Letters to the Editor

Donald Trump is unchristian, immoral and a liar and you should take a stand against him. Sure, economic issues are important; I am a fiscal conservative, but at the loss of our soul? He is flying by the seat of his pant and it's all going to come to a bad ending...

I write to congratulate Cape Girardeau’s reimagining of Common Pleas Courthouse Square as Ivers Square, through the leadership of Dr. Steven Hoffman. As a faculty member at Southeast Missouri State University and a nationally recognized authority on African-American history, historic preservation, and downtown revitalization, Hoffman is uniquely qualified as this project’s champion...

On behalf of the clients, staff and board of directors of the Safe House for Women, I would like to convey my sincere appreciation and gratitude for our community’s tremendous support of VintageNOW 9: The Big Show held Oct. 20 at the Show Me Center. The success of VintageNOW is credited to our generous and supportive sponsors and donors, our amazing and dedicated volunteers, and to the event-planning committee, a group of remarkable individuals who spent countless hours in planning and organizing the event. ...

Plenty of excitement vibrates through town as Cape Girardeau welcomes our first presidential visit since President Bill Clinton in August 1996, which followed eight years after President Ronald Reagan arrived in September 1988. Mr. Clinton chose an outdoor rally in Capaha Park, while President Donald J. ...

Prominently displayed on my office wall is a picture of me with former President Barack Obama on a campaign stop in Cape Girardeau. While I may have had policy and leadership differences with the 44th President of the United States, this picture remains on my wall because, well, he went on to become the President of the United States of America...

After the 2016 election, I hoped that Trump would grow into the presidency. I was wrong. He has only become dishonorable on the world stage. He is polarizing, proudly so, and embarrassing. I cringe at the thought that he will use Cape as his stage. I cringe at what he might say or do to make his pit-stop here memorable...

Since FDR took office, the President's party has gained seats in both houses of Congress in a midterm election only twice. Typically, the president's party loses seats, an average loss of about 30 House seats and four Senate seats. Democrats hope this trend continues Tuesday, but Missouri's Senate race is a potential wrinkle to their plans...

I am so proud of President Donald Trump and his visible and measurable love for America! He's not ashamed of it! He's not apologetic for it! Totally dedicated to our American way of life. President Trump says things that desperately need to be said, things that no other leader has shown the fortitude to stand up and say...

As reported, President Trump will be visiting town next week, and I am sure the Show Me Center will be filled to the brim with his supporters. As our community begins preparation for a presidential visit, we must ask if Trump values are Cape Girardeau values. The answer is no...

Amendment 1 offers voters a chance to clean up corruption in Jefferson City, taking power from party insiders and special interests and giving it back to the people. Since 90 percent of legislators are in safe seats, they win and attain leadership positions by keeping party leaders and major donors happy, while ignoring voters at home. That's not how our republic was designed to work...

It is essential for the entire state of Missouri to vote "No" on this very deceptive amendment to our Constitution entitled "Clean Missouri." After all, almost everyone would feel that a vote for a cleaner Missouri is a vote for a better Missouri. That is just what the leftists would have us to believe. It is what is buried beneath the surface of this amendment is what frightens me the most...

After following "Missouri Proposition D, the Gas Tax Increase, Olympic Prize Tax Exemption, and Traffic Reduction Fund Measure," in the news and in some Letter to the Editor sections across the state, it appears there has been some confusion on how it relates to Special Olympics athletes and the medals they win at their competitions...

On Nov. 6 Missourians will vote on Proposition D which, if enacted would increase the gasoline tax by 2 1/2 cents per gallon annually for four years beginning July 1, 2019. Estimates say this will generate $288 million annually for state law enforcement and $123 million annually to local governments for road construction and maintenance...

Where's the leadership We have many choices to make on election day, and I think some of them should have been made by our lawmakers. But since they didn't act on certain issues, initiative petitions were used to put them on the ballot, and some are confusing, conflicting, or poorly worded...

On Nov. 6, Missouri voters can make our roads and bridges safer by voting "Yes" on Proposition D. A "Yes" vote allows us to recapture lost purchasing power since the last gas tax increase in 1996. Steel, concrete and asphalt prices have doubled, and in some cases tripled, since 1996. The 17-cent gas tax of 22 years ago has 7 cents of purchasing power today...

Cape Girardeau's inaugural Citizen Academy recently ended, and as a participant, I'd dub it an incredible success. The roughly 20 people who participated attended eight two-hour sessions held on consecutive Wednesday nights. After three initial sessions at city hall, the remaining "classes" were held at featured city departments, such as public works, parks & rec, police department and fire department...

I write this letter in response to the guest column concerning Clean Missouri written by Rick Francis. I write because I believe in Missourians and I believe they are entitled to the facts and the truth. Clean Missouri is a proposed amendment with the goals of providing a more partisan balance in Missouri's legislative districts and limiting campaign contributions and lobbyists' gifts. The amendment would prevent lawmakers from becoming lobbyists for two years after their legislative term(s)...

Missourians will review many measures on the Nov. 6 ballot and one of the easiest decisions is No on Amendment 1. While proponents claim it is a "cure" for what's wrong with politics, it will actually make politics worse by injecting raw partisanship into our non-partisan redistricting process...

The arrested anti-Kavanaugh protesters well deserve a large dose of their own antics. That is, as they rise to face a judge, they should be found guilty as charged, even before they offer an opening statement. The judge should inform them it is his biased opinion and no facts or witness will change his uncorroborated conclusion. The result is to apply their own mindset to the disrespect they have generated...

