Speak Out 8/26/09

IS the asphalt road project on Route K done? That can't be the finished product. That is the roughest new asphalt on which I have ever driven. What a waste of taxpayer money. New asphalt is supposed to be smooth. The money should have been spent on something else if that's the best that can be done.

Wisp of evidence

WHEN you are as committed to a political philosophy as is Mona Charen, you have to look long and hard to find some wisp of evidence that supports your opinion and then publicize that. Thus, in her attack on the Canadian health care system, Charen has to ignore all the studies that demonstrate clearly the superiority of the Canadian system over the U.S. system, and the millions of Canadians who shudder at the thought of getting sick while in the U.S. and would never for a moment exchange our system for theirs. Instead she finds some obscure data that seem to support her opinion and clings to them.

Healthy lunches

KUDOS to the Sikeston School District for offering a salad bar for elementary students. My child just entered kindergarten in the Cape Girardeau School District. I would love for him to have healthy options instead of hot dogs and pizza. I taught him how to eat healthy food, but he can't use that knowledge with the choices the school offers. There are no fresh fruit or vegetables and almost no whole grains. I hope Cape follows Sikeston's example soon.

Threat levels

FORMER Department of Homeland Security director Tom Ridge has revealed in a new book something that has confirmed the suspicions of many. Ridge relates that in 2004 the Bush administration elevated the terror alert levels in order to help President Bush's chances of being re-elected. This is reprehensible.

River policy

IF U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson is on the side of more economic opportunity for the Van Buren area in its use of the Current River, she is on the wrong side. The Current River community would see a fivefold increase in usage fees if it would get rid of the power boats in the river. The past three years I have found a pristine haven to float: the Meramec River at Steeleville. There are no power boats to endanger my family members. I won't go back to Van Buren until the power boats are out of the river.

Bean counters

THE Speak Out reference to a "menagerie of bean-counting bureaucrats" masks the fact that the insidious insurance industry bean-counting bureaucrats who come between you and you doctor make the government bureaucrats look like rank amateurs. Insurance company decisions to deny coverage for potential lifesaving treatments are condemnable and cast President Obama's effort to remedy this in a very positive light.

Math proficiency

WHAT a shame that Central Middle School feels it is OK to dumb down our future generation. Do we want a generation of high achievers, those who strive to go beyond what is expected of them? Or do we want a generation of Central graduates whose claim to fame is that they passed the MAP test? Beware, Central Middle School. If you do not change something with this math issue, students will start being pulled next year. These students will be the "proficient" ones, the ones you seem to think will be just fine, the ones who are passing the MAP test already. What then? What happens when you no longer have those proficient students at your school? Scores will definitely not be met. I had one child go through Central and had no complaints. I thought it was a great school and told others that. Now my mind has changed over this one issue.

Solve problems

I am encouraged by the health care debate. In fact, I am pleased to see that the climate of apathy that has enveloped this country seems to be lifting. We need to look at the VA system and more particularly the Indian Health Service for examples of entrenched federally run health programs. When the Indian Health's program exhausts funding, it closes the door. Good luck if you get sick during this funding black hole. Good luck with obtaining care in the VA system after hours and on weekends and holidays. There is no doubt that changes need to be made in the system, but let's identify the problems and solve them while keeping what works.

Nicest people

THE vendors and customers at Cape Girardeau's Thursday farmers market must be some of the nicest people in the area. Thank you all for being generous and courteous and making Thursday afternoons a joy, even on hot, crowded days.

Not really free

IT'S ironic how so many are convinced that there are those who can't get health care because they don't have insurance. Ask any medical facility how much it writes off each month for services to individuals who can't pay. It is the insurance companies and paying Americans who pay the real penalty. Real reform is more than giving health care to all for free, because free really isn't free.

Tourist weather

WITH this generally mild and beautiful weather Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area has had this summer, climate change may be of benefit to us. It may turn our area into the No. 1 tourist attraction.

Base instincts

THOUGH portraying themselves as the party of rationality and calm reason, the Republicans are playing on the raw emotions and fears of the American people. President Obama and the Democrats are basing their arguments on the assumption that people are basically amenable to reason and are trying to rally support with reasonable arguments. Current social scientific studies are proving that man -- and, for that matter, the free market -- is fundamentally irrational. That is why the Republicans may be on the road to recovery by appealing to the base instincts of man as opposed to the lesser dominant rational part of his nature. If the Democrats want to regain momentum, they had better come up with a multiplicity of demagogues.

Fear-mongering

WHEN Ronald Reagan was fighting the creation of Medicare, he claimed it would result in America becoming a socialist state. Now right-wingers are claiming health care reform will harm Medicare while again throwing around the word "socialism." They're using the government-run system of coverage originally opposed by the right as a shield against current plans for reform. This proves there's little benefit in being honest in a political debate when using a fear-mongering word like "socialism" is clearly more effective.