Missouri politicians are trying to subvert your democracy. Don’t be quiet about it | Opinion

Voices blocked

The people of Missouri are again facing the annual resurrection in the legislature of antidemocratic efforts to render our constitutional right to initiative petitions very difficult to pursue. Proposals under consideration would require voters to gather significantly more qualifying signatures, in addition to requiring a higher margin on the ballot for passage.

Years of inaction by the legislature on Medicaid expansion as part of the Affordable Care Act gave rise to Amendment 2, which voters approved in 2020 with 53%. Missourians passed Proposition B in 2018 raising the minimum wage with 62%, rectifying legislature action in 2017 that negated minimum-wage increases in St. Louis and Kansas City.

These latest actions reveal in significant degree the legislators’ partisan animus, racial bias and small town/rural resentment of the political power of St. Louis and Kansas City. The Missouri Senate is now considering H.J.R. 43, which would require future constitutional amendments to get a 60% margin on the ballot — yet another antidemocratic effort.

Time is of the essence, and it is critical that constituents express their opposition by late February. Contact your state senators, publicly testify in Jefferson City or go to willofthepeoplemo.com to sign a petition in opposition.

- Dave Mitchell, Kansas City

Appreciate luck

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that significant numbers of teens felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, and that girls were particularly affected. As root causes are addressed societally, we parents can’t wait around. Experts say we must ask how things are going, listen intently and be open to help.

But there’s something else we can do: shift kids’ perspective. My friend occasionally asks, “Aren’t we lucky?” and I always agree that, yes, we are lucky. She has no idea how much that question resets my outlook. It may help our kids, too.

At night we can ask, “Aren’t we lucky we have cozy beds?” Or on a spring day, “How lucky are we to enjoy these beautiful flowering trees?” We can also add brief context: “How great is it that we get clean water right out of our taps? Did you know some people in the world have to haul it in buckets for miles? Some people even get sick from their water.”

Yes, I think I’ll start casually sneaking perspective and gratitude into conversations with my daughters. There’s no discounting tough times and mental health challenges. But my friend is right: Most of us truly are lucky, and perspective and gratitude are powerful mental health boosters.

- Cathy Anderson, Leawood

Act, don’t pray

Is anyone else angry, sad and disgusted by the more-than-daily mass shootings in this country? I read the article about one of the latest, with six people murdered in Coldwater, Mississippi.

Gov. Tate Reeves stated that “the full resources of the state are available to law enforcement as we continue to investigate the situation,” and “Please pray for the victims of this tragic violence and their families at this time.”

First, what is there to investigate? Police have the shooter, and the reason it happened is because people can get as many guns and as much ammunition as they want in this country. Pretty much every day, one or more of them starts shooting people.

Tate also asked for prayers for the families. Again, why? Would it not be better to take action to reduce the carnage instead of praying for the families after you continue to let it happen?

- Thomas Kenney, Liberty

No hindsight?

In the 1980s, representatives from the railroad industry successfully lobbied to remove the requirement to have a caboose at the end of all freight trains. They said technology had eliminated this antiquated solution to rail safety. It would also save the railroads money by reducing the number of people in a train crew.

After the recent catastrophic train derailment in Ohio, it may be time to rethink this policy. (Feb. 23, 10A, “Track inspections to start in wake of Ohio derailment”)

- Jesse Laird, Kansas City