Speak Out 3/16/10

Pass Obamacare

IT is unfortunate that I'm going to have to wait until 2014 for my free Obamacare. In the meantime I am hoping he passes Obamatelevision so I can get free TV. If it is anything like Medicare, I'll only get a few channels in select locations.

Fly the flag

WHY is my family the only family on our block flying the American flag? Americans have lost a sense of pride in their country. Regain your pride. Fly your flag. America is not done yet.

Marriage accounts

BECAUSE someone said marriage is an endurance contest, a Speak Out controversy has erupted over the fast-fading institution. However, there is at least one benefit to marriage. When it comes to transferring funds, it's faster than electronic banking.

Simpler tax

IT'S tax time. Matthew 22:21: "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." God's share is a tithe of 10 percent of our income. I propose that the federal Caesar get its 10 percent of my income and the state (city and county included) Caesar gets its 10 percent of my income. Calculation of my taxes would become very easy. All of the add-ons (gas tax, liquor tax, real estate tax, personal property tax, sales tax) would disappear. Life would be so much simpler.

Termite battle

I want to thank the Southeast Missourian for information about termites. I had my house checked, and I've got Formosa termites like they have in New Orleans. I guess I brought them up when I hauled some old lumber. The exterminator thinks he's got them under control, but Formosa termites are about 100 times worse than ordinary termites. They were eating up the French Quarter in New Orleans, my exterminator said. The Southeast Missourian helped me save my house. Others may want to check their houses too.

Dogtown memories

THANKS for the memories, Sam Blackwell. Back in 1941, my husband and I moved to St. Louis from Cape Girardeau as newlyweds. We lived at 4246 Clayton Road. I remember well the neighborhood with the ice cream parlor and the drugstore on the corner and a wonderful meat market. Little did we know we lived in Dogtown -- not until our grandson graduated from Fontbonne University. We went to Dogtown to celebrate graduation night.

Cancer screening

THIS is the month to promote colonoscopies. This is great. Everyone should have one at age 50 or over The test is not bad. The bad part, for me, was when I found out my insurance didn't pay anything unless I had met the deductible. Insurance should be required to pay for cancer screening whether you have met your deductible or not. This could be a reason some people can't have the screening. Some deductibles are high.

System failed

WORKING 40 hours a week doesn't provide enough income for me to make ends meet. So I live on disability. I attended Southeast Missouri State University for 11 years. There are no jobs in my field. I did not fail. The system failed me.

Tax assistance

A big thank you to the AARP tax preparers for helping low-income and the senior citizens with their tax forms. Thank you again.

Fresh coffee

ALL I am asking for is a fresh cup of coffee in the middle of the day. And by fresh I mean brewed within 30 minutes, although I would prefer brewed when ordered. I don't want burnt coffee that has been there since 6 a.m.

School uniforms

I read The Tiger (Central High School's student newspaper) regularly. Recently, teachers interviewed gave a lot of sound and proven educational reasons for requiring that students wear uniforms. So did principal Mike Cowan. However, when asked, he said he was against requiring uniforms but gave no reasons for his stance. I found that odd, particularly in light of the fact that he rattled off research-proven reasons why requiring school uniforms is a good idea with all kinds of benefits for students and the school climate. Perhaps we can get an explanation for the reasons he opposes a school uniform requirement.