Speak Out 01/18/04

Providing jobs

I GET so fed up listening to these politicians talking on TV about giving tax cuts to the wealthy. They sound like you should give tax cuts to the poor to create new jobs. How many people know of someone who's working for someone poor? How can they afford to hire you? There have to be some people with money and cash flow to hire you to work. Anyone who's working for someone else has got to know this.

Too cold for recess

MY DAUGHTER goes to Blanchard Elementary School. Recently the children were sent outside for recess when the temperature was only 16 degrees. That's too cold. The children should come first instead of worrying about whether the teachers get a break.

Delay is a mistake

I THINK the Cape Girardeau City Council has made a big mistake on deciding not to include the fire sales tax measure on the April ballot. It's a shame no one on the council seems to care about the safety of the residents of Cape Girardeau. Why is it the city can give $9 million to the River Campus and not even consider putting a fire tax up for a vote? Is the River Campus really more important to the city than the safety of its residents? Something has to be done now before it is too late.

Littering problems

I AGREE with the person who lamented littering. How lazy can we be? Have we no consideration for anything other than our own comfort and convenience? I see littering as a symptom of a much deeper concern: lack of civility. Expressions of this go far beyond littering. When I travel out of town into the more rural parts of the county, I am shocked to see the fast-food packaging everywhere. It really ruins the beauty of the countryside.

One-way door

THE DOOR at the border needs to open for exit only. Closing the entry is consistent with our own self-interest. The essence of our society is methodically being annihilated. With the death of outrage, the country has sunk into a hole of self-destruction. If you won't admit that this course has been deliberate and designed to impoverish you and your family, you will be counted among the walking dead.

It's motivation

I AGREE there are more important things in life than athletics. However, I also understand that there are students in public schools who would not learn to read, write and do mathematics without the benefit of the discipline and time-management skills required in athletic participation. Some people need the motivation of things other than grades. This is true for other extracurricular activities as well.

Parents, get involved

I AM a teacher of the Cape Girardeau School District, and I must defend myself when attacked. It is not the teachers who are at fault for lower MAP scores. It is the parents who do not parent their children who cause lower MAP scores. If parents would take interest in their children's education and work with the teachers, we will see MAP scores go up.

Not in our area

THERE HAVE been no mountain lion sightings west of Cape Girardeau. They aren't going to hurt anybody. Besides, mountain lions were here before people.

Insurance solution

I TOO had no insurance coverage for a urology doctor in Cape Girardeau. I work for the federal government. I called my insurance provider before my procedure was done and asked that my doctor be covered. The insurance provider sent the forms to my doctor. The doctor joined, and now I no longer have to drive to St. Louis. Problem solved.

Support for sales tax

COUNCILMAN JAY Purcell says there are ways of cutting expenses in Cape Girardeau without having to raise taxes: take the taxi coupons away from the seniors, do away with street cleaners, don't pick up leaves. I think the city needs to keep the taxi coupons. I'll vote for a sales tax increase, and I think a lot of other people will too.