Speak Out A 02/28/04

It's just a ploy

IF THE Cape Girardeau City Council votes to do away with spring cleanup, the city is going to have more illegal dumping and junkier looking yards. I think it's a ploy by the city to start cutting things like that instead of other places where it is really needed and could make a difference in the finances of the city.

River walkway

WE FINALLY have a great walkway next to our magnificent river. Go through the floodwall behind Buckner's and walk south. Thanks for this great addition.

Priceless treasure

CAPE GIRARDEAU lost another of its priceless treasures Saturday when Roy Murakami passed away. The city lost a good, honest businessman and downtown we lost a loved and cherished neighbor and friend.

Police don't respond

THIS IS to the police chief and the city council of Cape Girardeau: I'd like to know why the police are afraid to respond to loud noise in the 1100 block of William Street after 10 o'clock. Loud noises continue to go on until early in the morning, and no police ever respond.

Repaint the lines

I WANT to agree with the person who said they need to repaint the lines on Mount Auburn Road from Route K to Independence. You can't hardly see them at night, and they're not even good during the day.

Careful with spending

I LIVE on less than $26,000 a year. I pay the same price for gasoline, electricity, water, garbage pickup, insurance and taxes as people who make more. There are some things I can't do. But I do get by on the essentials by being careful.

Take trash home

I WAS on the north side of Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau and saw a woman picking up trash along the road. It would not be necessary for that woman to pick up trash if you who go to convenience stores and fast-food places wouldn't throw your trash out on the streets. Carry a trash bag in your car and throw your trash away when you get home.

Another accident

ONCE AGAIN there is a terrible accident on Independence at the Walgreens-Kmart entrance. When will the city close the entrance closest to the lights?

Visitors see trash

MY COMPANY had some business guests in town for a couple of days. All they could comment on is the trash along South Kingshighway and Route K. It was really embarrassing for me. This is probably the worst I've ever seen it.

Iraqi perspective

I'D LIKE to thank the Iraqi-American who commented in Speak Out. With so much controversy about the conflict in Iraq, it is good to hear of the perspective this individual has. These few eloquent words say much -- more than any editorial writer or any Speak Out caller could ever say about the good that has been done for the Iraqi people. I am also glad that Iraq is open to democracy and freedom.

Spending Social Security

THE NEWS about Social Security is not news. Anybody who has any intelligence at all knows that this has been building up for years, because politicians -- Democrats, Republicans, independents -- have been spending all that money that people have been paying in that wasn't needed for Social Security benefits. They've been spending it for their little pet projects and buying votes.

Deceptive information

WE OWE Rebecca McDowell Cook a big thank you. In researching the facts and figures with Missouri's state budget director, we see that Peter Kinder overstated the appropriations for elementary and secondary education by $2 billion. We also learn that the Republican speaker of the House said the education budget increased by $160 million. Cook pointed out that it was federal, not state money that is run through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, but schools do not get the money. Did our Senate leader and speaker of the House practice deception on Missouri's voters?