Ashcroft’s failed attempt to mislead the public reflects a major problem in the United States

Words can bias

I am writing in response to the article titled “Missouri judge strikes down language for abortion petitions.” (Sept. 27, 1A)

Jay Ashcroft, Missouri’s secretary of state, purposely described the proposed ballot measures aiming to restore abortion access in the state as to “allow for dangerous, unregulated and unrestricted abortions.”

Descriptions such as this are undemocratic and can lead to wording bias, which commonly surfaces in public opinion polls and surveys when the wording of a question influences the responses. The problem of wording bias plagues our country and has dire consequences, misleading many without allowances for individual opinion to develop.

Ashcroft’s wording would have drastically misinformed voters. The court’s ruling to reword the summaries go a long way, but not far enough. To represent the true opinion of Missourians, we must change our language to represent the facts of an initiative, not one’s opinions on it.

We must not tolerate blatant bias from politicians, especially those who could be Missouri’s governor in the future.

- Mary Ann Gerend, Kansas City

Mob rule failure

Donald Trump frightened a lot of Americans after he tried to use mob rule to stay in power on Jan. 6, 2021. But in the end, he failed.

He tried using mob rule to hold onto classified documents that he had illegally taken after leaving the presidency, but the FBI executed a search warrant and he failed again.

He tried using mob rule to intimidate election officials in Georgia, but he failed because those he tried to corrupt refused to give up on the law and on honesty.

Since then, he has used mob rule to threaten judges and prosecutors and one army general, but in the end, he will fail at that, too.

He now wants America to believe that he will use mob rule to shut down news organizations, such as MSNBC and the Washington Post. He will fail at that as well.

America’s Constitution and institutions are too strong for the likes of a coward like Trump, or his MAGA followers. As he huffs and puffs, these great American principles will endure his fury with democratic hope until he discovers that he is alone and forgotten on the ash pit of history.

- Michal Betz, Wichita

Worth noting

I recently was involved in a car accident involving a drunken driver. The responding officers were wonderful but hampered by having to take all the information from three drivers and four witnesses by writing in small paper notebooks in the dark holding flashlights.

An electronic notebook would speed up the process greatly and provide more accuracy. They aren’t that expensive. It would make their difficult jobs much easier. They deserve electronic notebooks.

- Sharon L. Wilson, Independence

Family values

I have to sympathize with the plight of Amber Marie Baldwin, the writer of the letter to the editor who had been groomed, so to speak, as an atheist. (Oct. 1, 16A, Letters) Unfortunately, almost all parents groom their kids, though usually it’s in the opposite direction.

I was raised a Catholic, which is another way of saying I was groomed from birth to be a Catholic. My upbringing didn’t take, either. Though I learned much of value from my parents, none of it had to do with religion.

As a young adult, I embraced secular humanism, which teaches many of the same values without any dogmatic belief in a higher power. Yes, I am an atheist, the second lowest-group that Americans would elect for president, just above socialists, according to a Gallup poll from 2019.

So, Ms. Baldwin, I understand your feelings about dealing with “verbal violence.” I also have to deal with the fact that I cannot be open about my beliefs if I ever expect to be elected to office, state or federal. I don’t think you’d have to worry about that.

Perhaps parents should raise their kids to think for themselves while teaching them democratic values. Just a thought.

- Frank Strada,Overland Park