Speak Out 4/29/16

A lot at stake

Remember to get out and vote in November. It is our constitutional right to vote. I am 87 years old, and this is the most crucial election I have seen in my lifetime. There is a lot at stake in this election. We should be very careful how we vote. We need to lay our party aside and vote for the people who best suit our needs. We also know this is not a game. We need to know that whomever we vote for has the best interest at heart for all of us and not just the wealthy. We need jobs brought back to this country that uneducated people can do. There probably will always be people who will not qualify for high-tech jobs. Think about all of this before you cast your vote. Thanks to all who read Speak Out.

Medical marijuana

Leave it to Missouri legislators to change their minds and vote against the medical use of marijuana. It must have been because science is now demonstrating its effectiveness concerning a multitude of diseases. Surely our esteemed solons weren't pandering to an ignorant population. And for one area legislator to oppose its use as a palliative for terminally ill cancer patients because it's a "gateway drug?" There's not much left to say except, "California here I come."

Missed opportunity

We just took our granddaughter to the new play ground in Capaha Park. It is really nice, but they missed a great opportunity to install a nice bathroom. There were already water and sewer lines there, instead there is a Porta Potty.

Rules are rules

In the United States, we play by the rules. In the Republican presidential primary, Donald Trump insists the party should nominate the person who gets the most votes. But the rules may dictate otherwise. Just ask Al Gore.

Fix the ditches

I see the city can put in useless sidewalks on West End Boulevard. Now they are redoing the ballfield, but they can't seem to make it out to the north part of town off Country Club Drive on Dumais Drive to fix the ditches that overflow every time it rains.

What's left?

Let's see. When it comes to the Middle East, we have learned that full-scale intervention doesn't work (Iraq), semi-intervention is a bust (Libya) and nonintervention is a calamity (Syria). So (head scratching), what's left?

Education standards

Missouri's own new version of Common Core was recently released. Standards aren't important; it's what you do with them that counts. What happens when a child or school fails to meet the standards? Or is this just another "everybody gets a trophy" thing?

Tired kids

Regarding the photos of Farm Day in Scott County: It is always nice to see pics of local events. Sadly, what caught my attention most is that many of these children appear very tired.

Crop dusting

I've heard from and spoken with many people who are fed up with local farmers using crop dusting planes to do their work for them. As you could imagine, these planes are not accurate and cover large areas with dangerous chemicals -- even waterways, homes, cars, people, etc. Speak up! You are not alone! Contact the Federal Aviation Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, conservation agencies -- just be persistent. It's sad what these people are getting by with. It hurts nature and everyone in it.

Time to camp

Vacation time is in the air. Any good comments on family campgrounds with in three hours of the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area?

No apology needed

A recently published letter to the editor called for the Southeast Missourian and others to apologize. I have conducted an independent examination of the whole matter and concluded that no apology is necessary.