Speak Out 03/14/03

Wait for better economy

THE CAPE Girardeau Chamber of Commerce board recommended that the city council reduce or eliminate those taxes that are to be increased if the economy improves. I think that they ought to wait to pass the tax when the economy improves. People cannot afford a higher tax, especially right now in this type of economy. People are more willing to vote for a tax increase if the economy is doing good. Say no to new taxes.

Another politician

IT DOESN'T take Jason Crowell long to forget who put him in office. He pigeon-holed the no-call bill. He's turned out just to be another politician.

Lower taxes instead

THE CAPE Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has endorsed higher taxes for the residents, property owners and shoppers of Cape Girardeau. It is surprising that an organization whose most important function is to bring new business to Cape and to help enhance existing business is supporting higher taxes. Doesn't the chamber know the fundamentals of Economics 101? These higher taxes stifle new business and put a strain on existing businesses. Higher taxes cause less spending. What is needed are lower taxes that would encourage consumers to spend more. When they spend more, the profit margins for businesses increase and more tax revenue is generated.

City could sell property

TO REDUCE the need for new taxes, the city needs to sell its prime property where the public works department is located on North Kingshighway. This a prime piece of real estate. The city doesn't need a public works building on such a valuable piece of property. Sell the property, build a new building somewhere else at much lower cost and keep the need for new taxes down.

Laughter is good

I WAS shocked to read a recent comment in which a person protested having heard laughter in the office of a high school administrator. Laughter is an indication the administrator might be enjoying his job. What's the problem with enjoying your job or trying to bring a little happiness into a high school?

They have a point

IN A way, you can understand why many Muslim countries don't want the western type of government and morals in their country. Maybe they don't want abortion on demand, living together without marriage, unmarried women with four or five kids on welfare, gay parades and marriages, an entertainment industry consumed with sex and violence, prisons full of rapists and murderers, prostitution, legal gambling and an epidemic of AIDS and other diseases. We claim we're a Christian nation. The Muslim countries may have a point.

Taxes aren't temporary

THE FRONT page with the story about the chamber's tax endorsement was good for my morning chuckle. The chamber says it OKs the tax package so long as the taxes disappear when the economy gets better. When was the last time you saw a proposal on any ballot anywhere to repeal a tax? How naive can the chamber be, and just how naive do they think the voters are? OK, so we naive. We've proven it many times. But help me here. Isn't part of the tax package the extension of a tax that was supposed to expire? There's nothing more permanent than a temporary tax.

Accept the results

TO ALL those folks who have been clamoring in Speak Out for another vote on the River Campus: It was already put to a vote four years ago. It's time to accept the results of that election.

Help out at home

I WAS glad to hear that our government is going to reduce Iraq's unemployment rate after the war. I hope that not too long after that they get around to reducing ours.