Letters on Comey firing, food drive, burn out, climate change
Comey firing casts a dark shadow
It is ironic that President Trump, who has historic low approval ratings and who lies and debases, fired FBI Director James Comey, saying he had lost confidence in him.
Trump’s severance letter to Comey inappropriately focused on how Comey said several times that Trump was not under investigation concerning links to Russia. These statements, essentially defensively and political in nature, as well as the timing of the firing – while members of the Trump campaign under investigation – might lead some to conclude that a cover-up is taking place with efforts to derail an investigation.
The fact that Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was to recuse himself from the investigation, was involved casts a pallor dark of distrust over the situation.
The reliability of a future FBI director is in question. Will he be a Trump hatchet man, like Sessions appears to be? Will he be intimidated and worried about the lack of a true 10-year tenure? Shades of Watergate are casting their shadow on this present.
Americans need to know the truth behind Russian involvements and this firing. Unfortunately, whatever occurs, we are in for an unpleasant ride.
Charles A. Gaynor. Bel Aire
Not just physicians
I am not discounting the burnout/stress of physicians and nurses (May 5 Eagle), but those are the only professions ever thought of when you mention medical providers. However, the allied professions are just as involved in patient care.
These medical warriors are tired, too. We are burned out/stressed out, too. We are repeatedly told to “do more with less” and are overbooked, scheduled through lunches, go without breaks, required to take calls, work in some of the worst ergonomic conditions and can’t raise concerns to superiors without fearing for our jobs.
We want to care for our patients in our chosen fields, but when we try to optimize our provided services, we are usually told: “Do it anyway.”
Patients deemed “customers” has been a disaster – they are not always right and make demands to be “pleased” at a time when nobody actually wants the services we provide.
I just wanted to provide a voice for those of us at the bottom of the hill that the poop is rolling down and snowballing.
Elizabeth Stillwell, Wichita
Stamp out hunger
Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect food donations. These donations go directly to local food pantries to provide food to people most in need.
The food drive’s time is crucial, as food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the holidays. By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need.
When giving, please consider providing healthy options. Food insecurity often means that healthy choices are out of reach. When filling your bag for your letter carrier, please select canned fruit in juice, not syrup; low-sodium canned soups and vegetables; tuna in water, not oil; brown rice and whole-grain pasta.
Participating in the Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple by leaving non-perishable food donations in a bag by your mailbox on May 13 and your letter carrier will do the rest. I invite the entire community to join in a great day of giving and help in the fight to end hunger.
Becky Tuttle, Wichita
Action on climate
I am very impressed and excited about the Climate Leadership Council. This is a group of Republicans who are encouraging placing a fee on carbon and giving the dividend back to the American people. It is so encouraging to see these strong Republicans taking action on climate.
This plan would encourage economic growth, utilize new strategies on current energy resources, and give us some predictability in the market.
As extreme droughts and floods affect more and more of us, it is important that our leaders take charge and implement techniques that would encourage market growth, protect the poor, and create cleaner air for our future generations. I look forward to following this important group of conservatives.
Alisha Gridley, Wichita
Letters to the Editor
Include your full name, home address and phone number for verification purposes. All letters are edited for clarity and length; 200 words or fewer are best. Letters may be published in any format and become the property of The Eagle.
Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Wichita Eagle, 330 N. Mead, Wichita, KS 67202
E-mail: letters@wichitaeagle.com
Fax: 316-269-6799
For more information, contact
Phillip Brownlee at 316-268-6262, pbrownlee@wichitaeagle.com.
This story was originally published May 12, 2017 at 5:03 AM with the headline "Letters on Comey firing, food drive, burn out, climate change."