if that were the only auto news of the day. On 1/14 another article featuring the Prius appeared in the Business section.

For the record, there were new model introductions by: Lincoln, Cadillac, Ford, Chrysler, Buick, Lexus, Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes, Kia, Bentley, Mini, Subaru, Jaguar, Maserati, Fisker, Audi, Volvo, BYD and Jaguar. We get two articles about the Prius.

Tom Fournier
Kansas City

Sad about changes in print media

It saddens me to watch the problems of printed newspapers (1/13, Opinion, “Newspapers may fade; journalism will survive”). Most of my career was spent writing and editing a number of publications including a short time on the old Kansas City Times in 1966.

Since retirement, my morning newspaper has been a pleasant occupation. Before that, it was a help in starting my workday.

I spend many hours on the computer exchanging e-mails with a few surviving comrades and friends and with historians and writers interested in WWII and the Korean War. But I still prefer to read the daily news in the paper, since it is totally impractical to work on the computer at the breakfast table or to haul it to the bathroom afterwards.

William H. Finnegan
Independence

Keep Star coming every day

I second Mary Pat Miller’s well-written letter, “Thankful for daily Star” (1/11). I, too, would think the Letters page would have been flooded with thank-yous to publisher Mark Zieman and all the writers and workers at The Star.

I, too, hope and pray that those presses keep running and the paper keeps hitting the driveway at dawn. Thank you to the carriers who get the paper to us in all kinds of weather.

It would be a very sad day if the printed press came to an end. For years my day has begun with getting my paper and reading the news.

Thank you,  Kansas City Star, and thank you, Mary Pat Miller, for your letter.

Julie Ruskin
Overland Park

Only 17 troop deaths in December?

The subhead under the article “Casualty figures met with caution” (1/3, A-1) read “U.S. had only 17 deaths in December.” Why only 17 deaths? Don’t those 17 matter?

That abstract figure, 17, stands for 17 men and, possibly, women who will never walk again or see the blue sky or feel the soft breezes of the spring of 2009. Those 17 left behind 17 families that will grieve and never be fully comforted.

Each of those 17 people’s lives was priceless. The media’s take on these dead soldiers leaves those 17 lives without importance.

Patricia Keens
Kansas City

Star strengthens KC community

There has been much debate over the decline in newspaper reading and the decline in social capital. I feel that The Star helps promote social capital in its extensive coverage of local news. The Star is also a marvelous supporter of all of the artistic activities going on around town. By providing information you help the public build social capital, and we can live more happily as a community.

My family receives and reads your newspaper. We feel that reading it keeps us much more educated and aware of the community around us.

Community is so important during this time, and I just wanted to say thank you for all of the work that you put in to your newspaper.

Julia Boyes
Leawood