Speak Out 04/27/04

Wonderful play

I BELIEVE we saw the same play by the River City Players that Kathryn Alfisi reviewed, and my friends and I thought it was wonderful in its entirety. The roles of Nadine and Juanita, both played by Tana Howard, were superb acting and added a needed dimension. The authors obviously wanted that portion in or they wouldn't have written it that way. We are faithful River City Players fans.

Good mall security

I WOULD like to commend the mall security staff. I had my 4-year-old child with me when a large group of unruly boys came into the mall, kicking signs over, swearing and being very ugly. Within minutes the mall security was escorting the juveniles out I commend the staff, and I want to say thank you for a job well done.

Concrete streets

I AM not an expert on city streets, but I can tell when all the concrete streets crack and crumble and the city has to pour sections of new concrete. It's costing the city a lot of money to fix these concrete streets. Is there a solution? Is there way to make concrete that's slightly flexible? I know there is such a thing as flexible concrete. Or is there a way to make the concrete so it doesn't expand so much from the heat or maybe they're sealed on top and water doesn't get in and freeze and break away big chunks out of it? Maybe we could go to asphalt. Asphalt lasts longer than concrete. But these concrete streets are costing Cape Girardeau an arm. We really don't want more taxes just to fix concrete streets.

Government help

WHEN I was a child in the 1960s, government had health clinics. You could go and get free shots. It helped our family with five children. My dad didn't feel he could afford a regular physician. Government has been there for people when they need it.

Economic pitfalls

THE REAL problem in our bloated government today is spending. Rising deficits are merely a symptom of that problem. The pork-filled highway bill is a painful example. These policy errors result in bigger government. Defense spending today consumes only 4 percent of GDP. It is important to understand why government spending should be reduced or why its rate of growth should be slowed. Simply stated, the federal government squanders resources when politicians spend money regardless of whether they spend it to finance by taxes or borrowing. They are taking money away from a productive sector of the economy on the basis of political rather than economic considerations.

Cell phones and driving

I'M FOR a law that bans using cell phones while driving because I had an experience where somebody just about ran over me because they were looking the other direction.

Embraceable mascot

WE NEED to change the Southeast Missouri State University nickname from Indian to something that the student body and the faculty and staff and future students can embrace and identify with. If the board of regents decides to keep the Indian name, then I think it also needs to address the issue of using the Indian name and having it on helmets and on sweatshirts in the bookstore and having it on the jerseys of our men and women athletes and also being able to let our student body cheer for the Indians.

Anti-democratic reform

TORT REFORM reveals a basic lack of trust in jurors to make wise decisions when it comes to awarding monetary damages. Thus, tort reform tends to be anti-democratic.

Accountable to God

NO, DAVID Limbaugh, we are not concerned that the president prays to God. What worries us is that he will begin to believe that he is accountable only to God, reminiscent of King Henry VIII.

It's golf math

CALL IT good old Cape Girardeau common sense. A nine-hole golf course is a waste of space, but an 18-hole course isn't.

More like 'Cats,' please

MY FAMILY saw the musical play "Cats." We have never seen anything like it. The costumes and the whole performance were great and fantastic. It was a sight to see. The Show Me Center has never had any show like that before. The Show Me Center is talking about getting more musicals and plays. It should. We are looking forward to them.