Speak Out 3/7/06

Political science

WHILE IT may be true that paying money under the table may not be a crime as long as some form was filled out, it certainly doesn't pass the moral test. When Gov. Matt Blunt initially asked state Sen. Jason Crowell how he stood on funding for the River Campus at Southeast Missouri State University, and when House Speaker Rod Jetton knew he needed political support later, they both were chained to each other. They will be studying this one in political science classes for a long time.

No friend to women

JASON CROWELL is no friend to women. If I am raped, I don't want to carry a baby I didn't consent to having. If there is incest in the home, a young girl shouldn't be subjected to having that baby because her dad or brother is some sort of pervert.

Plea for enforcement

I'M FROM Oran, Mo., and proud of it. At least that is what I used to say. How can so many people in this little town be so naive to think there isn't a problem with drugs and alcohol? Members of the Better Business Committee, of all people, should support a police chief who protects their businesses and families. Oran is no better than Benton, Chaffee or Morley, so why should we be exempt from having laws enforced? People are no longer going to church as a family. Instead, they are doing drugs and drinking as a family. Twenty years ago we didn't need law enforcement like we so desperately need it today. We must realize times and people have changed. I have lived with drugs and alcohol in my family, and I'm here to tell you they'll tear a family apart quicker than anything. It's a lot harder to get your family back than it was to get my hands of drugs and alcohol in my little hometown.

Spreading germs

BUSINESSES, especially restaurants, need to encourage their employees to stay home when they are sick. I went to a fast-food restaurant and the woman who handled my food and my change told me how sick she was. When I asked why she didn't stay home, she said her boss wouldn't let her off. This is the quickest way for an illness to become a pandemic.

Mixed-up orders

I HAVE more than 20 years of experience in food service. The No. 1 reason fast-food workers don't get your orders straight is because the restaurants hire kids who don't care if your order is correct. With more than 100 restaurants in Cape Girardeau, it's extremely hard to find good workers.

Economic impact

STUDENTS OVERESTIMATE how much Southeast Missouri State University does for Cape Girardeau. There are other things that create malls and restaurants. The restaurants aren't coming because the university is here but because big employers such as Procter & Gamble are here with employees who can afford to put out the money. Of course the university helps the economy. But don't overestimate yourself.

Poor service

DOWNTOWN CAPE Girardeau will never flourish unless it has better service. I went to a downtown restaurant, and one of the women serving us left to pick up her daughter from school. How can businesses flourish without some effort made to serve all customers who walk through the door?

Playing race card

MANY KUDOS to conservative columnist Michelle Malkin for exposing right-wing conservatives as playing the race card in the Dubai port deal.

Nail on the head

DON GREENWOOD'S editorial cartoon about hurricane relief hit the nail on the head. The irresponsible head of the family sits on his butt after six months of living rent-free and waiting on the government to give him yet another place to stay, awash with self-pity that he should be cared for before Iraqis in much worse shape. Greenwood captures the root problem: Liberals have conditioned needy people to think their hope is government. And we thought Greenwood was a liberal.

A great start

IT'S MONDAY. This means I will open the Southeast Missourian to read my two most favorite writers, Chris Pagano and her "Faces and Places," and Scott Moyers' "BizBuzz" business column. What a great way to start my day.

No comparison

TO COMPARE pedophiles with homosexuality is insane. Two consenting adults versus an adult and an innocent child? There is no comparison. Many years ago homosexuality was accepted. History proves that. Yet modern society chooses to make these good people outcasts. We are just now catching up with history. Child molesters will never be accepted no matter what caused them to be the way they are.

Good reasons

I SEE the Missouri Senate gave initial approval to abolishing state vehicle inspections. The main reason, it seems, is because the inspections are a pain for motorists. Driving the speed limit, using my blinker and stopping at stop signs are also a pain. Let's do away with all this while we are at it. Vehicle inspections are as important as all of these because they keep unsafe cars off the road.

Don't need government

IT SHOULD be a business owner's right to decide whether or not to allow smoking. And it is our right to decide whether or not to frequent smoking restaurants. Why is it that we want our government to set rules, such as no smoking in private business places, when we could solve that problem ourselves by making our own choices?