Helping to educate

IN RESPONSE to the letter "Bills would lower state standards for anesthesiology": Thank you for printing such an informative letter on a topic that is of great importance to the public and the rest of the medical community. If these bills pass and anesthesia assistants are allowed to practice, the public has the right to know which hospital is using this group of people that could be a hazard to their well-being. Thank you for helping to educate the public.

Not a democracy

TO THE caller who equated freedom with national health care and a higher minimum wage: These are indicators of socialism, not a free democracy. I think I should be free to spend my money how I choose, not be forced to subsidize an obese, alcoholic, pack-a-day smoker with health problems of his own making. Nobody has to work for minimum wage. It might not be what you want, but that's real freedom.

Costly lawsuits

JIM DRURY is nothing if not clever. A majority of voters in 1998 approved taxes for building the River Campus as a partnership with the state and university. Drury disapproved, sued twice and lost, even being rejected by the Missouri Supreme Court. Now, his lawyer argues the city shouldn't be participating in such a project at a time when it is seeking tax increases to improve city services. That's clever on Drury's part. You know who's costing city taxpayers money? It's Drury and his frivolous lawsuits.

Treasonable action

I SAW on the news that human shields from around the world were forming in Iraq to protect Iraqi citizens. I also saw that an American English teacher from Wisconsin was one of the shields. If they can prosecute John Walker Lindh for treason, then they should also try this teacher.

Afraid to vote again

THANK YOU so much, Jim Drury. I was losing hope that the city was going to get by with robbing us. If the River Campus is supposed to be such a popular item, why are they so afraid to put it to a final vote?

Impact of casinos

HERE IS another response about casinos. Is the objective to make money for the owners or the community? Is it fair for local residents to put up with casinos affecting traffic from buses and valet parking? I agree with the other caller about being ashamed to admit going to church and casinos. Can you serve God and money? Do you tithe your income, and are tithing your winnings as well? Have you studied the local impact in those communities that have casinos? How are the other businesses doing in those areas? Is the Cape area missing out on the crimes that are attributed to gambling addiction? Do the casino owners compensate the community and individuals for such crimes?

Time for support

I WANT to say that I support our troops and President Bush in the fight against terror and with our stand against Iraq, I thank God every day that we finally have a president who will stand up to these terrorists. I hope everyone gets to read the open letter that Charlie Daniels has written to the celebrities. Yes, we all have freedom of speech, but the celebrities think their freedom matters more than that of everyday citizens. We all would much rather have peace, but we will not until Saddam Hussein and others like him are dealt with.

Giving from winnings

TO THE person who said he would be ashamed to go to church and gamble. I ask this: Would you be ashamed to go to church and sit in a comfortable pew, listen to a beautiful organ and enjoy the beautiful decorations if they were in part purchased from a gambler's winnings that were donated to the church? Please wake up and realize this happens every Sunday.

In the real world

THE DUTY of the principal, teachers and parents is to teach students how to learn, survive and live in society and to lead them to make something out of themselves. It is not the principal's job to tell a student how to wear his hair. However, mohawks and colored hair can cause a distraction to other students. A student's job is to know why he is in school. If students wish to live outside the normal population, it should be on their own free time as long as it doesn't interfere or hurt others. Lynch should be thanked and commended for caring enough to tell students what's expected in the real world.

Name calling

IF DAN Rather is a member of the fifth column (code word for communist), then Sean Hannity is a crypto-fascist.