Speak Out 1/27/12

School board thanks

JAN. 22 to 28 has been dedicated by Gov. Nixon as Missouri's School Board Appreciation Week. Thank you for volunteering your time to help improve academic performance.

Stop smoking

THE American Lung Association gives Missouri a failing grade for its tobacco control efforts. Why? It is because all the money that was won in the lawsuits Congress used for other things. Probably more pay raises for themselves, too. That should have all gone to help people who wanted to stop smoking. I was one myself. The only way I finally quit was I had an accident that put me in the hospital for a week and was on the verge of having to go on oxygen.

Uniform cars

I wish that everyone would drive the same kind of car. You know, like uniforms. Mine is 20 years old, and when I drive around and I see someone else with a new expensive SUV, that hurts my self-esteem.

Dress code

IT'S so obvious that the parents do not want this dress code. It's also obvious this committee has already made its mind up and plans to ignore what the people want. The school board needs to pay attention to the people.

Internet censorship

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt's quick about-face on his support for Internet censorship illustrates perhaps a revolutionary growth of people power among Internet users. It's a good thing because members of Congress know less about the Internet than I know about working for a living.