Speak Out 2/24/07

Parade planning

I LOVE Mardi Gras. I wish I could join in. But holding the parade at 9 p.m. on a work night is impossible. Couldn't we have done this earlier in the day? And how about some advance notice? One day to arrange to attend isn't enough.

Caring person

THIS IS in response to the article about Bell City. One person involved, Joe Bowling, tried to do something to help a kid, and in doing so he lost everything he had. Bell City School District, however, is cashing in on this young man's talent. I think the focus of this story should be about Bowling making a wonderful gesture and how greedy people in Bell City have now spoiled his efforts. We need more caring people like Bowling.

Underfunded area

FOR YEARS roads in Southern Illinois have suffered, Illinois Department of Transportation crews in southern counties are underfunded and undersupplied. Sheriff's departments are not primary traffic-enforcement agencies, Still, local sheriff's departments in the south are forced to run radar more than they should in order to issue tickets to generate revenue -- if they have a patrol car in good enough condition to catch up to you.

Cutting taxes

I READ about the tax break President Bush wants extended for the wealthiest Americans. The wealthiest 130,000 in this country make more than the next $120 billion put together. Why do they need a tax break? A lot of these people inherited their fortune, so now we come to the estate tax, which Republicans call the death tax. The estate tax was to cut into inherited money and keep a distribution of wealth which has caused many revolutions. Come on, Americans. Let's get some of that money back to reduce the debt and cut taxes to the working men and women of this country.

Attending meetings

I WOULD like to know what city meetings in Chaffee, Mo., are for? From my understanding, anyone can attend them. So what makes it all right for Chaffee to make four people leave in the middle of the meeting? What has this town come to?

Sweet deal

SO LET me get this straight. The citizens of Cape Girardeau get to pay an extra $34 a year for a new library-coffee bar-computer-day care, but a private business developer will get a $2.5 million tax break to fix up the Sears building at a profit? Sweet.

Squinting eyes

MAYOR JAY Knudtson is at it again, making foolish statements about things he knows little about. Cape Girardeau residents don't need to squint their eyes to see what the Town Plaza could become, because we have lived here and know what the Town Plaza was at one time. Give me $2 million and I'll be more than happy to rehab the Sears building too.

Hiring questions

CAPE GIRARDEAU County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones wants us hayseed hicks who live in rural areas to believe that he hired Robb McClary as an assistant to the commission to knock on residents' doors to obtain easements in order to pave the county's gravel roads. County residents don't need someone as qualified as McClary to charm our socks off. McClary is a seasoned city planner who has held jobs in many cities as city administrator or city planner. All that talent isn't going to be wasted with knocking on doors. Come on. commissioners, what is really going on? And why was McClary the only person who interviewed for this unpublished job opening?

Moron insurance

I THINK a person who doesn't want to wear a seat belt shouldn't be required to. I think he should have to fill out an obituary, get special insurance for morons. In a state where we're killing more people per capita than our neighboring state by a large amount, there's something wrong.

Jail cruelty

I AGREE that inmates shouldn't have privileges, and I couldn't care less if they are fed only bread and water. But I think it is terribly wrong that they cannot have toilet paper and tooth brushes if they don't have money to pay for them. That is not a punishment. That is inhumane cruelty.

Valid points

WHAT'S SAD is that there is a lot of common ground that is missed because both liberal and conservative sides of the global-warming debate are so set in their ways and arguments. Ultimately, though, the issue is a human issue. because neither side can be 100 percent sure of the causes. It could be a completely natural phenomenon. Or it could be partially caused by the 6 billion humans and the technology/industry we've developed. Both sides have some very valid points.

Business sitters

"LINING THEIR pockets" is the reason successful people went into business in the first place. They took risks to better themselves. Business people today are forced to be baby-sitters. Why is it up to business owners to provide insurance and withhold and pay child support and garnishments?

Seat-belt accord

I WILL agree with the people who say they have a right to drive without a seat belt when they agree that an insurance company has the right to refuse to pay their medical bills and Social Security has the right to refuse to pay disability when they're seriously injured while not wearing one.