Speak Out A 05/26/02

Levee isn't needed

I JUST wonder if people realize that that levee at Dutchtown doesn't need to be there. Traffic could be going through Dutchtown. They could have bought Dutchtown three times for what they spent on levees down there. It's just tying up that much more traffic on I-55 for no reason at all.

Other diseases kill more

POLITICALLY CORRECT fashionable diseases get the money. But The Washington Times reported some people think research dollars should instead go to those ills that kill the most people. Those who would focus on the most deadly illnesses point out that the National Institutes of Health put $2.5 billion aside for AIDS research this year for a disease that killed 15,000 Americans in 2000. Heart disease will only get $1.9 billion even though it killed 710,000 Americans in the same year. Diabetes kills 69,000 but will get only $722 million. AIDS has been in the decline as a killer, dropping from a peak of 51,000 deaths in 1995.

Pushy motorists

I'M CALLING about the traffic on the interstate from Cape to Scott City. This is for the people who come up on the left side after all of us on the right hand side have waited for over an hour. Drivers come up on the left side and try to run us over to get in. Something needs to be done about that.

Good and bad news

THERE IS good news, and there is bad news. The bad news is the unemployment rate has reached an eight-year high and is still rising. The good news is we can remove George Bush and Dick Cheney from the White House in a couple of years, along with the influence of their cronies who have helped formulate a bad foreign policy and an even worse domestic one. I know people will say things started back under Bill Clinton, and they are partly right -- like the trillion-plus-dollar surplus that Bush squandered.

No season tickets

IN REGARD to the stadium bill, Peter Kinder committed political suicide by forcing an issue which over 90 percent of his constituents disagreed with, and now he won't even get season tickets out of it.

Music has an effect

I WANT to comment on those who think music doesn't have an effect on people. People act like the songs they hear. If you repeat something over and over and over again, soon it becomes a part of you. It's like telling a lie. If you tell a lie long enough, you won't know if it's a lie or not. You will even change your own mind and convince yourself. That's how music works. Music has an effect on people, and it's causing people to mess up their minds.

Music is full of hope

COUNTRY MUSIC is full of hope. It's about family. A lot of it is inspirational such as "I Have Been Blessed" by Martina McBride.

Emotional investment

TO BE against concealed carry is not to be anti-gun. We own five guns but are still against concealed carry. Anytime someone attempts to smear an opposing group with such inflammatory labeling, you should immediately realize that they are too emotionally invested in an issue to have any credibility.

Evaluating teachers

I WAS wondering if the Cape Girardeau School District has ever focused on elementary schools by asking parents to formally evaluate teachers. When I was in college, students got the opportunity to comment on instructors. To my knowledge, I've never been involved in this type of survey regarding elementary teachers. I know the school board would always welcome comments, but I also feel it would be beneficial for there to be a schoolwide survey from the parents in writing so areas of improvement could be identified.

Boys and their toys

IT SEEMS like the Cardinals president is like any rich, spoiled brat. Play the game my way, or I'll take my toys and go home. Thank God we don't have to pay for his toys.

Cars overheat

THERE'S BEEN a lot of publicity about the traffic on the Diversion Channel bridge between Scott City and Cape Girardeau lately. It would be nice if someone could tell us how we could keep our car from overheating, because it is a problem. The people I have asked have not had any solutions as how to keep that from happening -- except don't get on the interstate.

Good parents

I WISH more preachers would tell it like it is. If you're a mother or a father, you are held accountable to God to be a good mother or father. And if you are not a good mother or father, then nothing in this life is really worthwhile, is it?

Lots of dogs

I WAS just wondering if somebody could tell me why a family would need 60 to 70 dogs that they keep in cars, vans and trailers. They bark day and night. You cannot get any rest. I think it's ridiculous.

Too much equipment

I'M STRICTLY against raising Cape Girardeau's property taxes. School taxes were raised last year enough to suit me for several years to come. The city has too many vehicles now. They need to get rid of some, and they need to repair the ones they've got. They can save money by getting rid of the street sweepers, because they're just a waste of taxpayers' money. They leave a bigger mess than they clean up. This is nothing against the operators, just the machines.

Removing the sandbags

I LIVE In Dutchtown. I want to thank all the people for helping us sandbag. But I hope you don't leave us now that the water's gone down. I hope you come back and help us remove the sandbags.

Words of wisdom

FOR THE Speak Out caller who complained about elderly rudeness: I have some words of wisdom from my sweet but realistic grandmother. They're not so much consolation as explanation. She said, "As we grow older, we become no better or no worse, only more like ourselves."

Time for change?

MODOT HAS created a fiasco with the Diversion Channel bridge and the way it handles traffic. Now it wants new taxes passed. Should we have these people building bridges? Maybe it's time for a change in some MoDOT engineers.

Grass in the street

I'M COMPLAINING about these people who mow their grass and blow the clippings into the street. I clean my clippings every time I mow, but here come the neighbors who blow clippings out in the street in front of my place. I'm getting tired of cleaning up after them. I wish they'd start fining these people who constantly throw their grass in the street. It just looks terrible.

Guns and fear

ALTHOUGH THEY may not wish to admit it, the concealed-weapons fanatics are living their lives consumed by fear. Why is it that I walk the same streets they do but feel perfectly safe without the need to pack heat? The reason is that fear is an emotion. While they are letting emotion control their lives, I have learned how to control my emotions. I am struggling to show a little more compassion for these would-be Matt Dillons. It must be a terribly sad way to live your life being scared.

Count insurance too

IN REGARD to your recent editorial explaining how great it is to live in Scott County: We are charged the highest rate for homeowner's insurance because we live so far from the fire department. So it is not as good as you said in the editorial.

Hefty charges

I JUST wanted to say that I think it is so sad and ridiculous how doctors charge their patients. My son saw the doctor last week and the charge was $114. She saw us for five minutes. Making $114 in five minutes is a lot. We have insurance, but what about the people who don't have insurance or the people who don't have a provider in the area? Our doctor is a good doctor, but I just wish all doctors would realize that some people have a hard time with the prices.