Mail

 Pair of hypocrites

I guess it's okay to accept money for advertising from the payday loan industry while at the same time being overly critical of that industry ("Quick cash gamble," March 9-15). I guess it's okay as long as you don't mind being considered a scoundrel in the same fashion Patrick Dobson blathers about legal businesses performing legal services in a legal system set up by legislators elected by constituents.

Last I checked, the publishing business was a profit-based gig too. Nobody questions The Star when it charges $100,000 for a page ad. Nobody questions the art gallery when it marks up a piece of art 100 percent to 500 percent.

These are truly unregulated operations. The short-term loan lending industry is heavily regulated by the state, contrary to Dobson's info. They pay licensing fees in state, county, city, etc. They even have to pay taxes. Imagine that the government even gets its share. Now, how wrong would I be if I called the government and PitchWeekly a pair of hypocrites? -- Doug Stein

Mission, Kan.

Save the puppies

Thank you for the wonderful article on puppy mills in your March 2-8 issue ("Disposable pets"). I am so grateful when the news media prints an article that exposes the terrible practice of breeding dogs in huge numbers, without proper care in many instances.

It is so difficult to learn the true facts because of the rural location of these breeding facilities and the reluctance of many breeders to allow people to view the area where these dogs are housed and bred. I have been collecting information on this subject for many years along with many other animal-lovers. I have come to the conclusion that the USDA is not interested in correcting the situation. There is a serious conflict of interest. This was pointed out by a Reader's Digest article that came out in 1999. The author visited 50 puppy mills and described the horrible sights he witnessed. He also talked about the conflict of interest between the breeders and the USDA.

The State of Kansas has also been unresponsive to the needs of these abused animals. The same conflict of interest exists between the breeders and the animal health departments. I do not believe anything will change until the news media exposes this travesty to the point that the general public becomes aware of the situation and begins to speak out for these helpless animals.

A different department needs to be in charge of the inspections at both the state and federal level. These two departments have had far too many years to make things better, and they have not chosen to do that. -- Name withheld by request

Topeka, Kan.

Whitlockian theory

I think I am a new fan of Shawn Edwards. When my roommates and I read Jason Whitlock's article on the "trouble in the NFL," we were looking for a way to respond. I often say that when you have a voice to the public, your main goal should be to use that voice responsibly and to break down racial stereotypes. This idiot decides to fuel ignorance instead.

The problem is it's not just falling on black ears. We know where they are coming from, but the other people listening don't get that same impression or understanding. Someone needs to tell Jason Whitlock that there is a whole generation of people who listen to hip-hop and we are not robbing, killing, stealing, etc.

I've listened to rap music -- "gangster rap" -- exclusively since I first started listening to music. I have two bachelor's degrees, and I am halfway through with my master's degree. I've never been arrested for a violent crime, and I know hundreds more people just like me. So go figure. Anyway, I just wanted to let Edwards know that his responsible, well-researched Reverberation ("Fact checkin'," Feb. 17-23) is appreciated from conscious readers.

By the way, I wrote a paper and gave a speech on this same subject at my undergrad college. It was a private school with a 97 percent white audience. You should have seen their faces. -- Rod Mitchell

Overland Park, Kan.

Unfair portrait of dads

The stupendous hate mongering of Shawn Edwards' Feb. 24-March 1 news story about the (Jackson County Fathering) Court ("Bringing 'deadbeat' dads back to life") left me to wonder what kind of alternative PitchWeekly hopes to offer.

Edwards did not ask me before he opined that "Everybody hates deadbeat dads." Just to make sure I was not the only one out of step, I asked a county prosecuting attorney if he hates fathers convicted of not following a court's child support orders. After all, the county attorney is the one who asks the court to put people in jail for not complying with support orders. No, he replied, he does not hate them. Edwards left out at least two sources, and I suspect many more, in his assessment of everybody's hatred.