This fall, for the first time in 12 years, I do not have a child in the Cape public school system. Before too much more of life gets by, I want to express gratitude to this community for building, nurturing and supporting a great public school system. Great educational systems are not built overnight, and our system stands over the heads and shoulders of many others who have worked and lived here...

Do you love the men in your life? Sons, brothers, nephews, husband, male friends, dad -- according to the new Democrat party all men are guilty until proven innocent. A lady can make any claim and he will be guilty although all of HER witnesses swear (under oath) that they cannot remember any such event ever happening...

When is a modern spin on a classic piece a bad idea? After watching Jesus Christ Superstar performed at the River Campus, I believe reinventing a long cherished musical should be handled with respect and good taste, both of which were lacking in this performance. ...

Certain newspaper columnists warn of proposed Democratic socialist policies, with nary a word about Republican socialist policies. Such warnings amount to little more than pot calling kettle black. The U.S. has a mixed socialist-capitalist economy with national defense, police and fire protection, sewage and sanitation, and highways provided by government while food, clothing, energy and housing are produced by private firms. ...

October is National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Month, a time to acknowledge the contributions many long-term care (LTC) residents have made to better our community and to call attention to the rights of residents in long-term care facilities. This year's theme -- Speak Up: Know Your Rights and How to Use Them -- was selected to emphasize the importance of residents being informed about their rights; being engaged partners in achieving quality care and quality of life; and feeling confident in speaking up about what is important to them.. ...

In a Sept. 23 column by Lucas Presson, the Southeast Missourian states," government telling pastors what they can or cannot say from the pulpit is not constitutionally valid or laudable. It's a breach of free speech." Section 501(c) (3) specifies the organizations which may be exempt from taxation. It states:...

I read that there is now a program to treat the opioid "crisis" with a drug called Suboxone. This is to be paid for by our government with tax dollars and is going to fix this issue with legislative might. Sorry, but bull! Let us review the facts. In 1999, there was a law passed called the Pain Relief Act. ...

A recent column in the Missourian suggested the concept of separation of church and state originated with a letter by Thomas Jefferson. There is far more to it than Jefferson's letter. In colonial times, churches of various denominations were the political forces in what would later become states. ...

The recent passing of Sen. McCain got me to thinking about who we call our heroes. I was drafted during the Vietnam War, but luckily spent most of my time in Germany. However, I know several who served in Vietnam and some were called “baby killers” when they came home. Unfortunately, during that period many soldiers were treated poorly because the war became unpopular...

How very proud I am of the leadership from principal Julia Unnerstall, Rebecca Gentry and the entire staff at Alma Schrader Elementary School! It is easy to see why they were selected as a National School of Character, one of 80 three schools in the entire nation! They always seek out new methods to involve their students in ways that will develop these young lives into responsible, contributing adults in our great city on the Cape...

A recent letter to the editor was very critical of President Trump's behavior and even attempted a remote psychological diagnosis. President Trump's performance trumps most, if not all, perceived decorum shortcomings. Granted, his "verbal whackings" of opponents and those in his own party who are weak kneed is unprecedented by Republican presidents. ...

Some teachers have a master's degree, years of experience, but need to work an extra job and donate plasma blood to pay their bills. It's a national outrage when teachers don't get the same pay or respect that other professions receive. The federal government Department of Education is a total waste of taxpayers' time and money, too. ...

The recently published anonymous Op-Ed letter in New York Times, and Bob Woodward’s book, “Fear,” subtitled “Trump in the White House,” further add to the “Red lights are blinking” warning issued by Dan Coats, director of National Intelligence. As Woodward noted, the real threat to America’s security comes not just from Russia, but also from the president himself...

Once again the City of Cape Girardeau is asking its tax payers to believe in a fairy tale: $26.5 million for another trip to the wonderful world Oz. The cast is the same. Playing the part of the Wizard of Oz is the Cape Girardeau City Council associated with Cape Girardeau city schools. ...

Recently a picture appeared of two individuals attending a Trump rally wearing t-shirts which said, "I'd rather be a Russian than Democrat." While this may be meant as a joke, I still find it troubling. Russia under Vladimir Putin has done the following:...

Thursday, Aug. 16, a coordinated editorial effort from 350 newspapers around the country defended the freedom of the press. More specifically the editorials protested the label by some government officials that the press is the "enemy of the people"...

To all the well-meaning citizens demanding stricter gun-control laws, suggest holding a convention and try to improve on the Ten Commandments (not suggestions) that God gave to Moses sometime between 1440 and 1441 BC. Emphasis should be placed on number six: Thou shall not kill. They have been assured the completed legislation will become the law of the land immediately...

On Aug. 17, I visited my son who is a student at SEMO. He has recently moved into a house he is renting off-campus on Whitener. He and several neighbors had two full trash bins at the curb. The neighborhood stank of garbage. It was disgusting! My son said that the trash was not picked up last week because the bins had been placed too close together at the curb. ...

Last month, President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be the next U.S. Supreme Court justice. Judge Kavanaugh is an exceptionally qualified jurist, but when Sen. Claire McCaskill was asked where she stands on this nominee, she had absolutely nothing to say. ...

In the Aug. 7 election, Missourians, by a two-thirds majority, voted down Prop A. Since then, I have heard rumor that some state legislators are considering enacting such legislation anyway. Such action would be in direct opposition to the vote of the people...

There are many things that divide us in this country. I believe the top three are abortion, guns, and immigration. Abortion is probably the most emotional of our differences. I’ve never met anyone who is comfortable with abortions, but how do we deal with unwanted pregnancies? In an ideal world there would be no unwanted pregnancies, but in our world they will continue to occur, and we will continue to be divided on what to do about them...