Letters to the editor (Feb. 12, 2020)

Dark day for Kansas

Today is a dark day in Kansas and American history. I am ashamed that my senators have both decided to abdicate their constitutional responsibility to uphold the law for the nation’s most powerful figure. No one is above the law, and Donald Trump certainly isn’t. The man is despicable.

U.S. politicians do not use foreign countries for help in elections. Reporters with disabilities should not get mocked. Nazis are not “fine people.” Refugees must be able to find refuge in America. Children do not belong in cages. The world deserves free trade, not trade wars. This administration is not normal.

Political inconvenience is not an acceptable reason to abandon one’s duty. I look forward to the day when my child opens a history book and reads that my Kansas senators were two of the 52 who abandoned the constitution for their own political gain.

‘Petulant’ Pelosi

I didn’t have problem with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s curt introduction of Donald Trump at his State of the Union speech, nor when she and her party sat there stone faced as he delivered his self congratulatory rant. I certainly understood the groans when Mr. Trump bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh — issued no doubt for being the person most likely to fawn all over Trump, though I always thought that prize would go to Sean Hannity.

But what I didn’t agree with was Ms. Pelosi’s petulant action of ripping apart the speech after Trump delivered it. It was immature, silly and frankly beneath her. Instead of being the august leader of her party, she showed an immaturity and nastiness I usually see from the man who delivered the speech. There was, after all, on those pages a recognition of some very worthy Americans, even if the man who delivered the speech will never deserve the same.

I was already embarrassed for my party when Speaker Pelosi handed out those commemorative impeachment pens, a move that was beyond uncalled for and silly. But this action has handed the Republicans a viral moment to be looped endlessly until November.

Impeachment trial

In the past, I have been supportive of our state’s U.S. Senators — in particular, Sen. Jerry Moran. With the vote to refuse to even listen to witnesses in the impeachment “trial” of Donald Trump, they have both revealed their lack of interest in an open trial with witnesses and evidence — i.e., justice — and their complete subservience to the president.

Blocking bills

The blockage of legislative bills that we are seeing at the state level by Kansas Sen. Susan Wagle and at the national level by Sen. Mitch McConnell is not the way that a democratic republic should operate. Bills should be discussed and voted upon by our Congress and our state Legislature.

The U.S. Senate has a GOP majority, as do both legislative houses in Kansas. There should be no reason to hold up the discussion of any bills over concern, on the part of legislative leaders, that they might pass due to pressure by a large majority of the public. This is a rather petty and selfish way to manage our government.

Golden rule

I read with interest the article about the bill to require the words “In God We Trust” in every public building. While I don’t question the sincerity of the authors, I would like to make an alternative suggestion that I think would have a more significant impact on Kansans’ behavior.

I envision a simple version of the Golden Rule in every classroom, courtroom and public place: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The rule is a major tenet of every religion in the world, and I can’t imagine even the staunchest atheist being offended by its display. Could there be any more appropriate words in this day of hyper partisanship?