I’m in my 80s and not afraid to say it: Biden and Trump are both too old to run in 2024

To the future

As an octogenarian, I find it easier to recognize traits and personalities in those of equal ages.

Joe Biden is now the oldest president in our history. Donald Trump, if he were elected again, would be in the same position as Biden when he took office. So if these two run against each other, we are facing at least six more years of blithering, regardless of who wins.

Any candidate selected by either party should be of an age that can transport the country past 2028.

- John Nelles, Shawnee

Thank you, Al

Another of our quiet Kansas City heroes has died. We have lost too many recently. Although many were better known, I would love to acknowledge how special Al Mauro was. (Nov. 27, 24A, Obituaries)

Al was a neighbor who really was a neighbor. He was a great counsel for me when I was president of our homes association. However, I submit that the most important of all the accomplishments listed in his obituary was his unsung leadership of our school board when no one wanted the job.

Did we solve all the problems? No. Did he do all he could to reorganize our board in a troubling time and keep it together? Most definitely. Did he love Kansas City? You bet.

Thank you, Al, for a job well done.

- Kathie Allison, Kansas City

KCK needs justice

A detective in the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department was allowed to remain in his job despite many credible allegations of predatory behavior. (Nov. 27, 5A, “KCKPD will review 155 of Golubski’s cases”)

My hope for the Kansas City area is that Roger Golubski will pay for his crimes if he’s found guilty. It seems to me that this is a case of a police department protecting one of its own.

- Ruth Kauffman, Mission

Don’t denigrate

I am male, white and lean conservative based on my experiences gained via having over six decades of life in my rearview mirror. The changes to The Star that Interim Executive Editor Greg Farmer outlined in his Nov. 17 front-page column, “We want to work with you to inspire a better city,” all sound very worthy.

Might you allow me the arrogance of offering one additional change? My suggestion is to modify The Star’s use of language, particularly in the opinion section. Inevitably, when the goal of the author is to convince the reader that a conservative, Republican or libertarian view is not the best option, he or she uses adjectives and snide asides that are overtly insulting to readers who don’t share the author’s viewpoint.

I suggest that more careful attention to the use of language with a focus on persuasion (insults rarely persuade) might cause more readers to view each author’s take as worth considering. Opinion writers, of all people, have to understand that words matter.

Perhaps The Star has little to no interest in subscribers who look like me. Perhaps the goal is to simply entertain those who agree with the published opinions. Perhaps effective and persuasive writing is a dead art.

- Scott Kirkwood, Lenexa

Tech horizons

As we observed National Computer Security Day — Nov. 30 annually — we must look at cybersecurity awareness to protect one’s identity and assets online. There is a critical need for qualified information technology employees. If these positions aren’t filled, security threats will worsen.

Experts predict global cybercrime damages will reach $10.5 trillion by 2025. Since demand for workers who keep data secure is growing faster than our workforce can support, the focus is on training current and future information technology workers. Businesses and educational institutions must come together to create opportunities for individuals to earn proper training and post-secondary degrees in IT.

With my IT field training and teaching background, I’ve seen how supporting tech careers can help grow the workforce. I served as the business technology director at Southland CAPS in Raytown and taught IT courses at Metropolitan Community College and Park University. I currently work in the College of IT at Western Governors University — which allows working adults to earn their degrees quickly and affordably — to counsel students who are looking to expand their IT careers.

To help create a secure world and find a challenging yet rewarding career opportunity, I encourage a look at cybersecurity through further education.

- Corey Vaughn, Kansas City