Credit card swipe fee legislation: Reader wonders if it’s just a big box bailout bill | Opinion
Not rewarding
Thanks to The Kansas City Star for an excellent overview of the credit card swipe fee legislation proposed by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall. (Dec. 2, 1A, “Marshall wants businesses to pay less for credit card swipes”) It presented both sides clearly. And, I for one want to thank you for laying it on the line: Marshall’s claim that his bill is all about helping “the little guy” is pure Washington, D.C., bunk.
Tens of thousands of people depend on the rewards programs offered by the credit card companies. The simple truth is that big box retailers want those rewards for themselves. A pool of money now goes to customers who use those rewards to put food on the table and gas in their cars. And the big box retailers want to keep that money. That is the bottom line.
Please tell our other senator, Jerry Moran, to oppose the Durbin-Marshall legislation and urge Marshall to rethink his harmful position. I urge everyone to help defeat the big box bailout bill.
- Lois K. Spillman, Andover, Kansas
Hamas’ plan
I’ve criticized Israel’s response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, but the fundamental Palestinian problem is that many Arab leaders reject peace, favoring destroying Israel. In 1948, 700,000 Arabs left Israel, whereas 15-20 million Muslims and Hindus left India and Pakistan a year earlier. Why don’t we have a corresponding Pakistani problem?
The answer: Muslim countries (except Jordan) have done little to welcome Palestinian refugees or help Palestinians develop economically. Egypt, Iraq, Iran and Lebanon have welcomed more than 4.5 times as many Syrian refugees in the past few years as Palestinians in 75 years.
Many Arab leaders rely on Palestinian suffering to bash Israel. For example, Hamas’ plan was that its butchery would stimulate Palestinian civilian deaths. Readers should consider Coleman Hughes’ “The Struggle for Black Freedom Has Nothing to Do with Israel” at colemanhughes.substack.com
Terrorists hijack commercial airplanes; deploy suicide bombers; offer bounties, martyrdom and special favors from Allah to murderers; and use human shields and hide fighters in schools, hospitals and mosques. Many Israelis care more about Palestinians than some Arab leaders.
I am sympathetic to Palestinians and think Islam is a great religion. Unfortunately, extremists hijacked Islam, and most Arab leaders have served their people poorly.
- Claude Thau, Overland Park
Wrong question
As an individual with 20 years of experience in post-secondary education, I would like to comment on the student loan situation. Recently, politicians and journalists have given this topic much attention. However, their focus continues to be on loan forgiveness and deferment, rather than asking why these deficits are so large.
Post-secondary education has become outrageously expensive, with room, board and tuition rates rising well in excess of inflation. Educational institutions need to become accountable for the results they produce. Can their students who graduate with huge loan balances secure jobs that pay enough to repay their debts?
The average six-year student completion rate at U.S. colleges is about 60%. Maybe universities should be evaluated more thoroughly on these statistics, as well as on their job-placement rates in the students’ fields of study.
Instead of focusing on temporary fixes to control huge student debt, let’s switch the conversation to how our universities can prevent it in the first place.
- Jack Brozman, Shawnee
Backward help
As a supporter of the amendment to the Missouri Constitution to restore reproductive freedom, I would like to thank state legislators Mike Moon and Bob Titus for their radical bill imposing murder charges against women who get an abortion, as well as doctors and nurses who assist with the procedure. (Dec. 11, 1A, “GOP bills propose murder charges for getting abortions”)
Their absurd bill has made my job much easier. Don’t they have more pressing matters to address than this foolishness?
- Lynne Clock, Kansas City
Editor’s note: State Rep. Bob Titus withdrew the legislation Wednesday morning.
