Letters from the week of 12-14-2006

 Picture Perfect
First, thank you for using my photo in Josh Ziegler's cartoon about Fred Phelps' funeral. I'm flattered that you chose me, and I can imagine there are plenty of folks who wouldn't mind if he met his demise!

I'm from Chicago but worked in Little Rock, Arkansas, for 10 years. In Chicago, I loved the Reader weekly, but in Little Rock there wasn't one of that caliber. One of the many reasons I love Kansas City is the Pitch. You've got hilarious writers and clever topics. I feel like I'm back in Chicago. So thanks for both of those things. Karen Fuller, KCTV 5, Fairway

"Lunch Money," November 30

Stock Response

Thanks for the interesting and illuminating article on meal and entertainment expenses claimed by managers at the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities.

What's really comical (if not disappointing) is the response from the BPU's Ethics Commission! With evidence of repeated violations, the chairman of the Ethics Commission "has no problem"? Michael Price needs to admit that the BPU's ethics policy (specificity, implementation, training and consequences) has failed its stakeholders (i.e., its customers and employees and the Unified Government of KCK). A few suggestions for redefining their concepts of "responsible behavior":

Discretionary dining and entertainment funds should be spent within the geographic locale of the Unified Government of KCK and its rate-paying customers (not in Missouri).

The BPU should not allow the purchase or distribution of alcoholic beverages, whether at a strategic-planning dinner or an entertainment venue. Participants can drink if they want, but not with BPU sponsorship!

Eliminate all nondisclosure (or secret) agreements for hiring, firing and severance.

And one last piece of advice to those responsible for drafting and managing the BPU's ethics policy: The next time you find yourselves heading over to Missouri, try to find your way over to Rockhurst University. Share that lunch or dinner with some of the Jesuit professors who actually study, lecture and consult on the subject of ethics. You might find that their bios are substantially deeper than those of the current members of your commission. Joe Dattilo, Leawood

Pocket Change
Tired of everyone else's hand in your pocket but yours? See how this utility is beating you!

The proposed rate hike should not be allowed for the following reasons.

Electric issues: The Department of Energy says the average rate for Kansas is 8.63 cents per kilowatt-hour. The average kwh that the BPU charged this year is 10.6 per kwh. That's 2 over the average for Kansas and 2.5 over Missouri for residential rates. The BPU bill on a 12-month average for residential service in 2001 was 6.1 per kwh; in 2006, it's 10.4 per kwh — a 71 percent increase from 2001 to 2006.

Water issues: Water rates are well above the national average. In 2001, residential water rates were $3.14 per cubic foot of water; in 2006, the rate rose to $7.99 per cubic foot. Since 2001, the price of water has gone up 154.31 percent.

As a proud owner of this public-owned utility, I would like to have available all the financial reports. I want the reports to document where every penny goes and where it comes from. Then, if the BPU needs a rate hike, we, all the owners, will have a handle on why. T.J. Reardon, Kansas City, Kansas

Feature: "Bush Blew Up the Twin Towers," November 23

Truth and Daring

Thank you for your serious treatment of Janice Matthews' work as coordinator of the national 9/11 truth effort. She has had a remarkable influence in a very short period of time, having inspired me and an exponentially growing number of Americans to promote educational campaigns about the history of false flag terrorism in the United States.

Now, according to a New York Times poll, 84 percent of Americans no longer buy the "official story" promoted by the Kean-Hamilton report of the events of September 11, 2001. I initiated a group in Washington, D.C., called DC911truth.org, drawing inspiration from Janice and her colleague Gabriel Day, and we just held a symposium called "From 911 Truth to 911 Justice," featuring some of the most prominent scholars and researchers on this issue in the country. I would not be where I am without Janice's courageous efforts, and I cannot tell you how deeply encouraging it is to see them acknowledged in such fair-minded and informative print. Marcy Pollan, Silver Spring, Maryland

Towering Rage
I am happy to see such a diversity of Americans who refuse to accept the hogwash the government has tried to feed America regarding government criminal conspiracies in general and particularly 9/11, a heinous crime in which the highest members in this government were obviously complicit. The federal government's rendition of the "facts" of 9/11 tops any list as the nuttiest, most implausible conspiracy theory of them all.

Name withheld by request

Bush Thwack
What makes me believe more than anything that Bush and co. carried out 9/11 is the way you and the wider media behave. Just a few months ago, Cosmo magazine carried the Northcom transcripts of Cheney saying repeatedly, "The order still stands" that the aircraft approaching Washington was not to be shot down, followed closely by an insider of Northcom corroborating this and other damnning behavior of the government that day.

You would think this would be treated as headline news, but you and the others ignored it completely. Secrecy is the hallmark of theft, and your hiding what the greatest traitors and criminals in American history did is proof in itself that they did it as well as an acid test of character, which shows you have none. Michael Stone, Leawood

"One-Toke Wonder," November 23

D Plus

This e-mail is in response to Robert Wilonsky's review of Tenacious D's movie, The Pick of Destiny.

You are way off. This movie was destined to bomb at the box office but also to become a cult classic. The D has a hardcore fanbase, which has never gotten enough skits featuring the D. Both Jack Black and Kyle Gass are excellent musicians, and if you have ever seen them in concert, they put on a hell of a show. Did Half-Baked get great reviews? No. Is it on 50 percent of favorite movie lists on Facebook and MySpace? Yes!

Just because you might have to be drunk or high to see a movie, don't count it out. Twenty years from now, I expect this movie to be played on Comedy Central for a whole new generation to enjoy. Long live the D! Andrew Tate, Kansas City, Missouri

"From Hell," November 16

Tech Support

Well, personally, I think — no, I know — that Tech N9ne at 35 or 45 or 55 and so on is always going to be my No. 1. No, nothing will ever change that; not even the fact that he's losing his hair. Who cares? He's still sexy, with or without it.

I love his music, his style. I love it all. I know a lot of people will agree with me. Cynthia Cervera, South Lake Tahoe, California