Park your disrespect for the handicapped

I am proud of our nation's desire to help the handicapped population but ashamed of the disrespect shown to those needing an extra bit of help.

I've learned this the hard way. After breaking my heel and requiring reconstructive surgery last spring, I still have difficulty walking far. I thought handicapped parking allowed those in need a quicker way to get to a building.

Unfortunately, many seem to think the parking pass is transferable to anyone in a hurry. I've seen people sit in the car in a handicapped parking spot after dropping someone off at the door. Is it necessary to claim a much needed spot if you can wait nearby and drive to the door to pick up?

I witnessed an elderly couple, both handicapped, struggle to get out of their car, retrieve the wheelchair and cane in the backseat, wrestling within the tight confines of a normal parking spot. A young, healthy woman had parked in the handicapped spot and made a run to the mall entrance — she wanted to park close.

We all should take responsibility to help those in need. If you have a handicapped parking pass, please use it responsibly.

Sharon Madison

Wilmore

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Drop Farm Bureau

University of Kentucky Coach John Calipari and other Final Four coaches exhibited admirable moral leadership in rejecting discrimination masquerading as religious freedom.

Yet the UK Sports Network, "Official Site of the Kentucky Wildcats," continues its sponsorship affiliation with Kentucky Farm Bureau, whose stated policies include: "The institution of marriage should only be recognized as the legal union of a man and a woman," along with opposing benefits to domestic partners, opposing any increase in the minimum wage, opposing collective bargaining and a slew of other "policies" that are not insurance related.

UK Sports Network should take Calipari's lead — "that discrimination of any kind should not be tolerated."

Frank Close

Lexington

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McConnell failing

The gridlock in this Congress with Mitch McConnell as majority leader is a consequence of Republican extremists rendering the House dysfunctional.

House Speaker John Boehner has attempted to herd the Tea Party cats as they've slithered in and out of office since 2008, and he's failed miserably. There is no better example than the 60 or so attempts to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act that met with a swift end in the Senate. McConnell continues to nurture his party's right-wing cancer, pledging to repeal ACA "root and branch" with no real hope of success.

Under McConnell, Republicans in the Senate (Ted Cruz, Rand Paul) are emulating the House extremists. McConnell's only chance to prove any ability to lead, to govern is to pass bipartisan legislation that is approved by the president or veto proof. There's no indication he can or has the will to do so.

Twenty-four Republican seats are up for election in 2016. McConnell's status as majority leader is likely short-lived. Events like the disastrous letter to Iran's leaders signed by McConnell and Paul, threats to shut down the government and holding Loretta Lynch's nomination for attorney general hostage all diminish the once-respected Congress.

Bill Adkins

Williamstown

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Maimed and ignored

In June 2014, I had a lung collapse. Doctors at the Veterans Affairs hospital pumped my lung up and sent me home. As soon as I got home my lung re-collapsed. Major surgery followed. When I awoke I noticed a huge protrusion in my torso.

Four months later — after an X-ray, ultrasound, and CT scan, my doctor didn't have a clue as to what it was. So he sent me to other surgeons to get an opinion.

Two surgeons summarized that my doctor had cut a nerve to the muscles in my torso. They said there was no repair, that I was maimed for the rest of my life. So, I started calling lawyers to sue.

Out of the nine lawyers I called not one talked to me a second time. My doctor even had the gall to accuse me of gaining weight. The VA will not admit fault. The statute of limitations is up in June.

This is why the VA is having problems nationally. This is also why lawyers are having character problems nationally.

Gary L. Giles

Lexington

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Can't be trusted

Forty-seven Republicans signed a letter and sent it to the leaders of Iran. This letter is a violation of the Logan Act, making it a felony.

Since firing and trying them for treason would create an unimaginably expensive and time-consuming mess, why don't we just make them write 100 times: "I promise I will never again interfere with nor undermine diplomatic negotiations with other countries and/or cause embarrassment to my country."

Even better, since they can't be trusted, we can see that none are elected to the highest office of our government.

Andrea Reed

Lexington