Kentuckians should vote no on both measures to change Constitution. Neither one makes sense. | Opinion
Stop insanity
“Insanity is repeating an action and expecting different results.” Our Republican-led legislature has a PhD. in insanity. In Amendment 2 the legislature has repackaged charter schools labeling this pseudo law as “School Choice.” Ironic?
Isn’t this the same group of people who are happy to deny women the right of “choice” with their own bodies? What choices are they offering?
They propose to siphon millions of tax dollars for unregulated schools. Why? Because some weirdo in California says it’s a good idea. Our legislatures stupidly agreed. Not because it would be good for Kentucky but because they were told to by people in Iowa.
Which leads me to Amendment 1.
Our legislature is led by a small group of people who are afraid a non-citizen is going to vote. Why? In our 232-year history this has never been a problem. In 1867, black people voted. In 1920, women voted. In 2024, the legislature is scared because aliens from other planets will vote them out of office. No! No! This cannot happen They must stay in office and propose stupid self-severing laws.
We Kentuckians are smarter than our legislature. Stop this insanity and kill both Amendments.
Damian Beach, Frankfort
Police thanks
In rough times, we don’t always see the many folks helping our communities pull through, but without their efforts things would be so much worse. I just want to thank the many police officers who were drenched and pummeled by the rain and wind while directing traffic on Friday, September 27. It was intense. Many traffic lights weren’t working, lanes were flooded, cars were stalled, and emergency vehicles were trying to navigate through it all. These dedicated folks were in the middle of the chaos trying to keep people safe and I want them to know how much that’s appreciated.
Trish Smith, Lexington
Shooting victim
I was a victim of the I-75 shooting in London, KY on Sept. 7, 2024. Because of the severity of the injuries, I was taken by helicopter to the UK Healthcare Albert B. Chandler Hospital.
My four days in this hospital were overall VERY positive. With only one exception, everyone was pleasant, knowledgeable and great at their jobs.
The only exception to my care was attempted to be provided by one nurse who was working a non-bedside job. She was working as a case manager to help assist in discharge.
I have a large caliber bullet wound in my left hip. I cannot see this wound directly. This lady’s solution to wound care was to hold a mirror with one hand and to pack the wound with the other hand. This skill takes a trained nurse TWO HANDS to do.
My opinion in the weeks after my discharge is that this woman did not want to put forth the effort to find out of town resources to help with follow up. Shame on this nurse. Suggesting I do something that would make maintaining sterility packing difficult was the lazy way out. She should know better.
Janet Booth, Carmel, Ind.
Project 2025
If you disagree with the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump but you plan to vote for him anyway because you agree with his policies, think some more. Take a look at Project 2025. This could very well be the playbook if he wins. Many of its authors have been identified as likely to be in a second Trump administration.
At more than 900 pages, Project 2025 is intended to be implemented within the first 180 days of the administration, much of it by executive order. It calls for major changes on every front and with apparently no consideration of unintended consequences. The goal is to act fast and to concentrate power for the president, starting “Day One.”
We worry that the Project proposes to replace thousands of professional, career federal employees with “loyal” people identified in a Project database. We worry about the plan to reduce the autonomy of independent regulatory agencies. We worry how power might be used under the call to move the Justice Department, including the FBI, under the president’s direct control. It is right there in plain sight: the first steps for creating a dictatorship.
Don’t take the risk that Project 2025 could be the playbook. Vote for Harris/Walz.
Mary Lynn Collins, Frankfort; Karen Armstrong-Cummings, Frankfort
Trump lies
If his lips are moving, he is lying.
Voters say they need to know Vice President Kamala Harris. Do voters really know former President Donald J. Trump?
Quoting Trump: “It’s horrible, really horrible what is happening.”
Trump with 34 counts, a convicted felon, calls Biden, “Crooked Joe,” but it was Jared and Ivanka Trump who took a TWO BILLION DOLLAR check from the Saudis.
Trump’s court dockets in four states, remembering his “perfect” shake-down phone calls to leaders, wanted Georgia to steal 11,780 votes, and create fake electors; his fist pumping “Fight like hell” Insurrection; his stealing White House documents and wasting millions of tax dollars on legal “appeals” mocking the justice system.
Trump’s Supreme Court “immunity” judges turned the “Rule of Law” into corrupt, corporate “Pay-to Play” showcases.
China, North Korea, Russia, all the dictators want Trump to win.
Do American voters know Taylor Swift wants Kamala Harris to win? Harris stands to protect and defend our Constitution, Rule of Law and Democracy, so help her God.
Where does Trump stand? He’s up to his neck in it.
Judy Rembacki, Georgetown
Letter rebuttal
In a recent letter to the editor, Wayne Burns asked several good questions. Unfortunately, he got all of the answers wrong.
He asked who people would prefer handle negations with Russia, China, etc. He thinks former President Donald Trump would be better. Trump got played by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Un. Neither of these people are friends of America.
There were also comments about the economy. Trump, is the worst businessman ever elected president. Trump has filed bankruptcy often , so to think he can do a better job managing the economy is ludicrous.
We have a choice between Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been a prosecuting attorney, attorney general of the largest state in the union, a United States Senator, and Vice President of the United States; and Trump, who is a convicted felon, is bankrupt both financially and morally, and, as one of his former cabinet members stated, is the most flawed person he has ever met.
There is a clear choice for president - Kamala Harris. Trump would do well to learn how to pronounce her name, though he can fall back on referring to her as Madame President.
Timothy Smith, Lexington
Government pension
I have dedicated over 30 of my life as a public service career with USDA. As I approached retirement, I had always hoped for a secure and comfortable future. However, the unfair impact of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) has left me facing unexpected financial challenges during my retirement.
Having devoted my career to public service, I knew that my pension would be a vital component of my retirement income. Yet, the reduction in my Social Security benefits due to the WEP and GPO has taken a toll on my financial stability, leaving me with far less than what I had anticipated. This unjust double-dipping penalty has left me questioning the recognition of the contributions made by public servants like myself.
The Social Security Fairness Act presents an opportunity to rectify these inequalities and provide hardworking public servants with the retirement benefits they rightfully deserve. It seeks to eliminate the WEP/GPO, ensuring that individuals like me, who have paid into both Social Security and their pension systems, receive fair treatment and financial security in our golden years.
Kenneth W. Overhults, Lexington
Edited by Liz Carey