Speak Out A 11/26/02

Corps of Engineers' fault

THE REASON the St. John's Bayou and New Madrid floodway project has taken so long is because the Corps of Engineers refuses to recognize the environmental threats posed by the project, refuses to address them and refuses to consider alternatives that would be less damaging.

All wars not the same

THE FACT that war has, at times, preserved our freedom in this country does not mean that every war is about doing that or that every war will accomplish it. Some people raise war to the level of an unquestionable idol.

Just an excuse

THE U.N. Security Council resolution called for inspection of Iraqi military capabilities. Wasn't this what the United States wanted? It looks as though President Bush is trying to set up a scenario where the United States can use an inspection report that denies Iraq has the weapons Bush claims to attack anyway.

Questioning U.N.'s will

THE UNITED States has had a long history of pre-emptive strikes against nations that threatened us without having invaded our land. As far back as nearly 200 years ago we attacked Tripoli because of its support of pirates. Such U.S. military action is not taken without evidence. While the United Nations hesitated to endorse military action, which it has now effectively done, it never denied that Iraq has consistently and blatantly broke treaties and U.N. resolutions. The evidence is overwhelming. The only question is whether the United Nations and the people of the United States have the will to keep another Hitler from emerging, this one with nuclear weapons.

Getting a fair share

I'M REALLY tired of people attacking unions all of the time. Don't people know that the 40-hour work week and overtime pay were all won by the unions? Without the unions we'd still have millions of children working in factories. How much worse would this country be if there were no minimum wage at all? Union members are hard-working people. We should all get behind them in their effort to get a fair share.

Short-term agenda

I WANT to commend Alan Journet for his ongoing efforts to bring up important environmental issues. Journet is right when he says we're all in for a real jolt with this current president and Congress. Now we've got wealthy interests in charge who don't really care a thing about our health or our children's future. It's all about short-term profit and the rich getting richer.

At least listen

I WISH people who are pro-war would listen to the dissenters and consider their views, whether they eventually agree or not. The anti-war group has thought through things very thoroughly and probably has different information from different sources.

Starting too early

I REMEMBER a time when we use to celebrate Thanksgiving before we started celebrating Christmas. I love Christmas, but we start celebrating so early now that by the time Christmas gets here I'm already starting to get tired of it.

Work for it

I AM disgusted by the attitude of our society. I read the article regarding the instructor at SEMO whose four children are on Medicaid and who has stated he cannot afford the health insurance costs should they increase. I work for an insurance company and pay more than he does out of my own pocket to insure my children. My husband also is a city employee and has a ridiculously low salary considering his line of work. I am inflamed by the assumption that this teacher should not only receive lower insurance premiums, but that I should continue to have to work to insure his children. I am a wife who works to make sure my children have insurance. Why is his wife exempt from that? This is not a something-for-nothing world. If you want something, get out there and work for it.

NOT ONLY are you forced to slow down for two miles before and after a highway construction zone, but well after the hours the crews are out working. At midnight those construction projects are deserted, but for the safety of the workers at home in bed, you must slow down or face a ludicrous fine.

Support for bill

U.S. REP. George Gegas of Pennsylvania has introduced the Securing America's Future Through Enforcement Reform Act of 2002. For short, it's called the SAFER Act (H.R. 5013). This has to do with stopping the flood of illegal aliens. Ask your U.S. representative to support this measure.

Thanks for the help

I AM 73 years old. I was in my first automobile accident on Nov. 1. I don't remember anything about it. I just know where it was. It was on Highway 51 with all those sharp curves between Marble Hill and Perryville. I do know there were about six gentlemen who tried to help me. I was terrified. I didn't have a broken bone, though. Some gentleman put his jacket down on the ground for me to sit on or lie on. Another gentleman had to saw the windshield out in order to get me out of that car. I want to thank those gentlemen with all my heart.

Equitable funding

THE SCHOOL funding formula set forth by the Missouri Legislature is designed to be a little bit equitable in dividing school funds to the different schoolchildren across the state. Everybody knows that hold-harmless districts like Cape Girardeau have more money to spend per pupil than smaller districts like the Kelly School District. It's not fair to the students that Cape Girardeau wants more money and spends more money and Kelly has less. What we really need to do is try to help the students be the very best they can be.

Veterans deserve best

IF IT weren't for the veterans, we would not have rights to anything. God bless all of our veterans. You fought for us, and we shall never forget it. You deserve the very best.