Speak Out 3/29/11

Health issue

AS usual, people have taken a health issue, not smoking in restaurants around families and children, and turned it into a political issue. Come on people. This is a health issue, not private property rights issue.

Priorities

WHY are the schools needing to cut down having the buses pick up students when they don't cut out having the buses take the students to ballgames? Also, Kelly is wanting to start football, soccer and golf. Money needs to be put toward education, not sports.

Labor camps

DON'T be fooled by proposed "right to work" legislation. Paragould, Ark., has a bunch of these little factories, or should I say mini-labor camps. Just talk to these people.

GOP and the rich

YES, we know Democrats are beholden to big labor and the working man, but what about Republicans? They're beholden to big business, big corporations, millionaires and billionaires.

Money before health

WHAT has our world come to? We're not allowed to discipline our children, we can't smoke, and we can't drink without consequences, but the government still permits the growing of tobacco and the making of alcohol. Meanwhile the tax money they receive from cigarettes and alcohol is tremendous. Again the government puts money above our health.

Obstructionists

CAN you believe liberals? They gripe about gas prices and have been against most efforts to develop our own resources.

Turf funding

SOUTHEAST put turf in Houck Stadium about 10 years ago and it now needs to be replaced at a cost over a half-million dollars because of normal wear. Since the high school field is used for football practice as well as everyday physical education classes, turf there would experience abnormal wear and require more frequent replacement. Where will that money come from?

Over taxed

CONTRARY to the thinking of the current leadership in Washington, D.C., three presidents in the last century -- Coolidge, Kennedy and Reagan -- felt that instead of taxing the workers, it's better to leave money in the workers' pockets and not take it for the government's use.

Great story

Great job on the story about the Scott County K-9 Search and Rescue unit.

Dawn of civilization

SOMEONE recently said we in this area are living in the Dark Ages. As a historian, I would beg to differ. I would say we're living in prehistoric times, at the dawn of civilization, similar to the ancient Sumerians.

Smoke breaks

WHILE in high school my child worked at a fast-food restaurant where smokers were given smoke breaks and nonsmokers got no breaks. People will quit their jobs because they aren't allowed enough smoking breaks. Yet when smokers fall behind paying bills they seem to find money for cigarettes.

Libya involvement

WITH our economy in the shape it's in, I once again ask: What are we doing in Libya?

Building deterioration

WHEN driving down Broadway and Main Street, what a sorry sight I see. Buildings that should have been torn down and demolished years ago are still standing.

Balanced budget

IT'S time for everybody to call Congress and tell them we need a balanced budget. Our government is incredibly in debt and we can't keep spending more money than we have. We've got to have a balanced budget, and then we have to start having a positive budget and paying off the debt.

Welfare fraud

IF you know someone who is taking advantage of the welfare system you can call Social Security and report them anonymously. They are stealing from all of us.

Senior's share

IT'S pretty sad senior citizens have not received a raise in their Social Security checks for two years now, and our government sends $21 million over to Japan and all these other foreign countries. It's about time senior citizens get their share.