Speak Out 1/27/10

Safer car seats

IN response to the story "About face: Car seat experts now recommend parents keep children in rear-facing seats for longer than a year": Kudos to the Southeast Missourian for including this article about rear-facing car seats. So many people can't wait until their child turns 1 to turn them forward-facing, but they don't realize that can do much greater harm than good. Most seats now rear-face to 35 pounds with a few rear-facing up to 45 pounds. There is no reason for a child under 3 or so to be forward facing. It is a shame that more parents don't take the time to find what is best for their child. Parents can go to www.joelsjourney.org to see a very scary but real story about what happened to a little boy who was forward facing in an accident. Too often we see children in inappropriate seats under 4 or no seats at all in this area. My child is 28 months old and has never been forward-facing. Please, parents, consider keeping them rear-facing longer or even turning you child back around. It could mean life or death.

Delivery tips

I work in the food-service industry, and sometimes my work requires me to deliver food. It's depressing that you can pull up to one of the Cape Girardeau "castles" and not receive even a smile as a tip. But you can go to a random apartment and get a 40 percent tip. Gas isn't cheap, and I would prefer to come out ahead when I leave work.

Big victories

LAST week was the greatest week in a long time if you are Republican. First Brown wins as senator from Massachusetts to be the 41st vote to squelch Obamacare. Even better, the Supreme Court has said it's legal for businesses and corporations to fight against the attempted socialist takeover of our country by removing limits whenever they want to buy pro-business political ads. And the free speech of talk radio was protected under the same ruling. Three cheers for freedom. Socialism as put forth by the Democrats has taken a big hit and is in a smoky tailspin.

Government for sale

ONCE again the U.S. Supreme Court has missed the point that all the rest of us can see. The problem is not a shortage of money in our elections. The problem is too much money. And the justices have made it worse. By their actions, the activist justices have declared that government at all levels is for sale to the highest bidder. This court has no interest in protecting the rights of average Americans. The justices seem interested only in assuring that their right-wing buddies in Congress get elected and re-elected. This is the same activist Supreme Court bias that gave us eight years of Bush-Cheney in the White House.

State of decline

ACCEPT it. Deal with it. Get on with your life. Our ineffective federal government (it doesn't matter who is in power) reflects the fact that America is in a permanent state of decline.

Responsible voting

THE Massachusetts election took away the easy way out for Republican senators. Up till now they could vote no, knowing the bill would pass anyway. Now they will have to consider the contents of the bills and take some responsibility.

Use reconciliation

U.S. Senate Democrats should do the right thing and pass the health care bill through a process known as reconciliation. It would require only 51 votes. Bush did it several times, including his tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy disaster. This would turn out to be a plus for the country. If the Democrats suffer from it in the short run, so be it.

Haitian state?

AFTER things settle a bit, the Haitians should have a referendum. They should be presented with three alternatives: Remain as an independent nation, have an unincorporated territorial relationship with the U.S. as is the case with Puerto Rico, or become the U.S.'s 51st state. It is up to them to decide, but I would prefer the third choice.

GI Bill isn't free

THE Montgomery GI Bill is not totally free. We contribute $100 a month for 12 months in order to be eligible for it.

Donations for Haiti

I would recommend that donations be made to reputable private organizations. If you make your donation to the government, your money will disappear in the bureaucracy. We donate enough money to the government. It's called the federal income tax.

Benefits, salary

I am retired and consider the monthly check that I receive a part of the salary I earned when I was still working. If that had not been a part of the deal, my employer would have had to pay me more while I was working so that I could have saved enough to pay for my own retirement. People who go into the military know that they have the GI Bill waiting for them when they get out. I am sure they consider it a part of their salary, because the salary they receive while they are serving their country isn't very much.