Speak Out 02/02/04

Middle-class burden

YES, TAXES are held out of everyone's paycheck. But at tax time lower-income people file for earned income credit and get much more money back than they paid in. Where does that money come from? The middle-class person who works hard to get ahead. It sure doesn't come from the wealthy. They get all the tax breaks. No matter what anyone says, you will never convince me that the middle-class does not support this country.

Making sacrifices

THE CAPE Girardeau School District built a high school that is too small. Now the district is broke, kids are going to have to pay to play sports, and I'm sure numerous other people are going to have to make sacrifices. Was it really worth it?

Double taxation

IT IS wrong for the Cape Girardeau School District to charge students for participation in sports. Since parents already pay taxes to the district, isn't that double taxation? Cut administration and keep quality in Cape Girardeau's schools.

Working at home

I WISH there was such a thing as a real work-at-home opportunities that didn't require any investment. I am a 23-year-old married woman with a social anxiety disorder and cannot drive or be in a strange environment due to this disorder. I do not want any help from the state. That would make me feel like a bum.

Wasting money

Here's a simple idea about new taxes. The city should stop wasting money on things like $40,000 for a consulting firm for the stupidest slogan ever. If the city had any guts, it would stop payment on that check. More taxes just drive business out of town to other places that are smart enough to realize this.

Too much Spanish

IS IT just me, or is everything going to Spanish these days: menus, ATMs and even pizza boxes. I think Cape Girardeau should consider a ban on the use of Spanish in the city limits. Why doesn't the city take a survey to see how many Spanish-speaking people there are inside the city limits? This would be a great help.

Thanks for tying shoes

I WANT to thank the woman who tied my shoes for me at the mall last Tuesday night. With a cast on my arms, it is very difficult to tie them myself. God bless you.

Quality costs money

I FIND it funny that residents of Cape Girardeau complain about taxes. Compared to cities of comparable size, we live here for free. Instead of paying for services, we just assume that they will be provided. We drive on streets that are falling apart and have fire trucks with duct tape holding them together and police cars that can be outrun on foot because we are so cheap. If we want to live in a city that has quality services, we are going to have to pay for it.

The cost of drugs

HAS ANYONE paused to consider why we pay more for prescription medications here? How about this: In Canada, the government sets the price. That means Canadian pharmacies buy below market price and, in some cases, below cost. When the manufacturers do not recoup their expenses in one market, those losses have to be made up elsewhere -- like here, where the market sets the price. If pharmaceutical companies did not recoup those costs, they would not be in business. I disagree that pharmacies should take Medicare for drugs. That would exacerbate the problem, since Medicare does not pay market price and, in many cases, does not pay cost. One major change that needs to be made is an earlier release of generic drugs. Believe me, cost controls and another government program are not the answer.

Let's have a vote

DOES ANYONE know what the procedure is for getting an issue before the voters in the next municipal election? Would anyone be willing to sign a petition to give Cape Girardeau residents a chance to vote on the four dogs-four cats and the no-fireworks ordinances? I think it's time we take back our city from the busybodies who want to control all aspects of our lives.