Speak Out 01/15/04

Registration cards

WHY DID the county send out new voter-registration cards when they are exactly like last year's? The county should have just sent out cards to the new voters. What a waste of money.

Life is not a game

"THERE IS no distinction between school sports and education." What? All sports are games. Life is not a game. Regardless of who won last night's ballgame, the sun still comes up and we all have to go to work to earn a living. Being able to read, do math or write so that others can understand you is what feeds a family, not who won or lost the game.

County representation

IN AMERICA, we believe in government that has a checks-and-balances system. Who remains to police the Cape Girardeau County Commission if it has the power to adopt its own laws and regulations? I am very uncomfortable with the current commission having this power. All county residents should speak out on this issue. The commission is spending our tax dollars as it decides without county residents having input. This reminds me of the old phrase "No taxation without representation." We need to correct things in Cape Girardeau County.

Thanks for lights

IT MIGHT be a little late, but I want to thank everyone who decorated their homes with lights this past Christmas. There seem to be fewer homes that display lights every year. Every home I saw looked wonderful, and it really added to the holiday feeling. Thank you, everyone.

Portable means movable

REGARDING THE portable signage issue in Jackson: Those signs are ignored anyway because they blend in. We are all tired of looking at them. Most are used year round, but there is a reason the signs are built on wheels: so they can be wheeled away after their purpose is served. If Jackson wants to beautify the town, maybe a one- or two-week display period could be enforced. The size and placement of permanent signage also should be regulated.

Greedy districts

I JUST read the "Schools go to court" editorial. Shame, Shame, Shame. Greedy, Greedy, Greedy.

Spend on bus system

THE CITY should divide the Convention and Visitors Bureau's budget in half and use the money to start a citywide bus system.

Attacks begin

I THINK we're in for a real hard election year. You've got the Democrats putting out this O'Neill book and that CIA film everybody is talking about. They're trying everything in the book to smear President Bush, who is a great leader. We should all get behind him even more.

Money isn't the fix

MORE MONEY for schools? Interestingly, America is No. 1 in the world for per-student spending. America is far from number one in per-student learning. Something in our educational system is obviously broken, and our usual fix of throwing more money at a problem isn't working.

Clean revenue

WHILE OUR city is attempting to tax us into poverty status, it's looking beyond a real opportunity for additional revenue. The police could issue citations for littering with a fine to be paid or the violator could clean up a designated strip of highway or a number of city blocks. These fines could go toward the new patrol cars that are needed. As frequently as I see littering here in Cape, I'm confident that this will provide additional revenue as well as a cleaner city.

Mountain lion alert

WITH ANOTHER attack and mauling of a mountain lion in California, how long until it happens in Cape Girardeau? There have been sightings just to the west of town. How long are we going to wait before we do something here? It's just a matter of time. Express your concerns to the conservation department and have these animals destroyed before they destroy your children or grandchildren.