Speak Out 1/6/07

Give the raises

I THINK every taxpayer in Cape Girardeau needs to bombard both the city manager's office and the mayor's office until they give in on pay raises for city employees making minimum wage. We voted to raise the minimum wage in Missouri, and the city needs to adhere to the spirit of the law and the wishes of the voters. Yes, I understand it's going to cost the city more than $100,000 a year to give the raise. But I have seen this city waste more money on sidewalks in areas where people don't need them. There's money wasted all over the place. I think what our city is doing here is morally wrong.

Shameful stand

REGARDING THE minimum wage for part-time city workers in Cape Girardeau: It looks like the city is too cheap to pay the help. Everybody else around is paying the increased minimum wage. It's shameful for Cape to do this.

Social Security help

I HAVE a serious heart condition. I filed for Social Security disability. I didn't have to hire a lawyer. Everybody at the Social Security office was helpful.

Pay up, city

COME ON, city fathers. Can't you pay your real wages? You're trying to cheat the poor people out of another dollar or so. Pay them $6.50 an hour like you're supposed to.

Community payback

THE NEW minimum wage should be given to all eligible city workers. Anyone working is contributing to the community, and the community should pay more for the services provided them.

Thanks for lights

THANKS. I looked out my back door tonight, and there are lights on Linden Street. I appreciate them very much. We've had a dark street for years, and I had my back porch light working every night. All we need now are some stop signs so Linden Street won't be a racetrack from Sprigg Street to West End Boulevard. Thank you again.

High-end solution

I UNDERSTAND all the concern over the minimum-wage increase. I think it is going to hurt lower-income wage earners, because prices are going up. Why not stop giving upper management million-dollar bonuses? It is not like they could use the extra money like someone making $5.15 an hour.

Postal uniforms

POSTAL CARRIERS need to wear something to identify themselves. Years ago we had the same postman every day and knew him on sight as well as by uniform. Now there are different people carrying the mail, and some wear regular street clothes. It's a little disconcerting when a strange man comes up on your porch and reaches in your mailbox. You have to assume he's the postman. The casual dress has gone too far, I think.

Helping veterans

VETERANS DISABILITY is not the same as Social Security disability. It is set up for veterans to receive medical care and disability payment as well as vocational rehab. There are veterans who dearly need this program due to injuries they received in the military protecting this country. I hope and pray that no one gets disabled, but they should get the help that was promised to them. The Veterans Administration needs to find a way to speed up the process so that veterans can get some help. Veterans are the best in society and have sacrificed themselves so you can read this newspaper and write what you please and have your freedom. Veterans are the backbone of the United States and all that is good about this country.

Punching the clock

IF WE were to have our kindergartners clock in and clock out to enjoy recess and they were informed they would have to do so to be constructive contributions to society until they retired, people would be less dependent on the government for handouts. That's self-reliance. It's called contributing. Whether you work fast food or become a rocket scientist, take care of yourself to the best of your ability.

Pick and choose

SO CAPE Girardeau says it doesn't have pay the new minimum wage to its employees even though it's the law. If the city ever arrests me for anything, I will sue them for discrimination.

Not to Mexico

IF THE president signs any bill allowing illegals to send Social Security benefits to Mexico, I'll support his impeachment.

Logical decline

IN READING the news about retail sales during the Christmas season being lower than expected, we surely have to wonder: How did it come about that Christmas is what keeps many retailers in business? Unlike a few decades ago, we live in an era where we buy all year long, and children receive toys and games every time we take them shopping with us. It would seem that Christmas gift-giving would be declining.

Greedy owners

YES, HAVING sprinkler systems in nursing homes is a great idea. The concern over the expense for installing them is valid. The owners of some homes will not decrease their huge profits for any reason. One of my children works in a nursing home. It is outrageous to know that our elderly are paying $3,000 to $3,500 a month but are having such things as their juice rations cut back, or that the kitchen equipment is outdated and even unsafe. If one does a little research, one will find that a small percentage of these homes are considered desirable. Astoundingly, state-run homes rank higher than privately owned ones. We should all shudder at the thought of living our last years in a nursing facility while owners of many of them become millionaires.

Quality of life

I AM an only child, and my parents are elderly. I do not earn what I could earn somewhere like Los Angeles, New York or Chicago. But I still do quite well, because it is less expensive to live in Cape Girardeau than in big cities. I have a better quality of life, because we still have that small-town atmosphere and I'm only a couple of hours from the major metro areas of St. Louis and Memphis.