Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

The Who by Numbers (1975).

As many of you know from reading this blog over the years, I'm the world's greatest Yankee hater. So why am I wearing a Yankee hat in this picture? (Click to enlarge.) A lost bet. John Sullivan and I placed a wager before the 2018 season began. The "loser" of the seven-game series between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers would have to wear the other team's hat (provided by the winner) at work all day. John won the bet, four games to three, and today I paid off. It was fun. I told the story to the students and even asked one of them to take pictures of me during class. The irony is that I'm rooting for the Yankees in tonight's game against the Boston Red Sox, for, while I hate the Yankees, I hate the Red Sox (and their fans) even more. Go Yankees!

Addendum: John and I have agreed to make the same wager in 2019. Next year the loser will have to wear a pussy hat. (Just kidding.)

We need not wait for the future for the “truth to come clear,” written in Sunday’s op-ed piece by Keith Burris (Oct. 7, “They Usually Get it Wrong”).

We don’t need the establishment to tell us what to think now; we average folks can see the lasting damage done. Maybe worst of all, President Donald Trump, through the use of executive orders, has damaged a fragile environment by dropping out of the Paris climate accords, encouraging the use of fossil fuels and is loosening restrictions on automotive emissions put in place during the Obama administration.

He has increased a bloated military budget to over $700 billion—that’s $2 billion per day—at the expense of funding for human needs and crumbling infrastructure.

He has broken a treaty with Iran, which was one hope of decreasing the arms race. And he threatens to go to war in the Middle East.

He has damaged the Supreme Court by politicizing it, and continues, through his mindless tweets, to incite anger with name-calling and belittling whomever crosses his path.

It would be difficult to run out of words describing the wreckage Mr. Trump has brought upon us. This president, who speaks and writes recklessly, appeals to our base instincts and manipulates those who have suffered hardships, offering them crumbs, all with the intent of drawing attention away from the documented evidence that he is a tax evader who tells lies, preys on and betrays women, uses an undercurrent of racism and is driven by an enormous ego.

This is no ordinary situation.

Bette McDevitt

North Side

Note from KBJ: You have it exactly backward, Bette. Donald Trump is making America great again.

https://t.co/k2bOxapRtR

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2018

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Chicago V (1972).

Here.

Here.

This "philosopher" (whom I have never heard of) has pretty much played himself out of the starting line-up. I, for one, will not be reading any more of his "work."

Here is Kurt Schlichter's latest column.

How can today any individual not reflect on the definition of truth?

How can one watch a president deride any human and accept that at just his flamboyant personality?

How can we watch a Senate hearing of two individuals sharing their own story and not feel their pain—both of their pains?

The political arena is toxic.

Politics is not a business; politics is about people.

When politics destroy the very people government is to protect, as defined by the U.S. Constitution, all of us fail.

American politics are supposed to be about preserving our freedoms and rights without destroying the same of fellow citizens.

Federal government is about national security and fluidity of states living in union together.

State government is about the well being of its own people within its geographical boundaries.

Local government is about living in community harmoniously for the good of those residing there.

Politicians need to remember these standards and that they are public servants.

Journalists have the job of reporting the truth about the candidates’ positions, ads and actions objectively.

Citizens vote to tell candidates that people matter, that truth and the Constitution matters.

Voters must change the toxic climate of politics.

Susan Annette Smith

Warrensburg