Letters to the Editor

According to recent news reports and if the existing situation does not change, a railroad strike will begin on Dec. 9. This is important because approximately 30% of the freight in this country moves by rail. The contract offered by management, which was voted down by four of the 12 unions, provided for raises slightly ahead of inflation. But health care premiums would almost double, and it did not deliver any paid sick days, a major disappointment to workers...

On Friday, Nov. 11, Sen. Rick Scott, the head of the campaign arm to elect Trumpublican senators, called the 2022 midterm election results a "complete disappointment." For, the so-called red tsunami failed to materialize. "I think we've got to reflect now. What didn't happen?" Scott said. "I think we didn't have enough of a positive message. We said everything about how bad the Biden agenda was. It's bad, the Democrats are radical, but we have to have a plan of what we stand for."...

Marijuana is heading down the same path as gambling. Remember when we first approved gambling in Missouri: the boats were to stay on the river, there was to be no advertising, and proceeds were to go to help pay for public education. How is all that working now? Once the camel gets his nose under the tent, it's just a matter of time until he's sleeping inside. We see the same thing happening with marijuana...

Rest assured, contrary to the article covering the recent candidate forum, I do not agree that the election of my main opponent is a forgone conclusion. Elections are about sending messages. I respectfully ask voters to understand the following and ask themselves what message they want to send: The GOP has dominated both houses of the General Assembly for the last 20 years, and Republicans hold five out of six statewide offices. ...

On Aug. 25, when President Biden branded the MAGA Republicans semi-fascist, outraged Trumpublicans demanded that he apologize. On Oct. 16, when former President Trump warned American Jews that they should "get their act together" and "they better start showing him some gratitude before it is too late," not a single Trumpublican dared to protest...

On Nov. 8, the citizens of Missouri are going to vote on Constitutional Amendment No. 5: "Shall the Missouri National Guard, currently under the Missouri Department of Public Safety, be its own department, known as the Missouri Department of the National Guard, ..."...

In last Thursday's edition there was an opinion column by Marc Thiessen titled "RoeCrime is everywhere..." which is noted for the facts it leaves out. Mr. Thiessen uses a rare event, a shooting in a quiet, middle-class neighborhood outside the home of a Republican candidate in New York, to blame Democratic policies for the increase in violent crime. ...

Recently, in a move led by Saudi Arabia, the OPEC+ cartel announced that its members were significantly cutting oil production. This act has already resulted in higher prices at the gas pump just before elections across the United States. The Cartel insists their action was not an attempt to influence our elections. I have my doubts. We need only remember that 19 of the 20 terrorists of 9/11 were Saudi nationals funded by a Saudi oil sheikh...

Eric Schmitt, the attorney general of Missouri and a candidate for U.S. Senate is quoted as having said, "I think what's happened in a lot of our school districts is crazy. We've exposed a lot of them with this radical ideology, critical race theory, and people who tell you it's not happening in our schools, that's not truthful. That's not truthful at all."...

Most of us love to be appreciated. Appreciation makes us feel happy and valued as individuals. Appreciation makes a positive difference in our lives and encourages us and others to be better persons. Even though appreciation is important, unfortunately, at times, we don't practice this behavior because we take simple things for granted until they are lost. Like, city water...

More and more often property owners in Cape Girardeau find homeless people putting up tents in their woods, hiding in vacant houses or sleeping at a workplace after closing time. Why is this happening? City ordinance 18.5 forbids overnighting on "public" property. ...

Like many Missourians, I had high hopes for Gov. Parson's recent veto and special sessions of the General Assembly. These sessions presented opportunities to help working families struggling in the post-pandemic economy. Opportunities which had been ignored by our Republican-controlled government during the regular session in the spring...

Jason Smith consistently votes against helping his constituents in the MO-8th. He has voted against voter access, election integrity, and campaign finance reform. He has voted against Medicaid expansion, and paid family/medical leave. Smith, a self-proclaimed “pro-lifer,” voted against affordable child care, baby formula shortage relief, improving maternal health programs, and affordable insulin...

When I grew up in the '50s and '60s, tattoos were frowned on, body hardware was a no-no, and weird hair was seen only on clowns. Now, all are common. Your nurse may have a tattoo that begins at her hand and runs up her arm. The young man who takes your money at the quick shop may have a ring in his nose and three in his eyebrow. And your niece may have blue hair, or green, or pink. They are all part of the "look."...

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I would like to share my recent experiences with the excellent medical facilities and personnel in Cape Girardeau. About two years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I have received wonderful care. ...

Recently, after winning the primary, New Hampshire's Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Don Bolduc, said that he believed the 2020 presidential election was legitimate. This was a reversal of his previous false claim that Democrat Joe Biden had won unfairly. Likewise, after winning the primary in August by promoting the same lie, Mark Finchem of Arizona admitted that claim was a fraud...

There is not a phrase that sends me over the edge more than that one. "If Trump's kids had done the things that Hunter did." "If we had said the things that they said." "If we had destroyed cities like they did." The thing is, we didn't; they did. "They would have nailed us for doing those things." "We'd be in jail if..." Is there anyone out there that can make them pay? It is insane what they are getting away with...

It's an election year and what do you know, Missouri Republicans want to talk about a tax cut rather than the dismal results of 20 years of GOP domination of state government leaving a legacy of understaffed and underfunded agencies and programs intended to help working families...

On Aug. 8, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a legally obtained search warrant. The FBI executed this warrant at Mar-a-Lago in Florida seizing 36 items of evidence. These included boxes and containers holding more than 100 classified records. These records are property of the United States of America and belonged in the custody of the National Archives Records Administration...

Today, Governor Parson opens a special session of the General Assembly. Very special, in fact, because it allows him to use your tax dollars to grandstand on what he hopes will be the hottest issues defining the 2022 campaign -- tax cuts and agricultural support. He hopes you will forget about his failed leadership on multiple fronts. Let's start with crime...

City government cannot be all things to all people all of the time. Rarely will there be adequate financial and human resources available to meet all the existing needs of the city and requests made for additional services and programs. Some have requested the City of Cape Girardeau provide home renovation grants, utility bill assistance, homeless services, affordable housing and residential rent control...