OpinionJanuary 24, 2012
Speak Out 1/24/12
A recent letter to the Southeast Missourian said that the Social Security system was like a Ponzi scheme. This is not correct for a number of reasons. First, it has endured for 76 years and has never missed a monthly payment. Its characteristics make it a model for private pension systems. ...
Social Security
A recent letter to the Southeast Missourian said that the Social Security system was like a Ponzi scheme. This is not correct for a number of reasons. First, it has endured for 76 years and has never missed a monthly payment. Its characteristics make it a model for private pension systems. Contributions are mandatory; you can't dip into your savings until you are eligible. Benefits are pegged to inflation. Financing is secure. There are no fees and administrative costs. So this makes it quite different from a Ponzi scheme.
Accident concerns
THE new Bloomfield Road is really nice. It is a lot better than it used to be. But when you come off 206 onto Bloomfield Road, that is an accident waiting to happen. You have to get so far out there because you can't see around those blocks. It is really dangerous, and I am going to try not to use it much.
No to uniforms
NO to school uniforms. The vast majority of teachers don't like the idea. Parents don't want them. That was evident at the Jan. 9 forum. Students hate the idea. Don't confuse private schools with publicly funded education. Freedom of choice and diversity are two of the main reasons we took our children out of a parochial school and sent them to Central High School.
Cape Roller Girls
YOU'RE really missing something if you haven't seen the Cape Girardeau Roller Girls in action. They are tough, competitive and entertaining. The Arena Building is packed when they skate. Get your tickets and come. All of the ladies are crowd pleasers and fierce competitors, but my favorite is Bobby Soxx.
Uniform proposal
THE people overwhelmingly say no to school uniforms. We were at the school board forum, and 27 of 29 people who were allowed to speak denounced this naive proposal to "equal the playing field." It will do nothing of the sort. Listen to the voters, school board, or risk losing your jobs at the next election.
Voting precincts
NICE try. Cape Girardeau's voting precincts have not been consolidated to save money as you wrote. They have been consolidated so as to make it more difficult for many to get to the polls and thus suppress the vote. Advantage Republicans.
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SEMO basketball
THE Southeast men's basketball team is getting better and better with each outing. Some may think it's wishful thinking, but I can easily see a scenario whereby Southeast is one of the 64 teams to qualify for March Madness, at some point plays and beats Georgetown, with Michael besting Otto Porter. Then they bump off the likes of the University of North Carolina and, in a rematch from early in the season, stun Mizzou. I am not yet ready to declare them national champs, but I do think they will qualify for the big dance and at least make the sweet 16. Go Redhawks!
Targeting strikes
SOME people think our president is weak and indecisive. More of al-Qaida's top leaders, including Osama bin Laden, have been eliminated during the last three years than in any other time during the war on terror. The difference is President Obama is using targeted precision strikes to go after our enemies rather than sending in our entire military.
Schnurbusch story
THANK you for the scintillating story on the athletic success of Southeast's Jill Schnurbusch. I was privileged to once have Jill as a student in high school. It was obvious at that time that she would be an unqualified academic and athletic success then and in the future. Jill consistently raises the bar for herself in academic achievement and, no pun intended, pole-vaulting prowess.
Broadway design
I am a firm believer that the stopping of parking on one side of Broadway is going to hurt business on the other side. Jackson put in the dividers on their new road. A man was getting ready to build a new business, and he changed his mind. You would have to drive a block or more to make a U-turn to come back on his side of the road. It all looks pretty, but it does away with the business advantage of being on a busy street. The divided roadways like Kingshighway and Mount Auburn Road are the best. You will still see accidents, as people don't know how to drive.
Deficit solution
THE budget deficit in America has a really easy fix. Let the states take care of their indigent population, have unemployment insurance cut to 16 weeks and give tax incentives to employers who expand production and employment. Lower our president's salary to $1 a year with rent, utilities, groceries and clothing included. All reasonable travel expenses shall be paid for by the president. Overseas travel will be limited. All funds in the federal government's coffers, after all expenses are paid, shall be evenly divided among all senators and representatives. As with the president, senators and representative shall be allowed office expenses, a modest apartment in Washington, D.C., and a modest clothing allowance. All reasonable business travel expenses will be allowed. All expenses shall be under tight scrutiny by the losing president, senator or representative from the last election.
Sloppy driving
NINETY percent of the drivers in Cape Girardeau don't understand the concept of lane usage. When turning, turn from one lane to the nearest lane without crossing any lanes. Then signal and change lanes if you need to be in another lane. It is the only way traffic can merge. You wouldn't get away with driving so sloppily in St. Louis.
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