Fair ~ 71°F   River stage: 23.65 ft. Falling Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Stories Blogs Comments Photos Events Classifieds Marketplace Real Estate Everything Archive since 1918

Letters A plutocracy government (05/16/12) Years ago when labor unions got stronger and started supporting the Democratic Party, the Republicans responded by supporting corporations. Then when Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush decided to liberalize our trade policies, manufacturers could no longer be competitive and started a mass movement out of the country. ... More bread and circuses (05/16/12) So the voters of France have elected a tax-and-spend socialist over a conservative austerity budget-cutting leader. Francois Hollande's platform is to restore costly social programs and increase taxes on the rich (sounds familiar). Perhaps he should check his history and find out how the promises of more bread and circuses helped the Roman Empire... Paid Election Letter: Growing support for Parker (05/14/12) Republican pro-life conservative Bob Parker's primary challenge of 16-year incumbent Jo Ann Emerson is gaining steam. As Bob expresses his goals of protecting the unborn and reducing spending to keep Social Security funding solvent, he is gaining support throughout the 8th District. ... Smoking issue, again? (05/14/12) One of the topics brought up by Councilwoman Loretta Schneider at the recent city council retreat was she would favor a citywide smoking ban at least for restaurants. The voters of Cape Girardeau rejected a proposed smoking ban in bars and restaurants last year. Why bring this issue up again? The voters knew what they were doing when they went to the polls... Concerns over deer feeding law (05/10/12) In response to the story "Cape council adopts final no-feed deer ordinance":I am 85 years young, and I have never ever written a complaint of any kind in my life to a newspaper or ever voiced my opinion on something like this law, but when I read that the city council has voted in a law that you can receive a $500 fine and 90 days in jail if you are caught feeding deer, I had to comment on it... Henniger offers no solutions (05/10/12) This is in response to Daniel Henniger's op-ed article which appeared in the May 6 issue of the Southeast Missourian. He opens with a discussion of the problems facing recent college graduates such as a youth unemployment rate of 16 percent. He indicates that this problem is related to the fact that the United States is struggling with a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of around 2 percent... Contrast between liberty, tyranny (05/08/12) I would like to submit a few words of wisdom from one of our country's greatest men to compare and contrast with the complete disaster that is Obama. "We all declare for liberty, but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some, the word liberty may mean for each to do as he pleases with himself and/or the product of his labor; while with others, the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. ... Cut federal employee travel (05/04/12) Hey, Mr. President, you put a moratorium on drilling and as a byproduct killed thousands of jobs. Here's a suggestion -- put a moratorium on government-sponsored conferences. Maybe that will shrink government a little by getting rid of the party planner jobs. ... Circus animal abuse (05/01/12) Human circus performers go on willingly, but elephants have to be cruelly beaten and electrically prodded to go out and perform totally unnatural acts for a few minutes of entertainment. Animal abuse in circuses has been well documented, with a major circus recently having been fined the largest ever of its kind in the U.S. by the USDA/AWA for violations... Correction to correction (05/01/12) A correction to our previous correction: The B'nai Israel building is currently being used as a private studio, not a commercial operation. We apologize for the misunderstanding. SCOTT HOUSE, Cape Girardeau Health care cost concerns (04/30/12) As an advocate for health care reform, I have issues with Dr. Michael Wulfers' recent letter. He proposes high deductibles and health savings accounts as solutions for the soaring cost of health care. These are panaceas and do little to address the cost issue. ... Building not endangered (04/27/12) Recently the Historic Preservation Commission of Cape Girardeau released a list of most endangered buildings. The purpose of the list was to bring attention to buildings either in disrepair or otherwise disused. Included on this list was the B'nai Israel synagogue on South Main Street. ... Wrestling back our freedom (04/26/12) Frederick Douglas, an escaped black slave and abolitionist wrote in the late 1800s: No matter how well intentioned, or enlightened, no one can be safely entrusted with the liberties of another. Frederic Bastiat wrote near the mid 1800s: There is no evil greater than legislation that makes it legal for government to steal and rob from its citizens... Tea party educates (04/25/12) To educate about and enhance the values of God, country and Constitution are the principals that dominate the Cape County Tea Party's agenda -- not, to emphasize again, to endorse any political person. We want Americans to wake up to a decline in spiritual values, deterioration of family units, decline in educational excellence and appreciate our country's greatness. ... New paradigm for health care (04/24/12) If current trends continue, by 2013 the United States will spend an unsustainable 20 percent of its gross national product on health care. To reverse this trend an entirely new paradigm is needed. The concept of health "insurance" is fundamentally flawed. ... The real tax problem (04/23/12) When will the politicians and news media stop talking about increasing the tax (income) on the rich and talk about the real tax problem? The way most moneyed people avoid taxes is by using congressionally enacted loop holes designed to avoid certain taxes... Tips for saving gas (04/19/12) As we continue to feel the effects of rising gas prices, it's important to take a look at what can be done to counter the expense. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, consider a vehicle that gets 30 mpg. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it can reduce your yearly gas bill by $968... Celebrating Central's orchestra (04/19/12) The Cape Central Orchestra will present its final concert of the 2012-2013 academic year at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Cape Central Fieldhouse. During the concert, students will be recognized for outstanding achievement during the year. Mel Gilhaus, who was the orchestra director from 1964 to 1991 (and my teacher from 1970 through 1977), will be our featured guest violinist in a performance of the poignant theme from "Schindler's List." We'll also "bust some jams" from Hendrix, Aerosmith and some cool movie themes! Following the performance, the orchestra will host an old-fashioned ice cream social for present and past orchestra members, friends, family and supporters of our Central music department. ... City council's wrong priorities (04/19/12) I see the city council is concerned about the deer population in Cape Girardeau and wants to make a law against feeding deer. Why are they not concerned about all the shootings, stabbings and other violent crimes that have increased at an a alarming rate? I think all the city council members should focus on important issues like crime instead of people feeding deer. ... Lawsuit cost to Jackson residents (04/18/12) Why bring a lawsuit on the 2009 annexation now? As a taxpayer and resident of the lovely city of Jackson, I am at a loss to the lawsuit filed against us, the property owners who pay the bills for the city, by a native son of Jackson. The Jackson attorney and law firm that filed the lawsuit, which I believe maybe their second lawsuit filed against Jackson, also represents Save Our Children's Health Inc. with connection to Saxony Lutheran High School. Why are they suing us?... Legislation and the Electoral College (04/18/12) HB 1719 -- Interstate Compact on the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Act -- is unconstitutional. Under the Constitution, the highest-ranking U.S. officials elected by direct popular vote of the people are the governors of the states. Furthermore, the people were empowered to choose, by direct popular election, the men and women who represent them in their state legislatures and in the U.S. Congress...

Campaign blogging > Submit a Letter to the Editor Submit a Paid Election Letter Paid election letters Paid Election Letter: Growing support for Parker (05/14/12) Republican pro-life conservative Bob Parker's primary challenge of 16-year incumbent Jo Ann Emerson is gaining steam. As Bob expresses his goals of protecting the unborn and reducing spending to keep Social Security funding solvent, he is gaining support throughout the 8th District. ...