Speak Out 10/10/07

Importance of life

THE SPEAK OUT fusillade against "Funky Winkerbean" told me the caller needs to be reminded of Oscar Wilde's dictum that "Life is too important to be taken seriously."

Right lane, left lane

THE "MOVE over, it's the law" bumper sticker and the concept is stupid. If, as is usually the case, the outside (right) lane of traffic is moving at the speed limit, that means the drivers on the inside (left) lane are breaking the law by speeding but obeying the law by using the lane for passing. Right? Common sense tells us that if most motorists drive the speed limit and stay in the outside lane, the inside lane becomes redundant and useless except for dodging people slowing down to turn off the street and the many people turning onto the street causing near-accidents. Does anyone know what the original intent of the extra lanes was? Perhaps to keep traffic flowing, especially during rush hours.

Foxes at the hen house

IT DOES not surprise me that the Department of Agriculture could not find the source of genetically engineered rice that got into our food supply. The department is headed by former ag industry execs. It makes you wonder whose payroll they are on. This is happening with all our government agencies. What is good for industry takes precedence over what is good for the average citizen. We must demand from our elected officials they appoint watchdogs looking out for us, not foxes guarding the hen house.

Cheap rent

WHAT IS the first thing you see when you approach Scott City from the interstate? Rundown mobile homes. People relocate to Scott City because of the cheap rent. Take a drive through Scott City and count how many mobile homes should be demolished. I am sure the number would be in the hundreds.

Landslide loss

IN SUPPORTING President Bush's veto of a child health-care spending bill, the Republican candidates for president risk losing the White House by a landslide.

March to socialism

I MUST confess that I'm a bit surprised with Gary Rust's recommended reading list. His selections are mostly from the mainstream, popular category of publications. I would have thought that as capitalism faces the probability of more regulation, Rust would have recommended rigorously intellectual classics by Friedrich Von Hayek, Ludwig Von Mises, Milton Friedman, Adam Smith and those with a similar (if wrongheaded) view of economics to try to slow down, if not stop, our nation's wonderfully inevitable march toward European-style democratic socialism.

Scandal on the right

THE APPARENT scandal involving Richard Roberts, son of televangelist Oral Roberts, is one more nail in the coffin of the once politically powerful religious right. That it has been marginalized to the point that it will be of little influence or significance in the presidential election of 2008 something to behold. All I can say is, praise the Lord.

Funding history

IT IS a real shame about the Reynolds House. The last time I was in the Glenn House, it wasn't in the best shape either. I do not see why the city does not put some money into these two historical landmarks. They're more than willing to waste our money on things we can do without or give it to the university. Why not give the historical society a grant? I would rather see my city taxes go to that than Southeast Missouri State University, which gets my state taxes.

Free Health Care

He has what it takes

For inexplicable aches.

I kid you not,

Just write Dr. Gott

Wasting road money

WHY WASTE the taxpayers money on chip and seal? I live in northern Cape Girardeau County, and I would rather have the roads done right the first time instead of wasting money on the chip and seal that does not work and obviously nobody wants except the county commissioners. They say they listen to the community. Get real. Live on a gravel road, and you will quickly learn that listening is not what they do best.

It doesn't work

CHIP AND seal does not work. I have driven on Perry County roads where it has been used. It is unsuccessful, and the roads are horrible. The county promised that roads that have all the easements from the landowners signed would bump the roads that didn't. My road has all the signatures. Why aren't we being considered instead of County Road 380? All the signatures where obtained for my road. We asked for assistance. We got nowhere, and are still getting nowhere. We asked for someone to tell us what fences need to be moved and what trees need to come down to help with the road preparation, but no one will answer. Calls are being made, but no answers are being heard.

Burning fields

THE GOVERNMENT is after people for polluting the air with factories, but it lets farmers burn their fields. Nobody's putting more smoke in the air than what the farmers are doing. Years ago the farmer didn't do that. He turned that ground under, and he didn't have to use as much fertilizer. Farmers shouldn't be allowed to burn fields.

Government corruption

I'M SEEING where a lot of federal legislators are complaining about corruption in the Iraq government. I don't like the corruption over there one bit. But how can our Congress fuss about another government having corruption with all the corruption in Washington? This blows my mind. They should turn the sword around and point at themselves.

Interest in science

JASON LINDSEY, the KFVS weatherman, has just proved that one person can make a difference. He has certainly increased the interest of school children and others in science. Keep up the good work, Jason.

Charity at home

I'M SADDENED by the actions and attitudes of children whose parents are frail and elderly. These parents would so much appreciate an hour or two of their child's time to do chores that they cannot physically do themselves anymore. Yet the children never offer and, if asked, balk at the notion. Yet these same children will, through their church, spend entire days helping strangers do the very same things that their own parents need. Does charity begin at home?

Nothing new

THE SOUTHEAST Missourian ran a story on Cape Girardeau's public schools aligning their curriculum and talked about testing. Aligning the curriculum is not new. As a former teacher, I can assure you that the curriculum should have always been aligned in a document called "Scope and Sequence." Scope covers what is being taught. Sequence explains at what grade level and what order it's taught. This is another example of administrators coming up with what they call the newest thing, which is really something old with a new name. They are wasting teacher time on stuff they already know how to do and calling it something new. It's ridiculous. "Scope and Sequence" has been around for more than 30 years. The only way to test curriculum alignment is to watch what the teachers are doing and make sure it's lined up.

Art won't work

Although the Community Counseling Center is offering an art exhibit to highlight the work of some of the patients, it will not change the views of those living nearby who do not want a live-in apartment building in the area. There were other issues in this matter. It was not about the people with mental problems. The public does appreciate the work the center does, but having events like an art exhibit to try soften up the public's view will not work.