Letters to the Editor: State legislators starting off with the wrong priorities

Get priorities straight

I worry all day and don’t sleep well feeling overwhelmed by the problems we face as a country. I am talking about climate change ,the opioid crisis, our slipping education status on all levels, income inequality, medical care, and the very survival of our democracy. Then there is always the threat of yet another war. Imagine how I felt to open the paper to learn that the number-one priority of our “leaders” in Frankfort is immigration and the defense of gun rights. It’s clear that we are fearful of very different things. Is it too much to ask our leaders to address the real problems that threaten us? Does anyone really need a semi-automatic weapon? Thanks to our new governor for saying that education is his number-one priority.

Simone Bloomfield Salomon, Lexington

Immigration? Really?

The fact that sanctuary cities is the first agenda topic of our legislature speaks volumes about the priorities of our elected representatives. Is Kentucky truly threatened by illegal immigration? Have they nothing better to do?

George Muns, Richmond

Extreme risk law

As an educator who passes through metal detectors to enter our schools, and who has had a gunman on my campus, I am particularly concerned about the impact of school violence on students who have experienced it and on the increasing number of those who fear it. The safety and security climate in schools has a significant impact on our students’ learning and on their well-being. Fear of school shootings is the second most common worry among children ages 6-17 (Children’s Defense Fund, 2018).

In 2020, the Kentucky legislature has an opportunity to make Kentucky schools safer — without compromising the rights of lawful, responsible gun owners — by passing an extreme risk law. These laws empower family members or law enforcement officers who recognize signs someone may harm themselves or others to intervene via court action, temporarily preventing the individual from accessing firearms.

According to a Department of Education study, in 93 percent of targeted school violence cases, others reported concern about behavioral warning signs. Seventeen states have already enacted extreme risk laws and subsequent interventions in those states have prevented potential violent school-related incidents.

Extreme risk laws are a much-needed tool charting a sensible, proven pathway to safer Kentucky schools.

Jan Stallones, Lexington, volunteer, Kentucky Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

Bring back civics

I was so excited to read the synopsis of Chief Justice John Roberts’ “2019 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary” in the Herald-Leader; so excited, I accessed the full copy on the internet and reveled in his words. I agree heartily with his sentiments that civics is an important topic for all of us.

In his report he points out that the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has available, classroom-ready curriculum materials on teen-relevant topics and online educational resources for the general public.

I have long lamented the removal of civics from many school curricula. I feel that our citizenry would be much better-read about politics if they understood the workings of the government at all levels and the importance of registering and voting.

Jewel Vanderhoef, Lexington

Consider the docs

A tradesperson, mechanic and doctor/dentist work on your home, car, or you. All charge $150. Who collects the full $150? Not the doctor or dentist. In fact, they might receive a little over half because of laws and insurance. We pay tradespeople and mechanics better than our medical professionals who save/improve our lives.

During the last decade, the government overhauled the college tuition loan program, made government loans the prime lending source, and increased the interest rate on college loans. Four-year college debt averages $37,000. Doctor or dentist’s school debt: $250,000 to $500,000, excluding undergraduate loans. How can anyone pay this off and support themselves when their income is determined by politicians seeking election and insurance companies chasing profits?

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders admitted his program would cost medical jobs. How will an increased patient load and smaller staff affect treatment options? Would anyone enter these professions knowing their income may shrink, while carrying a student debt greater than any profession?

As we dance to the healthcare-for-all tune, Americans must ask the harder questions of health professionals’ education debt, sustainable salaries, and patient load. If we don’t, we needn’t worry about surprise billing because we will soon face a doctor/dentist shortage.

Lauranne Williams, Lexington

Some of Trump’s worst

Columnist Marc Thiessen had an opinion piece entitled “The 10 best things Trump did in 2019”. Thiessen was a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, who is a frequent guest on that paragon of independent thought program “Fox and Friends”, President Donald Trump’s favorite “news show.” Let’s think about some of the worst things Trump did.

▪ He weakened or eliminated 100 environmental laws or restrictions and withdrew the United States from the Paris climate accords.

▪ He is funneling government business to his own companies, hotels, and resorts, making millions of dollars from his private businesses in violation of the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution.

▪ He started a trade war with China that resulted in a $28 billion bailout for his farmer-supporters.

▪ He took a budget deficit that was declining and doubled it with his ill-advised tax cut for corporations and the rich, increasing the national debt to $23 trillion.

▪ He and Sen. Mitch McConnell are appointing Federal Society judges who are unqualified.

▪ He destroyed our relationships with our best allies and sucked up to the world’s dictators while lying thousands of times.

James R. Porter, Danville

Democracy on trial

I’m so frustrated with how many people misunderstand what the impeachment is about. This is not about President Donald Trump; rather it’s about our democracy and our Constitution. We need all of our elected representatives to uphold their oaths of office and proceed with a fair trial. It is imperative that we maintain the checks and balances that were established by our founders in the Constitution. If we don’t do this now then all future presidents can choose to just ignore the power of Congress and our democracy will be unsustainable. We all need to get over our partisanship and recognize that this is a moment when our country and its government are in grave jeopardy. As citizens, it’s imperative that we defend our Constitution and its establishment of three co-equal branches of government that have made our country a model for what democracy can achieve.

Shelby French, Lexington

What will it take?

I wonder what it would take for my Trump-supporting friends and family to say “enough is enough”. Do you care about “the swamp”? Then you should care about the high number of Trump cabinet officials and campaign staff who have resigned or are in prison. Do you care about your LGBT neighbors? Then you should care about the rights this administration is taking away from them. Do you care about racial tension? Then you should care that this administration has been shown to employ white supremacists. Do you care about the military? Then you should care that the president has pushed us to the brink of war, despite the objections of military leaders, seemingly thinking of the military as his own disposable tool for his re-election. Do you care about government waste? Then you should care about the government officials staying at Trump properties around the world to curry favor with the president. Do you care about the president’s work ethic, common decency, treatment of women, or the Constitution? Then Trump is not your guy. Please take off your blinders and do the right thing. “The economy” is not a good enough excuse to sell the soul of our country.

Barton Lynch, Lexington

Man in the mirror

As an ongoing observer of the news, I have learned that our president becomes petulant when the spotlight is not shining brightly on him.

So now, in the shadow of an impeachment trial, he and his circle of yes-men would have us believe that his recent assassination of a war criminal of the highest order was the result of an imminent threat to our nation and its citizens.

History has shown that the subject of this attack was indeed an evil man, yet in light of our president’s own history of playing fast and loose with the truth, I am inclined to wonder if in fact the threat was indeed imminent.

Absent proper threat assessment from sources with integrity outside that circle, this looks to me like just another attempt on his part to deflect the ongoing narrative of impeachment and to become the hero he sees in the mirror.

Barbara Smith, Versailles