Letters to the Editor

On Thursday, Sept. 7, the Senate passed a bill which contained provisions raising the debt ceiling and providing for $15.25 billion in hurricane relief. The FEMA disaster relief fund gets $7.4 billion and a $450 million grant for the Small Business Administration. The Community Development Block Grant program receives $7.4 billion. The Senate voted for the legislation 80-17...

As a lifelong Missouri resident, I'm sad that our state has gotten a racist reputation. It started about three years ago when white policeman Darren Wilson shot black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, triggering days of rioting and national attention. The riots involved several issues, but to a large extent pitted blacks against whites, especially white policemen. Ferguson, and indeed the St. Louis area, became synonymous with racial unrest...

Last week, the American Petroleum Institute released a new study that demonstrated that the U.S. oil and natural gas industry supports 10.3 million jobs and added $1.3 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2015. The study found that all 50 states, whether producing or non-producing, benefited from the industry...

In 2013 a single mother of two from Philadelphia innocently ran afoul of New Jersey's concealed carry law. During a routine traffic stop Shareen Allen "voluntarily and honestly" informed the arresting officer that she "had a handgun in her vehicle and presented her concealed carry permit for Pennsylvania." Her concealed carry permit was invalid in New Jersey. Allen was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, a felony with a possible three-year prison sentence...

Never in my lifetime was there ever another president who, not even a year into a first term, was already embarking on a campaign for a second term. It is especially surprising since Trump's prospects for being elected to a second term are quite blighted by his "performance" so far in his first term...

Senate Bill 446, the "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017" was recently introduced in Congress. This chaotic and dangerous bill does not create consistent concealed carry requirements across the country. Instead, it would gut existing gun laws, override state laws and make the weakest link the law of the land. Unlike drivers license laws, concealed carry laws vary drastically by state...

If you missed the recent community activity at the River Campus, Sounds for Hounds, you missed an amazing performance. Thanks to Jerry Ford and associates for organizing such an outstanding program! Perhaps we should request that the name of our hound be Jerry! Cape's community sure has some terrific talent. The crowd was large and seemed to love the music...

The current situation of President Trump reminds me of a tragic situation I dealt with many years ago. As ordered by a court, I did a psychiatric evaluation on a 29-year old man charged with a heinous crime. To get relevant background information, I met with his parents, who seemed surprised that their "wonderful son" had committed a heinous crime. ...

The Aug. 6, 2017 Southeast Missourian printed an Op-Ed column by former Senator Phil Gramm and Michael Solon. They advocated reducing taxes as a pathway to economic growth and increased federal revenue. To support their contentions they cited the record of Ronald Reagan. ...

Perhaps the biggest presidential lie in recent memory is when Bill Clinton pounded the desk and said, "I did not have sex with that woman. Not one time." However, the blue dress later proved that something of a sexual nature had occurred. George H. W. Bush famously said, "Read my lips! No new taxes!" Then he went on to support a tax increase, which played a big part in him not getting elected to a second term...

Our political leaders in Washington are spending a lot of political capital to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act instead of making it better. Over 18 percent of our national GDP is spent on healthcare. When compared to other developed economies throughout the world, it is about twice as much with no increase in health outcomes. ...

As the Right-to-Work bill carrier in the Missouri House, I want to be sure Missourians are clear about what the legislature passed and Gov. Greitens signed when it comes to our new Right-to-Work law. Right-to-Work means the worker who is earning the money has the freedom to choose. ...

I have the privilege of going in to the Cape County jail once a week to help guys see a different option in life. Our group being there encourages them; but there is little evidence of lasting change. I have never been one to stay with something that does not work. So lately, I have been asking myself, and them, "why so little evidence?" It has led to some good discussions...

Christians do have an alternative to Obamacare (ACA) or Trumpcare. On a recent surgery, I paid zero on a $6,643 surgery, etc. charge. My Christian brothers and sisters shared the bill, and after all was said and done I paid nothing. I am 61 years old, and I pay around $320 a month. Yes, $320 per month,...

If you're like me, you've noticed a considerable recent rise in crime in our town. While many of us haven't been directly impacted, nevertheless it's something we should all be concerned with. So pick up your phone and dial 651-2265 and order tickets to the Sounds for Hounds concert to be held on Saturday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. ...

A recent article in the Missourian, June 9th edition, small article on page 3 detailing the cuts to the University of Missouri lobbying efforts in both Washington, D.C. and Jefferson City to save a few dollars caught my eye. In the last paragraph of the article it mentioned that the one cut they would not make was with the contract of Andy Blunt, son of U.S. ...

I would like to address an issue that is rarely talked about or understood-kidney disease. A little over 2 years ago, after several months of severe stomach cramps, I was diagnosed with kidney failure. I used to ride my bicycle all over town, swim a mile at the gym and cut grass professionally, but now my life is centered around my dialysis sessions, three days a week, 5 hour treatments...

People's names can be trendy. It's common to name babies after famous people, so names can date us to a certain period. (My name is Gary, which was popular back in the 1940's and 1950's.) And of course being a nation of immigrants, many of our names originated in other countries. But famous and foreign names aside, we are now in a different era regarding names...

A bill is presently pending in the United States Senate to change the manner in which this country pays for its citizens' medical care. In connection with this pending proposal, I would point out the following: n Medicare does not pay benefits for more than 100 days of long term care. After that an eligible individual would receive assistance from Medicaid...

I am writing to inform readers that the EPA has just proposed to repeal the Clean Water Rule, which provides key protections for the drinking water of 2,498,142 Missourians. After seeing what happened in Flint, Michigan, it is hard to understate the importance of ensuring safe drinking water for all communities...

Last month Republican legislators in the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) opposed by every Democratic legislator and also the American Medical Association, the American Health Insurance Plans trade association and the American Association of Retired People. ...