OpinionFebruary 21, 2010
Speak Out 2/21/10
WHEN did schools take out recess? I have three grandchildren in the Cape Girardeau School District, and they have never mentioned this to me. I resent being called riffraff because I go to a casino. PLEASE, remember to say a prayer for those who go out in bad weather for long hours while the rest of us hurry home to safety, food and warmth...
Recess gone?
WHEN did schools take out recess? I have three grandchildren in the Cape Girardeau School District, and they have never mentioned this to me.
No riffraff
I resent being called riffraff because I go to a casino.
Say a prayer
PLEASE, remember to say a prayer for those who go out in bad weather for long hours while the rest of us hurry home to safety, food and warmth.
Castle doctrine
IN response to the story "Missouri's 'castle doctrine' tested": If you can't protect your own life and property, we're already in trouble. What if we looked at our country like the coroner's jury: the price is too high and we can't take that chance. Sometimes you only have one chance. If you want someone to make a decision on someone's life, that person's to be educated about the problem at hand.
Thanks for ATM card
MANY thanks to the person who turned in my ATM card, which I left in the machine. May God bless you.
It makes sense
THERE'S been a lot of confusing information about big government and the deficit. But after reading these pages for a while, I think I've got it all figured out. Government waste is spending on pretty much anything that doesn't benefit me. Government needs to stay out of health care, especially if it threatens my Medicare benefits. Stimulus spending across the river is pork. Stimulus spending here is our tax money working locally. We need a simplified tax code, meaning my tax rate goes down plus I keep my deduction. Now that I've got that all figured out, I'm going to turn my brilliance to politics.
Disabled drivers
REGARDING those who receive disability assistance but still drive cars: What about drivers who are on disability due to the fact that they cannot drive to work but are allowed to keep their licenses? I'd trade places with you anytime. I would give you my emphysema and lupus if I could, I would give you my ulcers in my leg if I could. I think I have as much right to drive a car as you do. I worked all my life. I paid into Social Security, and that's my pension. Now you want to take my driver's license away from me. Shame on you.
Holiday equality
I have a freshman at Southeast Missouri State University. I was shocked when I found out that the university was going to have school on President's Day, especially in light of the fact students get out for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The university honors an individual who had a great impact on our country yet doesn't recognize a day that honors all the men who have served our country as president. I don't understand that. Where is the equality?
Teenage problems
IT is sad that teenage drinking is occurring in all schools, both private and public. Alcohol is a bad problem, but drug use is a much worse problem. Parents and teachers, please don't keep your head buried in the sand or look the other way. We know these problems are here. You may not want to believe it, but it is so true. Please address these problems, especially the drug abuse. It is so addictive. It kills. Speak out about these problems.
Bring back Oop
REGARDING the comics: "Born Loser" was a good selection, but there's a lot of us older people who grew up with "Alley Oop." People at the coffee shop were almost unanimous in favor of that comic, but we don't have computers to make our voices heard. Consider putting "Alley Oop" in.
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More drug tests
I think it's a good thing to drug-test anybody who gets state money. I think it ought to go further. Any state worker drawing state funds ought to be drug-tested randomly. If they're on drugs, they should be booted out.
Bond issues
I have studied the Cape Girardeau School District's proposed $40 million bond issue proposal pretty closely, and there are several issues I don't understand. Since moving to the new Central High School in 2002, the district has experienced basically zero student growth. In fact, the high school has lost enrollment. So it's hard for me to understand how CHS needs 16 new classrooms. There's ample space within the district to house the current student population with some imagination. The district could remodel certain buildings at a cost far less than $40 million. I wish the news media would take a closer look at all the options available. It's much cheaper to continue to play at Houck Stadium than it is to build its own football stadium. Until the school board resets the grade configuration and uses the space it has more wisely, I will not vote for the bond proposal.
Mountain rescues
I will never understand why people feel they have to climb mountains. To each his own, but why should the taxpayers foot the cost of a rescue? And what about their families?
No flags needed
I don't think the Marquette Tower needs a state flag or a U.S. flag. We know there are government offices in the building. We don't need a flag to tell us that we're in the United States. There are better ways to spend taxpayer money to help people.
Help at home
REGARDING the catastrophe in Haiti and all the people who are willing to pitch in and help: It makes me proud to be a citizen of the United States, knowing how people can come together and help other people. That speaks from the heart of how people understand other people going through hard times. What aggravates me is this: We're quick in the United States about helping other people, but what about the people in the United States? While we're helping people in Haiti our own country is going downhill fast. We have older people who can't afford health care. We have young people who can't afford health care. We have a lot of people in our country out of work. They say things are turning around. Ask the people who still don't have jobs. They'll tell you the economy hasn't turned around. Why can't we help people in our own country first? Who's going to help our U.S. citizens?
City priorities
I appreciate everything city workers are doing to keep roads safe. Now I hear we're running out of salt. We've had two snows. Why are we building a water park if we can't afford to take care of our streets in the winter? Let's take care of our city before we take on more.
What we need
I don't think money or the lack of it should be our No. 1 priority in this country. I think what we need is a quality-of-life bill. We need the FCC to clean up the communications and all of the media. We need to eliminate drug use. We need help for the homeless. We need to stop state-sponsored gambling. We need to focus efforts on stopping pollution of the air, land and water. We need social programs for children at risk of dropping out of school. In short, we need to clean house.
Larger classes
SOME people are saying things about Cape Girardeau's school but don't have a clue what they're talking about. One person asked how class sizes could be made smaller if we don't have more room? That could be done quite easily by getting rid of some of the fluff classes. At Central High School, my son has study hall. To get to this study hall, you have to be in advanced classes. There are only a few students sitting in the library doing homework. Either add more students or get rid of that study hall. Until this is done, I'm not voting for a bond issue.
Motocross model
I'D just like to say that was a great story about a local boy, Vince Friese, who's made it in motocross. I know Vince, and he is down to earth and a good role model for children. I wish Vince all the best of luck and safety. It's a dangerous sport.
Smoking sense
IF you want to smoke, you can stay at home. I had two parents who smoked. When I tried it at 13, I had enough sense to realize that breathing in smoke, smelling like an ashtray and having yellow teeth is not too bright.
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