Letters to the Editor

In spite of the most recent decision in Kenosha, where I feel justice prevailed, within it was a display of how justice has failed. Consider the unrestrained destruction of property -- and life -- by the protesters and rioters that made it necessary for otherwise law-abiding citizens to consider the need to defend themselves. And what goes to trial?...

I agree with the Southeast Missourian editorial: "City should use windfalls to boost employee pay now." Competitive wages for city employees are long overdue. However, higher wages alone will not solve the city's employee problem. From my experiences as a high school principal, school district superintendent, and building and code enforcement manager, I learned an employer must focus on the following to attract and retain quality employees:...

Beware of government intervention in health care. In the next 20 or so years, all health care will be government ran. The progression has been slowly evolving for years and the last piece of the puzzle was Obamacare. Medicine is a three-legged stool with hospitals, physicians and insurance companies the three legs. ...

Liberal media and Democrat leadership are promoting the idea that Rittenhouse was a vigilante, and therefore loses his right to protect his own life, and they want him guilty of murder. Call it the "he's-guilty-because-he-shouldn't-have-been-there argument."...

I see where the city has been doing major work on streets such as Good Hope, Forest, Scott, and many more. Yet North West End Boulevard sits in such disrepair. People driving have to swerve to avoid large bumps and residents walking or bicyclists. There are no sidewalks or bike paths. People have to walk on the street because of the many open ditches. When are area residents and motorists going to see improvements to this street?...

Over the last decade, Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reports that teacher attrition rates for the last six years are over 11%. This is more than the national average of 8%. While Missouri presently has a strong pension system for its teachers, salaries are so low that individuals are not working in its schools long enough to receive it. ...

Jeff Maurer's guest commentary in Thursday's paper (Nov. 18) regarding the use tax issue was both enlightening and troubling. It seems old information was used to claim that sales tax revenue was declining, while current information shows just the opposite. Sales tax revenue has increased in the most recent years. Yet city officials used that old information to urge approval of the new tax. We were led to believe that new revenue was needed to curb a decline. It seems we've been tricked...

South Side Farms is a wonderful project brought forth by Mr. Wilferth. And thanks to his hard work and faith it has brought much warranted approval. We should however note this project has been marketed as a South Cape need. Everything listed such as health care, day care, police presence, etc. ...

The 1938 radio broadcast War Of The Worlds, sent millions of Americans into a panic, many actually believing that Earth was being destroyed by hoards of hungry Martian monsters intent on devouring humans. The broadcast was, of course, a play based on a classic work by H.G. Wells. Intended as entertainment, the broadcast ultimately served as a warning, not of any danger from Martians, but of what can happen when fiction or disinformation is accepted as fact...

Please invest the use tax wisely. I was one of the 1,945 individuals who voted for the use tax. I researched the issue, saw the need, did the math, and decided it was a reasonable request to pay local sales tax on my personal online purchases to maintain existing city facilities, infrastructure, services, and programs that serve the greatest number of citizens in the community...

On behalf of the clients, staff, and board of directors of the Safe House of Southeast Missouri, I would like to convey my sincere appreciation and gratitude for our community's tremendous support of VintageNOW 11: A Tale of Time held Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 at the Show Me Center...

Editor's note: Letters on ballot issues and general public issues are considered for letters to the editor once every 30 days. This letter was submitted in addition to those guidelines as a Paid Election Letter. The City of Cape Girardeau is in trouble. We need your yes vote on Nov. 2...

I have been invited to use this forum to assist in the effort to invite former members of the Golden Eagles Marching Band who performed with our group at Super Bowl V in Miami, Florida, Jan. 17, 1971, to join us at this year's SEMO Homecoming Football Game Oct. 30...

Why do you shop on the internet? I use it to find things that aren't available locally and because it's convenient. My guess is those are your reasons, too. I don't shop the internet to avoid paying taxes. I know that taxes are a necessary evil to run cities, states and countries...

I have been following the news about the internet sales use tax for the city of Cape Girardeau, and I didn't know the city was not collecting sales tax on online purchases but the county does. I don't like taxes any more than the next guy, but I also know that the revenue the city gets from sales tax is what helps pay for my trash pickup, the water and sewer service connected to my house, police and fire protection, and the streets in front of my house. ...

As a consequence of the Federal Government spending obligations and tax cuts enacted during the Trump Administration and with the support of the Republican Party, the national debt increased from being equal to 76% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to being equal to 109% of the GDP...

This pandemic has placed immense wealth and power in the hands of a few unelected billionaires, including vaccine manufacturers, who have used their influence and power to dictate directives to the world and national health care agencies. Their directives have translated into policy on a local level...

October is National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Month, a time to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices 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. ...

The other day I was in a big box store in this area. I walked down an aisle where a heated conversation between two individuals, one masked (M) and one unmasked (U), was developing. This piqued my curiosity. Acting as if I was interested in something on the display shelf, I moved closer to listen. But not close enough to seem like I was eavesdropping. The two were talking about wearing masks. This isn't an exact transcription but close enough to get the gist of their conversation.:...

On Monday morning, I left home and drove down Hwy 177 where I thought I'd encountered an antifa protest (though nothing was on fire and some of the trash got picked up). I recognized over half the protesters as the same who've been yelling at our county health board for the last year, contradicting health care professionals, and spreading disinformation...

On Nov. 2, voters are being asked to approve a use tax (internet sales tax) for the City of Cape Girardeau. Like most voters, before supporting the use tax I want to find out the following: n Is there a need for additional revenue to help maintain programs and services provided by the city?...

The United Way has been a key national partner of Labor for nearly 80 years. The past two years, working people have faced unprecedented challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions have lost jobs and fallen sick while thousands have died and millions of working people suddenly feared they could not feed their families. ...

First of all, in my opinion this should not be politicized nor made into a way of "exclusion" for what is not a "one-size-fits-all" mentality. But, since it has, I'll say the following: I hear words like "q-anon" and "flat-earther" lumped together with anyone, for whatever reason, who has not taken a shot for COVID yet...

A lot of us were drafted into the Army back during the Vietnam war, and when we went through basic training, we were vaccinated for about every disease known to mankind. I remember on one occasion we were told to get in line and walk between two medics, who were giving shots in both arms at the same time. They were using air guns, and if you flinched at the wrong time, the high pressure would slice your skin. Several of us came away with bloody arms...

On Nov. 2, the voters of Cape Girardeau are being asked to approve a use tax (internet sales tax). To enable me to be an informed Voter, I would appreciate answers to the following questions. 1. What is a use tax (internet sales tax)? 2. Is this a new tax?...

I am unvaccinated. I feel as if I can no longer remain silent because myself and others are being marginalized. We all have a right to self determination. I am not anti-vaccine, but I do have significant concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination...

I find it ironic that many anti-vaccine people justify their choice as a matter of exercising and promoting "freedom." I say this is ironic because remaining unvaccinated is contributing to an erosion of freedom for virtually everyone in our society. ...