Speak Out 08/25/04

TO ALL of these people complaining about all of the drugs and alcohol in Scott City: Drugs and alcohol are everywhere. Come to New Hamburg, Oran, Chaffee, Delta, Jackson, Cape Girardeau. They are everywhere.

Showers at the fair

IN RESPONSE to the comment concerning shower facilities at Arena Park: You are welcome to address the entire fair board with your plans for a more modern shower facility. Please be prepared with construction plans approved by the city, expected costs and how you propose to pay for it. Perhaps if you had become involved sooner, you could have had your modern shower facility ready for this year's fair.

Top ignoramus

CONTRARY TO a Kansan's claim, Rush Limbaugh is not the No. 1 ignoramus on right-wing talk radio. That ignominious distinction belongs to Sean Hannity. As an aside, the right-wing talk show host with the greatest intellectual capacity is the sanity challenged Michael Savage.

No more tax increases

AFTER THE city council blackmailed us into voting for the sales-tax increase by threatening to take away much needed services, now the school board is raising our taxes without our vote. We moved from a big city after we retired because we could not afford the real estate taxes, but Cape Girardeau is getting to be almost as bad. As long as we live, we will never vote for another tax increase. We will also vote against every member of this school board in the next election. Let them learn to live within their budget like we retirees do.

Human nature

I AM the single mother of a teenage girl. Believe me when I say if someone is going to look at a young girl's rear end, it doesn't matter if there are letters on her shorts or not. It is called human nature, like it or not.

Not the city pound

IF THE Humane Society would like a new building, maybe it should ask the city for more money. If the city would cooperate and contribute more, then the Humane Society would be viewed as just that and not as the city pound.

The right to bike

I RIDE a bicycle out of necessity more than pleasure. It is great exercise, but it is also dangerous. I have to be alert at all times so I don't become road kill. I pay taxes and have as much right to the roads as motorists, regardless of the condition the shoulder.

Voters nixed water park

I CANNOT believe how short some people's memories are. There was a proposal for a Cape Girardeau water park, and you voted it down. Doesn't anyone but me remember that?

Stop causing problems

TO THE Army National Guard family support groups in Cape Girardeau and Perryville from the 1140th soldiers in Iraq: We deployed soldiers appreciate the majority of the individuals in the groups' hard work and attempts to keep our families informed. To the few of you who are causing problems, we're also tired of all the gossip, backbiting, and unnecessary solicitations to local businesses. Mind your own business and stop distracting us from fighting this war. And stop causing unnecessary worries for our families.

Stabilize Iraq first

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with David Limbaugh's implication that Iran might be and should be our next target. At the same time, I hope that he would agree with me that we must first stabilize Iraq before we start bellowing, "On to Iran!"

Setting the standard

THE CAPE Girardeau School Board would have much better luck gaining my financial support if I thought the district would use the money more wisely. I'd write a check today if I knew the money would go toward putting more teachers and counselors in the classrooms. The district should set the standard surrounding districts aspire to meet, not the other way around.