Speak Out A 05/21/03

Sirens save lives

SIRENS ARE a good way of warning about storms. Anyone who thinks differently has never been saved by them. I do not stay inside all day long and watch TV. If I listen to the music, it is CDs, never the radio. So for people like me, sirens save lives.

Stop wasting money

IF OUR government would stop sending billions of dollars to foreign countries and wasting billions more on unneeded projects in our country, it would have enough to pay all the bills and give all the taxpayers a big break.

Let us enjoy summer

FOR ALL of us who were living in Cape Girardeau last year as the high school was being completed, and for those of us who lived through the numerous snow days, we are not questioning why school is running late this year. It is obvious. What we are questioning is why in the world school is resuming so early in August. This is absolutely ridiculous to have the students sitting in a school room in the middle of the summer. I would rather see my children start school later, go to class on Columbus Day, Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Day and every other non-family oriented holiday and then get out around the end of May. Families plan vacations, camp, family reunions and other activities in the summer. Let the children enjoy the time as we did when we were their age.

They just don't get it

Prestwick promoters want fewer tax dollars

To reach their development dream.

But that's not why the public hollers.

It's the principle of the thing.

Responsible noise

TO THE young person who loves to make as much noise as possible: You scare the living to death when you come up beside or behind us and crank up your stereo system. Go to a secluded area, roll up your windows, max out the volume and enjoy. Or you could get a life and act responsibly. No music should be heard outside a vehicle or should it be so loud that the vehicle vibrates.

Individual responsibility

IF THE firearms industry were allowed to be sued over the manufacture of firearms, claiming violent acts were committed with gun products, then the liquor industry would be next for drunken drivers killing people from their products. And on and on, lawsuits and lawsuits, making lawyers billionaires. Individuals are responsible for their negligent criminal actions.

Time to deliver

PRESIDENT BUSH is so popular that I hate to put a damper on Republicans. But when are they going to locate those weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, if there ever were any? And what about these 43 million Americans who have no health insurance? Bush has had almost three years in office. Also, what about these people who are out of work? When is Bush going to start delivering?

Confusing choice

I'M CALLING regarding the movie on CBS about Hitler. I think this is despicable. I cannot believe CBS would lower itself to show the evil that this man did. What about all of the people who survived the Holocaust? What is this doing to them, reliving the torture and the old wounds? CBS took "Touched by an Angel" off the air, which talked about God and showed the goodness in people. Then it features the evil of a man who isn't even worthy of being spit upon.

Prudent spending

AFTER READING the editorial about the state budget, I would like to correct one thing. The editorial says it's the unreliability of financial forecasts that creates problems. That is not true. The problem is spending more money than we have and betting on more to come. That is typical of government. If states would do like most people do and spend money based on what they know they will have, there wouldn't be problems.