Speak Out 7/30/05

Hot dogs, no water

ON MISSOURI and Stoddard streets, there are some dogs out in the heat, and they don't have a bit of water. I was wondering if someone from the humane society would check on these dogs.

Lack of advertising

I'M READING about the closing of the last shoe factory in Cape Girardeau. I had not seen any advertising about Cape Shoe Co.'s products being made here. I had no way of knowing where to get the company's shoes. I would have bought some even if they had been more expensive, but I didn't have the opportunity. People doing something like this should let people know about it so they could support it.

Look to the future

NOTHING WILL make sense in Cairo, Ill., until people stop bringing up the past and start trying to improve the future. Where in your front-page article is there one constructive suggestion from anyone? Finding fault is so easy. We all know about hindsight. Putting forth effort to help preserve and maintain seems to be something that is beyond many people's comprehension.

Park restrooms

WE RECENTLY had our annual family reunion at the Kiwanis Park in Cape Girardeau. The park is beautiful and well taken care of. We love this park, but additional restrooms are needed near shelter No. 3. We have small children and elderly people who attend our reunion, and the restrooms are too far away. I'm sure others using this park would appreciate this added convenience.

Government intrusion

REGARDING THE new government rules for getting your driver's license renewed: We're slowly getting our rights taken away. Our driver's licenses are a part of our privacy. The government doesn't need to know any more about us than it already does. We shouldn't have to do anything but take our old driver's license and the paper from Jefferson City to get our license renewed. This is ridiculous. It's another way of the government controlling us.

Older drivers

I HAVE worked with the elderly for several years. I have met many and driven behind many who do not need to be driving. If a person is too old to find a birth certificate, maybe that person should not be on the road.

Stricter laws

I AM happy with the new licensing rules. Yes, it may take us more time and effort to renew our license, but it is worth it. When the terrorists crashed planes into our buildings, we demanded tougher laws. How soon we forget.

Happy to comply

WHY ALL the crying about having to prove who you are before being issued a driver's license? In California, where the illegal immigrant population threatens to overrun the state, motorists would be glad to present a birth certificate when applying to the state government to legally operate a motor vehicle. And because a driver's license is accepted as proof of identity in so many situations, stringent controls on who may have one only makes sense.