Speak Out A 07/20/03

Moralizing column

IT'S SO nice that Scott Moyers has taken his "Bizz Buzz" column to a higher level. Apparently Moyers has appointed himself protector of the city slogan campaign. His ability to moralize without actually telling his readers about new businesses, closing businesses or promotions of importance is amazing. I've always wanted to read a business column that chastised its readers for having an opinion that differed from the columnist's. Keep up the good work.

Too early or too late

TO THE individual complaining about when Cape Girardeau schools start: You cannot make everyone happy. If schools started later in the year, people would be griping that they go too late in the summer.

Dangerous bottle rockets

I DISAGREE with the individuals who say Jackson shouldn't outlaw bottle rockets. I think it is a step in the right direction. In the neighborhood where I live, parents do not supervise their children setting off bottle rockets. Children on the adjacent street where shooting bottle rockets at the individuals taking their evening walks before dark.

Need jobs, not tourism

SCOTT MOYERS IS wrong. The proof is in the online poll. The majority of Capes citizens would vote no to hire an outside consultant to help with a slogan for Cape Girardeau. The idea is ridiculous. The city council should be ashamed for even considering spending this kind of money. What our city needs is more and better job opportunities with decent wages. Tourists will not help Cape grow. New business will.

Spending to make money

I'M GLAD to see the CVB spending the $42,000 on a slogan campaign. People in this city need to move into at least the 1980s. You need to spend money to bring in more money.

Not the best light

I WOULD discourage Cape Girardeau from becoming too dependent upon use of the new bridge as a symbol or motto for our city, at least until the new bridge actually connects to something useful like an interstate highway. At the moment, the new bridge would have to be described as the gateway to a honky-tonk and a girlie bar. That's not the best light to shine on our city.

Special welfare

I WAS surprised by the Southeast Missourian's positive portrayal of the Delta Regional Authority. I thought the editorial staff opposed welfare programs. I guess welfare programs for corporations are OK. It's only welfare for human beings which is to be opposed.

For big government

A COMMENT said conservatives have "gutted much needed government services at all levels and are determined to do even more damage." The hypothesis was that this would supposedly usher in some new halcyon days for "progressives." I wonder if that caller can point out any programs Republicans have actually cut. If anything, they spend more than the Democrats. Such sky-is-falling rhetoric ignores the fact that modern conservatives and liberals are both liberal when it comes to big government.

Make a movie

BEFORE SPENDING $3.8 million to bring down the old Mississippi River bridge in Cape Girardeau, perhaps the state should contact some Hollywood movie moguls to see if they would want to do the demolition as a possible scene in movie.

A human problem

I HAVE been hearing a lot of talk about banning bottle rockets in Jackson. I agree that bottle rockets can be dangerous. I have been injured by them. Whenever I have been injured, it has always been because some human was acting recklessly. I wonder if Jackson will next think of banning guns. I hear humans kill other humans with them.