Speak Out 03/20/04

Spending for drugs

EVERY TIME the issue of price control is brought before the pharmaceutical companies, they cry they need more money for research and development. We all understand that. Where, then, is all the money coming from for their hundreds of TV commercials? I think something is wrong.

Safeguarding our money

I HAVE been in favor of letting people invest part of their Social Security funds into things of their own liking, using their own judgment. What makes this much more compelling is that the politicians in Washington wouldn't be able to get their hands on what we invest ourselves.

Too much soccer

WHAT CAN parents do if their children are being discriminated against because they don't like soccer? I've heard my children say how unfair it is that the soccer kids get to line up first at lunchtime at school. Also, they had to watch a film of the principal's son playing soccer, and he doesn't even go to school there.

Acting immaturely

I THINK our city officials are acting like kindergartners: If you don't pass our tax, we won't have a spring cleanup anymore. I thought the tax had to do with the firemen and the policemen. I didn't think it had anything to do with the cleanup. How can they cut off something we're already paying for? I think they're acting like 2-year-olds, and they just lost their vote for the tax by doing that.

Terrorists in Spain

I CAN'T believe it. Terrorists kill more than 200 people in Spain three days before an election, and the electorate of Spain votes to surrender. They don't want to fight the terrorists. They let terrorists take over their country. No, Spain, it's time to fight back. You don't let terrorists take over. If they're going to kill you, you kill them.

A good tribute

THAT WAS a well-deserved editorial tribute to Bryan Keller that you had in the paper last Wednesday. The country needs more lawyers like him who see more than just with eyes.

Officials do their best

I live in Alexander County, Ill., and I believe the politicians are doing the best job they can with what they have to work with. This also applies to our law enforcement personnel. If we were a rich county, maybe things would be different. May God bless all of our officials.

Racially offensive

I FOUND the story on black students at the middle school to be offensive and one-sided. I think we all know white students have attitudes too, as do Hispanics and Asians. Who is obviously punished at a higher rate for similar infractions of rules at schools? It is the black male, portrayed as unruly at every chance and oftentimes unfairly. And most of the time black male students are disciplined more harshly for any type of acting out. I don't believe the featured teacher is racist, but he is struggling. The story was racially tainted toward the negative. The racial divide in this town is still very evident. And someone needs to take the first step in changing the pattern for those who missed the plane of acceptance 50 years ago.

Downtown bands

THE CAPE Girardeau Municipal Band is enjoyed by only a small amount of the citizens of the community. The money could be better spent having concerts on the riverfront. The concerts could be local country, rock, jazz, Big Band and blues bands that alternate weekends. During the summer months, this would draw more people to the downtown area to the shops, restaurants, and bars. The Old Town Cape organization could possibly add some funding for this also.

They're still dead

THOUGH A Speak Out caller thought it inane, the comment that doctors kill more patients than accidentally discharged guns do was, according to my survey, the most popular in Speak Out history. The angry caller who deemed the comment inane said that the distinction is that doctors don't kill their patients intentionally. True enough, but that seems to be a distinction without a difference to the victims.