OpinionDecember 10, 2007
Speak Out 12/10/07
Farm subsidies; Appropriate separation; Doctors' scheduling; Purses in cars; Too much PC; Comparing scores; GOP outrage; Defensive reaction; War ratings; Imperial presidency; Presidential wars; Guardian angel; Get it right; Religious mindsFarm subsidies
THE REASON farm subsidies are complicated is because the Washington pols don't want nonrecipients of our tax dollars to figure out how much of our money is going to farmers. However, folks are rapidly figuring out what many believe to be little short of a scam. The jig's about up.
Appropriate separation
MITT ROMNEY gave one of the greatest speeches in U.S. history on the appropriate degree of separation of religious beliefs from politics. It should (but won't) silence forever the likes of Mike Huckabee, his hucksters and his sycophants who subtly continue attempts to sever the sensible separation of church and state as intended by the Founding Fathers.
Doctors' scheduling
I RECENTLY tried to make an appointment at a physician's office. I questioned the receptionist about wait time. She said, "We schedule 10 minutes for every patient." There is no way a doctor can listen to you and you exchange information in 10 minutes. I'm tired of doctors who try to maximize their income dollars instead of maximizing their patient's good health.
Purses in cars
IT WAS unfortunate that those women's purses were stolen after their cars were broken into while they were attending church. I have tried for a long time to get my wife to see that leaving her purse in her car, which she does often, does nothing but give a thief an invitation to break into it. Two good things came from this experience. The women say they learned to forgive these thieves. And more women will learn not to leave their purses in cars.
Too much PC
THIS IDEA that I cannot use a word or phrase because it might offend or frighten someone is wrong. My freedom to speak is not overruled by your perception of what I say. If I'm not speaking directly to you, mind your own business. And stop instilling fear of words in our children. We should all be polite and try not to intentionally use words that hurt others. But this political-correctness overreacting to words overheard and taken without context is ridiculous.
Comparing scores
I NOTICED where science and math scores for U.S. students dropped in comparison to 29 other industrialized nations. Relative to these countries, the U.S. ranks in the mid-20s on both math and science. I think it was an overreaction leading to a well-deserved reprimand when a U.S. teacher allegedly wrote on a student's report card, "Your student has a full six-pack, but the plastic holding it all together is missing."
GOP outrage
WILL MEMBERS of the GOP express outrage over the Willie Hortonization of Mike Huckabee, who is accused of securing the pardon of a rapist who later raped and killed two Missourians? They didn't when Michael Dukakis was outed in similar fashion.
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Defensive reaction
THIS IS scary stuff. We finally get good news in the sense that all U.S. intelligence agencies agree that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program years ago. However, what does President Bush do? He seems defensive about what we should be celebrating. Worse, he appears to have lapsed into his pre-Iraq invasion mode.
War ratings
PRESIDENT BUSH has a low approval rating, mainly because of his war. Congress has an even lower approval rating, because it won't do anything to stop the war. The presidential candidates better take heed.
Imperial presidency
I WANT to thank the Bush administration and his courts for establishing an imperial presidency. Hillary Clinton will be able to do wonders over the next eight years with this power.
Presidential wars
HERE WE go again. The intelligence has Iran shutting down its nuclear program in 2003, but the president says it could be faulty intelligence. This is Iraq all over again, but the neocons continue to back him with all they have. When will Southeast Missouri wake up to this cowboy and call it like it is? He's a warmonger.
Guardian angel
THIS IS for my little guardian angel. I don't know the woman's name, but she drove me from Cape Radiology Group Nov. 30 to the emergency room at Saint Francis Medical Center. We didn't know what was wrong. I've got blood clots in my lungs. I want to thank her so much for help saving my life.
Get it right
IT SEEMS like most of the drive-through restaurants mess up your order. You have to drive back to get your order right, only to be treated like you've done something wrong. They think they've done you a favor if they throw in an extra order of fries. Do these people not realize that gasoline costs a lot more than fries? Fast food can be convenient, but how convenient is it when you've got to go back to get your order filled correctly? I wish the fast-food places would take a little bit more time to get your order right in the first place.
Religious minds
DOES THE person who said "Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church" not realize that some of the greatest minds in history have been religious men?
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