Speak Out A 12/23/02

Questions about war

IT SEEMS that every time you read the newspaper or listen to a news report, they mention war with Iraq. I'm a Vietnam veteran, and I don't think t people remember what a police action was back then or what war would mean now. The war in my day was over many things. Do we really need to go to war? Do we need to put our sons, daughters, brothers, fathers and mothers in harm's way? Is war the only possible way to provide safety at home.?

Pandora's Box

THERE IS a vast difference between a pre-emptive strike and a preventive war. In preparing to embark on the latter course, who knows what will result when the United States opens this Pandora's Box.

No subtle threat

I CAN'T believe Catherine B. Leapheart -- a state government official, no less -- would write that she "takes exception to this case being tried in the court of public opinion" in reference to a current legal issue regarding the payment of unemployment-insurance benefits to someone who uses drugs. This is a not-so-subtle threat to the Opinion page of the Southeast Missourian. Leapheart's comment made my heart skip several beats.

Make a shelter

TO ALL who own empty buildings: Why don't you do something useful with them like make a shelter?

Bully policy

THE DANGER with the United States always playing bully in its foreign policy is that bullies always have to be watching their backs.

Lopsided deals

THE U.S. negotiates lopsided trade deals all of the time. This is because our leaders, Democrat and Republican, are totally beholden to the corporations that fund their elections. These companies are making huge profits off of all of this. They couldn't care less if something is made in China or the United States, and they certainly don't care about the American worker.

No Call List problems

I AM on the Missouri No Call List. I recently received a newsletter from Attorney General Jay Nixon tooting his horn about the $645,000 paid to Missouri by violators of the no-call law. Where did that money go? Postage for this mailing totals $442,800. I wonder what the printing and processing costs were. I'm thinking that Nixon could have found a better use for the money. He positions himself and the state as being "a model for more than 20 states that have joined us in the national movement to end abusive telemarketing practices." Missouri was one of the last states to join. The telemarketing industry has been in need of legislation to weed out the illegal telemarketing operations for many years. However, the No Call List should simply be a service. In my opinion, states should have no right to take a position against telemarketers or any other profession. What's next?