Speak Out 12/29/03

Taxing support

I DON'T understand why cities smaller than Cape Girardeau seem to be able to handle their fire and police money problems OK, but every time Cape needs something for its fire or police departments, it expects to go to the voters for help. What gives?

For the flag too

FOR ANYONE to even remotely imply that state Rep Jason Crowell and state Rep. Rod Jetton are taking a courageous and controversial stand and are at odds with their constituency by proposing a state constitutional ban on gay marriage is beyond comprehension. Around here, this proposal is comparable to coming out in favor of the flag.

Shifting directions

THE REPUBLICAN Party is doing very well. This is because on the big issues, the economy and foreign policy, the Republican Party has moved substantially to the traditional left. Conservative pundits want you to believe it is because the general population has shifted to the right. Not true.

Anti-white racism

IF THE disgusting racist comments made by Carmento Floyd would have been made by a white university president's wife, Jesse Jackson himself would have been down here demanding a resignation. I think it is time to recognize just how much this kind of racism against whites occurs today. If you want your 21st century, quit supporting racist views.

Contradictory debate

POOR RUSH Limbaugh. First he spends years berating the justice system for being too soft on criminals, then he tries to use that system to block a criminal investigation of his behavior. First he berates the Clintons for arguing that a conservative conspiracy was behind the impeachment process, then he argues that a liberal conspiracy is behind the investigation of his drug abuse. First he berates people who call themselves victims, then he argues that he is a victim.

Bright young voice

I THINK the Southeast Missourian's new addition to Voices of 2morrow, Emily Hendricks, is a very talented young writer. Her column about what she has learned was hilarious. She seems like a smart, funny and down-to-earth girl. I look forward to reading her work in the future.

Minimize the cuts

IT IS unreasonable that folks in Cape Girardeau are complaining about a few minor cuts in the school system when Colorado is considering eliminating the senior year of high school, Washington has cut full-day kindergarten and Alaska is considering charging students for bus rides to school. We should support superintendent Mark Bowles in his efforts to minimize the impact of the budget crunch on educational programs.

The real targets

THANKS, ROD Jetton and Jason Crowell, for taking your stand against gay marriage. Why don't you now do something to protect the real attack on the sanctity of Christian marriage, the unabashed, philandering heterosexuals who commit adultery and divorce? Both of are prohibited in Scripture.

Lumpy tires

TO THE person who crossed the new bridge and was surprised at how bumpy and uneven the road was: I cross that bridge every day. It's neither bumpy nor uneven. I think you need to get your tires checked.

Not squeaky clean

I READ in the Missourian a couple days ago that Israel's elite army reservists refused to serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip because of Israel's hard-fisted policy that is depriving Palestinians of human rights and endangering the fate of Israel as a democratic Jewish country. I guess there's a little bit of Saddam Hussein in every leader, but we support Israel. I think it should be known that they are not squeaky clean either.

Costly holidays

IF THE taxpayers of this state haven't gotten sick and tired of Gov. Bob Holden by now, they should look at the front page of the Southeast Missourian. This man has taken millions of dollars away from education. He has taken money away from your kids so we have to cut core subjects, lose teachers and have 30 or more kids in the classroom. Yet he gave two paid holidays to state employees, the Friday after Thanksgiving and the Friday after Christmas at a cost of $4.66 million apiece. This man took money away from your kids to give employees two days off. I am shocked and appalled, and I hope the voters let him know exactly how we feel. Unfortunately, the damage he's doing to our kids and to our school systems is still going to be done, and it's going to take years for us to undo the damage.

Hurting our children

I CHOSE to go into teaching. I love what I do, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. We are four and half months into the school year, and I've already spent almost $300 of my own money for classroom materials directly related to student achievement because my district doesn't have any money. I also do without basic materials and supplies. I have not had a raise in two years, and I probably won't get one next year. Still, I would become a teacher again because I love what I do. But it absolutely infuriates me to read on the front page of the Missourian where it says that Gov. Bob Holden felt strongly he should give state employees extra paid holidays costing over $9 million as a way of acknowledging that state workers are having to do more with less. I am doing more and more with less. Do you see Holden giving our kids any advantages? This governor has hurt our children in more ways than you can imagine.

Selective banning

WHAT HAS our nation come to when the courts have banned the Ten Commandments but do not ban Penthouse magazine?

Always griping

I THINK the new bridge is wonderful and thank everyone who made it possible. The Speak Out caller who said the new bridge was rough would have griped if it was lined with gold and smooth as silk.

A good move

THIS IS in regard to the paid holidays for state employees. This is the first time in 20 years most state employees have received extra time off at Christmas. Most state employees earn less than schoolteachers. School is closed for two full weeks for Christmas, and schoolteachers are also paid by the taxpayers. They also get off most of the summer plus spring and fall breaks. Most state jobs are thankless with none of the perks available to people working in the private sector. All in all, the extra day may generate more revenue for the state. These 56,000 state employees will be able to do more traveling, shopping and dining out with this extended weekend than they could have with a single day off in the middle of the week. Kudos to Gov. Bob Holden.

Thanks to Toybox

I WOULD like to thank everybody who helped with Toybox. If it wasn't for Toybox, we wouldn't have anything. I want to thank everybody. You truly are a godsend. Bless everybody.