Speak Out 1/12/09

Thinking for us

I WONDER if anybody has ever stopped to think about how much our news media, especially the commentators on TV, try to tell us what to believe. They interpret, supposedly, what somebody else has said and tell us what they said and what we need to believe. In other words, they shape our beliefs, and we act as if we don't have any choice but to believe what they tell us. It's amazing and also disgusting that we are so gullible and don't have enough thinking in our own heads to think for ourselves.

Equal treatment

I'D LIKE to comment on the buyouts of big corporations, companies and banks. I know they desperately need help to keep the economy going. But the employees of all those corporations have been hurting for years. Somebody needs to help buy them out. Did the employers try to give them a raise to help them when they were hurting? Now those employers have their hands out wanting the government to help them. What goes around comes around. If mistreat your employees, it might come back to haunt you.

Fruitland lights

THE MISSOURI Department of Transportation needs to fix the lights at Fruitland again. The stoplights are messed up, They are red when there's no reason. Southbound traffic has green lights. How come northbound traffic doesn't?

Product safety

I JUST got some information on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. I don't understand why I haven't heard anything about before. I'm a yard-saler, and I love secondhand shops. I don't understand why the new law that is taking effect next month, which bans the sale of any kind of used products for kids under 12. If anybody can tell me more about this, I would love to hear it.

Recycling concern

I LIVE in Scott City. I recently received my water bill, which talked about recycling and going green. But on the back, it says, "But remember, tin cans, glass, commercial piece mill boxes are not acceptable or recyclable goods." My question is why not? Tin cans and glass are two of the most improperly disposed of items.

Doing the job right

THREE TIMES now I have ordered cheeseburgers at the same place that failed to add the cheese. Last year I had my leaves at the curb as instructed, and they're rotting or blowing away. If I had surgery and the surgeon ran out of suturing material before he finished sewing me up, would he say, "Well, he's almost sewed up"? Whether it's cheese, leaves or surgery, we all have a responsibility to do our job well. First and foremost, you have to care.

Congressional pay

THE ECONOMY is in trouble. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs. Those of us fortunate enough to have a job will most likely not get a pay raise this year, unless you are a member of Congress. The Democratic-controlled Congress had a chance to vote to cancel this year's automatic pay raise. The legislators chose not to. So while the rest of us suffer, every member of Congress will receive a $4,700 pay raise. It must be nice.

Offensive remark

I AM a resident of Cape Girardeau and often work as an outside consultant. It is with great dismay that I read Mayor Jay Knutson's remarks in the paper regarding the search for the new city administrator. When he states that "anything having to do with a consultant is a nasty word," I don't think he realized he was making an offending remark to his Cape Girardeau constituents who serve in that capacity.

Incredible kids

THANKS FOR sharing the story about Iliana and Austin. It's great to read about kids making a difference. They sound like two caring, incredible kids.

Moving to socialism

CAL THOMAS, David Limbaugh and other columnists need to accept the fact that Americans have seen the abject failure of free-market economics and want to move more in the direction of democratic socialism.

Get involved

PLEASE STOP grouping all teachers into the same criticism-laden pile. Every subject and every grade level, as well as each class group, is a unique experience for a teacher. Homework practices vary. Hours spent working vary. Dedication to the job varies (as in all professions). I spend 45 to 60 hours a week involved in my teaching profession and grade over 10,000 answers every week. If I have students trade papers on an assignment, that's a small but helpful portion of my total workload, plus it provides them with immediate feedback on their work. Berating teachers in the newspaper will not motivate anyone. Try becoming active in the school district to identify problems and implement an action plan to resolve them if you are an interested and concerned community member.

Trashy Cape

I AM tired people using Cape Girardeau's parks, yards and schools as trash cans. As I walk the streets of Cape Girardeau I see a wonderful park spotted with plastic bags and bottles. The grounds of the middle school and junior high school are littered with fast-food wrappers. Broadway and Themis Street are consistently speckled with litter. Cigarette butts are everywhere. Cape looks like a low-class town because of this. It makes me sad and frustrated that people don't have more respect for others and our town. Please keep trash in your car and throw it in a trash can later. If you are out and about, pick up some trash, even if you didn't put it there. The residents and government of Cape Girardeau should not stand for trash in our streets and should get active about stopping it.

Too many dogs

I NEVER understood why some service workers disliked dogs so much until my job required going into backyards on a regular basis. I no longer trust a dog on a chain or behind a fence. There are some neighborhoods in Cape Girardeau that sound like you're in the middle of the pound with dogs barking in every direction. And most owners, when told their dogs attacked, can only say, "Not my dog."

Jobs and tax cuts

I WISH columnist David Limbaugh would take that silver spoon out of his mouth so he would have a better view of the big picture. After numerous years of U.S. jobs being shipped overseas, what we need right now is job creation. If we spend money to rebuild the infrastructure, we will create jobs. These will be good-paying jobs for taxpaying U.S. citizens. Anyone with any common sense would realize that the first ones to tighten their purse strings during tough times are not the wealthiest individuals in the nation. It's the middle class. If you provide wealthy people with extra cash, how does that stimulate the economy? What would you do with your tax refund, Mr. Limbaugh? A middle-class family might use the refund to purchase an item they have been in need of for quite some time, like a new refrigerator to replace the energy-guzzling one they have, or new tires so they will feel safe taking their children to school. These are things the upper class would never go without. Tax cuts to the middle class and job creation are what this country needs.

New book idea

DAVID LIMBAUGH recently wondered if all Republicans have, in essence, become Democrats because of their apparent support for various aspects of president-elect Obama's stimulus package. The answer is yes. Perhaps Limbaugh could write a sequel to his wildly popular book, "Bankrupt," and argue that his thesis of bankruptcy was correct but that he had the wrong political party.

Tossed from patrol car

A COMMENT said police should give people $200 tickets for littering when they toss their cigarette butts out their car windows. The person making that comment was not riding in my car recently while I was stopped at an intersection behind a patrol car. The policeman tossed a cigarette butt out of his car. I have some swamp land to sell you if you think he would give himself a ticket for littering.

Pickup priorities

CITY TAXES have nothing to do with leaf pickup, which up is part of what you pay for trash service. Second, the workers in the street department who pick up your leaves are also the ones responsible for keeping snow and ice off the roadways. They work all day and all night if they are needed to keep the roads safe to drive on. They can't help it if they are behind on leaf pickup because of inclement weather. What's more important: picking up the leaves in your yard or keeping the ice and snow off the roads in Cape Girardeau?

Paying respect

I LIVE in Cape Girardeau. I am disappointed by the number of drivers who do not pull over out of respect during a funeral procession. I would think those in the funeral procession would appreciate all vehicles pulling over to pay their respects for their lost loved ones. Stop being selfish and pay your respects appropriately.