Speak Out 02/16/03

Test young drivers

OLDER MOTORISTS abide by the speed limits. As for older people taking a driving test: The younger ones should be the ones to take the test.

More accidents

AS I read the complaints about older drivers, I have to laugh. Why do seniors need to take a test? They're not the ones doing the damage. I know for a fact that from the four-way stop in Jackson to I-55 that you'll see more young drivers going over the speed limit, and look at the wrecks on that stretch of highway.

Climbing dog

THANK YOU to the people who helped rescue our dog from the top of Tower Rock last Saturday. While we don't know what possessed her to climb to the top of the cliff, we'll now be keeping the leash handy just in case she decides to act like a mountain goat again.

Make prisoners work

I WAS reading that it takes $13,000 to $ 17,000 a year to house one prisoner. I think it is way too much. That is more than lot of working-class people make in a year. Does the working class get free cable, medical care, food and clothing. I think we need to make some changes in the system. Make prisoners work.

Buy textbooks

JACKSON IS not the only school that has major classes that have only one set of books to go around. This is ridiculous. Buy some books.

President's follies

WE'RE LOOKING at one of the biggest federal deficits ever thanks to the Bush plan to cut taxes and increase spending. And those estimates don't include the cost of the Bush oil war. Will the United States ever recover from the follies of this president?

Aggravated threat

PRESIDENT BUSH has been so busy with Iraq that he seems to have forgotten about Osama bin Laden. But bin Laded hasn't forgotten the United States. Just as sane folks have been warning for weeks, bellicose Bush is only aggravating the threat of terrorism against this nation while doing nothing to reduce it.

Drain on resources

YOU HEAR all about NATO's whining. What you don't hear is how in the last century the United States helped save France and Belgium twice from Germany. If those countries don't want to back us in our endeavors with Iraq, so be it. The next time France and Belgium need help, just turn a deaf ear. What you have here is ingratitude at its highest level. NATO is nothing but a drain on our resources.

Time to trim fat

THE CITY and state threaten to cut back services. Well, please cut back. This is a perfect time to trim the fat. When things get better, don't rehire and fill those unneeded programs and jobs. The government shouldn't think it's here to provide jobs. It's here to serve the people, not fleece them. I am still voting no on any new taxes.

More jobs, less taxes

IT'S ABOUT 5 miles from the north side of Cape Girardeau to the south side and about 3 miles from east to west, give or take a little. During the busy time of day it takes about 15 minutes either way you go. How can the city justify a new fire station, improvements to police station and a water park? It would cost me about $100 a year. The city should focus on industry and jobs that pay something year around.

No need for war

FRANCE AND Germany have submitted a good plan to contain Saddam Hussein without war. President Bush is trying to say the issue is disarming Saddam and this requires war. But that's not it. Can't people see that Bush's position is a diversion? The real question is can Saddam be adequately contained without war and the risks? The answer is and has always been yes.