Is this the silver lining to those weekend thunderstorms that battered Kansas City? | Opinion
Forced savings
We just received an email from Evergy congratulating us on using less energy last week. Well, that’s easy when you lose power for 48 hours! (July 18, 3A, “Power outages could last until Tuesday for some KC customers”)
- Diane Smith, Kansas City
School fixes
I have a few ideas to help solve problems with the education system in Missouri. One, make school more about preparing us for the future rather than memorizing things. And two, put more funding into extracurricular activities.
I think if someone discussed this, more people would be willing to enact change instead of doing nothing to better Missouri’s children.
- Kaden Sloan, Independence
Only some loans?
I am surprised at the stance some people have taken against relief for a portion of some federal student debt. (July 15, 5A, “$39B in federal student loan forgiveness announced”) I wonder: Do these people realize how much money was given to private businesses and churches through the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The church I attended was given $400,000. Corporations got billions of dollars. The vast majority of these loans were partially or totally forgiven with no repayment. So I guess if some college students get $10,000 knocked off their student debt, I am OK with that.
- Deborah Michalski, Kansas City
Shine a light
I have been reading The Kansas City Star for 54 years now since my family moved here when I was 16. I have seen articles about almost any subject a person could think of, but I would like to see a weekly piece about a particular subject: kindness. More specifically, there should be a column asking people for examples of kindness they have experienced or performed for others.
Not only would it be a bright spot amid a lot of heartbreaking news, but it would give us all some ideas for acts of kindness and lift our hearts each week. I would volunteer to help if you would consider at least trying it for a month or two.
Kansas City has many kind people who are creating small and big acts of kindness every day. Please, may we hear more about them?
- Cathy Runyan-Svacina, Kansas City
Royals’ script
The Star quoted Danny Ontiveros, Royals scouting director, after the MLB Draft: “So it was kind of a similar pattern that we did last year. Kind of stuck to kind of the same script.” (July 13, 1B, “Here’s how the Royals’ Day 3 draft strategy played out”)
Ooh, the excitement is just bubbling over that the Royals are following the same strategy but expecting different results.
- John E. Johnson, Overland Park
Guns increase death
There are dry counties scattered across the southern United States. Predictably, liquor stores thrive by locating just across the county lines. Conclusion? Bans are ineffective when they aren’t consistent geographically.
A recent letter writer argued that gun violence in Baltimore, which has strict firearm restrictions, proves that gun laws don’t work. (July 16, 16A) All it really proves is that Baltimore and Maryland are doing their part to try to limit gun violence but need their neighbors to do their part as well.
The writer’s solution? Obey the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” Wait, what? I thought he said laws don’t work.
The undisputed fact is that in places where gun laws are lax, there are more guns, and where there are more guns, there are more gun deaths. And the death tolls are not slightly different — they are dramatically different.
Yes, one can kill without a gun, but guns make it so much easier — and so much more likely.
- Paul L. Schenk, Parkville
