Eric Greitens took victim’s purse, patted her down, she says. Whose word do you take?

Greitens’ word?

Gee, whom should we trust?

Missouri’s Republican ex-Gov. Eric Greitens, who resigned in disgrace amid accusations of sexual assault, whose accuser was believed and whose allegations under oath were found to be “overall credible” by a Missouri House committee (made up of five Republicans and two Democrats)?

Or his ex-wife, who — until now — stood silent through all of his scandals? (March 27, 5A, “Eric Greitens’ ex-wife stands by allegations”)

The hairdresser in Greitens’ alleged sexual assault testified she arrived at the Greitens’ home through the back door and Greitens “took her purse and keys, removed all items from her purse and searched it, patted her down from head to toe, and then went back outside to check if anyone had seen her enter the home.” He then “made her disrobe into one of his dress shirts,” a witness testified. “And he checked her purse and her belongings for any devices, recording devices.”

If someone were to really start digging, it wouldn’t surprise me to find he had done something like this before. Checking a woman for recording devices when she walks into a house and searching her purse aren’t the hallmarks of an amateur at the sexual coercion game. It might be a blatant tell of someone who knows exactly what he’s doing and why.

But I’m sure the ex-governor has a perfectly good explanation for all of it. He just doesn’t feel like telling anyone.

- Lane Sekavec, De Soto

Stern support

Kudos to Michael Stern and the Kansas City Symphony. After some heartfelt opening remarks on the situation in Ukraine, Maestro Stern led the orchestra in a stirring rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem Saturday night at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

My wife, Susan, and I agreed it was a fitting and emotional moment in these turbulent times.

- Zack Hangauer, Overland Park

Who’s pretending?

Rep. Vicky Hartzler seems to feel entitled to trivialize her LGBTQ+ constituents’ ongoing struggles to be the best they can be (from the heart out) by saying they are “pretending” to be someone else in ads for her U.S. Senate bid. (Feb. 16, 12A, “Transphobic ad gets Vicky Hartzler in the meanness mix”)

I feel entitled therefore to say that she has spent long enough pretending to be a representative of the people in her district, and it would be disastrous for our whole state to have two “pretend” senators. I can’t pretend I am not fearful that democracy will be ripped from all of us by such impostors if they are validated in any way.

- James M. Semadeni, Kansas City

Flood insurance

For the first time in 50 years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is updating the methodology used to set premiums for NFIP, the National Flood Insurance Program. This new rating system, Risk Rating 2.0, makes flood insurance fairer and more transparent, and provides individualized risk assessments to property owners.

In fact, Risk Rating 2.0 must be implemented immediately so we can start to salvage the nation’s primary source of flood insurance. Each year, the NFIP has to borrow money from taxpayers (through the U.S. Treasury) to cover losses. Until RR2.0 is implemented, taxpayers will continue to be on the hook for the losses of the NFIP. Before RR2.0, rates set by the NFIP were primarily based on whether a property is “in” or “out” of a designated flood hazard area and the timing of a community’s entry into the NFIP.

Not only would RR2.0 make the NFIP more secure, but it has the bonus of lowering premiums for more than 1 million policyholders across the United States. In Missouri, nearly 30% of policyholders would see their premiums decrease with RR2.0.

Missouri would be better off under Risk Rating 2.0, and the taxpayers would stop funding an insolvent program. Congress should not delay its implementation.

- Chris Brown, Kansas City

Time to win

The March 24 letter under the subheadline “Show-Me losers” pretty much tells most of the story. (10A) It fails, however, to mention that Donald Trump was a two-time loser: one by never achieving a 50% approval rating while in office, and two by losing the 2020 election. Could the biggest loser of all be the once-proud GOP?

The question is: Can we Missourians do better? I certainly hope so. Votes and approval ratings can make a difference. Let’s not be losers again.

- C.K. Baber, Village of Loch Lloyd