Speak Out 1/10/07

Mailbox problem

THERE IS nothing more unsightly and unsafe than all the mailboxes popping up on posts beside curbs in Cape Girardeau, especially in south Cape. Besides destroying parking places and creating a nuisance to mow around, there is no way a streetside mailbox can be safer than one on the front porch. In the case of streets where parking is only allowed on one side, how are you supposed to get your mail when your neighbors park in front of your mailbox?

Hard water

THEBES, ILL., has a newly appointed mayor. Now let's see if he can do his job. Thebes has water issues. Hard water is corroding our pipes and utensils. Dishwashers are stopping up after only a couple of years of use. Hot-water heaters are corroding quickly. Coffeepots are only usable for about a year. Icemakers in refrigerators are going bad quickly. So what is the hard water doing to our bodies?

Work harder

THE MINIMUM-wage issue confuses me no end. We all know that whenever government gets involved in the private sector, it's a disaster. Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security are examples. I used to work on farms in the summer when I was a kid. Then when I turned 16, I took an after-school job in retail. I worked for minimum wage for about 30 days, then I started getting regular raises and some additional raises because I worked hard. The only other time I worked for minimum wage after that was when I was in college and worked in one of the administrative offices on campus 20 hours a week in addition to my off-campus jobs. The majority of employers that start you at minimum offer regular raises, and many offer incentives for exceptional work. The answer to minimum wages is not more government involvement. It is personal responsibility. If you do not want to work for minimum wage, work harder. It worked for me.

Wage inflation

AS EXPLAINED in a recent editorial, Missouri's minimum-wage law is bad. An annual increase based on the cost of living is going to price Missouri workers out of the market. Think about it: If the federal minimum wage goes to $7.25 in 2009, all the surrounding states will have a minimum wage of $7.25. When the cost-of-living increase hits and Missouri's minimum goes to $7.50, it will be cheaper for companies to relocate to the surrounding states, and jobs will leave Missouri.

Driving rule

MISSOURI SHOULD adopt the "No Pass-No Drive, Three Strikes You're Out" rule. Under this rule, a driving-age student must provide proof of passing grades to be able to obtain and keep a driver's license. If students get any tickets while driving on a beginner's license, they have to wait until their 18th birthday to get a license. The law is a good one. It makes children keep their grades up.

Low expectations

I'VE YET to understand how we can be excited that our career and technology center is proud to be turning out students who can "figure basic math and follow directions." Have we dumbed down our education so far that we are excited that 17- and 18-year-olds can do these tasks? Surely this is what we would expect from late elementary school students. Perhaps there is a connection to our having such a low graduation rate along with achieving minimal MAP scores. We sure don't seem to expect much of our students.

Opening the mail

SINCE THE Bush administration is opening our mail, perhaps postal service employees should wear uniforms emblazoned with letter openers.

Postal uniforms

CONCERNING POSTAL carriers not being in uniform while on duty for mail delivery: I guess I was under the mistaken impression that it was required for ID. If not, it should be. Our rural carriers always have had their vehicles marked as such, why can't the postal-service carriers on the street at least wear an approved uniform?

Support the library

I LIVED in Cape Girardeau for more than 30 years and relocated nearly three years ago. I read the Missourian online and enjoy keeping up with events and comments about the community. Bill Springer's letter about the library of his childhood and supporting the local library was so enjoyable. It reminded me of the many hours I spent at the Carnegie Library in my hometown. I hope the community supports the expansion of the public library. It offers so many services and is vital for readers, book lovers and citizens of all ages.

Keeping up

THE CURRENT minimum wage increase in Missouri has caused a lot of discussion. Shortly, the federal minimum wage will be increased over a two-year period to $7.25 an hour. For the past six years large companies, not small ones, have enjoyed huge profits but have failed to share some of those profits with the people who got these corporations their huge profits. Around the Cape Girardeau area several jobs can be obtained at approximately $8 and hour. It is hard to make a living in this day and age at that type of hourly rate, so some people in this area are working two or three jobs in an attempt to make ends meet. The cost of living in Cape Girardeau County is as high if not higher than it is in the St. Louis area where wages are higher. It is time that wages for our area keep up with the changing times.

Do the test

CAN YOU imagine how much money the state would save if everyone had to pass a drug screening before receiving a welfare check?

Virtual solution

FIRST THEY take away the paddle at school. Then they take away teaching and substitute how to take the MAP test. Now cupcakes. Why don't we keep our children home and use the virtual school set up by Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education? Our children could learn what's important, eat healthy and have a long recess. Plus it might eliminate some of the administrators, and our taxes would go down when the high salaries disappeared. Everyone would win.

Homemade lunches

MY SON was obese, and other children made fun of him. He got seconds during lunchtime at school every day. I started sending his lunch, and he's lost 16 pounds. If a parent doesn't like what a school serves, send your own food.

Arts outing

GOOD WORK, Matt Sanders. You got my husband away from the television and out into the real world of First Friday. He even had a glass of wine Friday night at one of the galleries rather than sit in his recliner and crunch beer cans while watching the WWF.

Official greeter

RICK PROCTOR should be the official greeter of Cape Girardeau. He puts more smiles on faces than anyone else in this town.

Great honor

MY SON will be enrolled in Robert Friedrich's class next year. He doesn't know that yet, but it would be an honor for any student to be taught by such a great artist.

Supporting the arts

I AM glad that Central High School encourages its staff to interact with the community and support the arts. We need more teachers like Robert Friedrich, who is willing to put in hours and hours after school so that the general public will have an exhibit that will be talked about for a long time. Thank you, and hats off to him.