Speak Out 10/14

DDT worked for me

THIS IS about the stupid remark about DDT. I am an 84-year-old man and was with the 15th Air Force in southern Italy. We had fleas and body and head lice. The body and head lice we got by sending our laundry to private homes. The Air Force issued 12-ounce cans of DDT to get rid of the lice and fleas. We powdered our bedclothes white and then we slept in it. DDT isn't toxic to humans. The reason it was taken off of the market was because it got in the water and affected the fish. It didn't hurt the fish but the eagles and waterfowl that ate the fish, causing their egg shells to be so thin, to hatch before they broke. If you keep the DDT out of the water, it would be no problem. Do you want dead humans or do you want unhatched eggs of eagles and waterfowl?

Abuse vs. harassment

I WOULD Like to know why is it when someone rich is charged with sexual abuse, it's called sexual harassment but when an individual's poor, it's called sexual abuse. There should be no difference. If a person is rich and they're charged with sexual abuse, it should be called sexual abuse, not sexual harassment.

Bring the boat

They should have let the gambling boat come in because we go to Caruthersville, and you'd be surprised at the people you see down at Caruthersville from Cape and Jackson, Sikeston and Perryville. They all say, well, it's no different than losing your money on that big bingo thing that came to Cape.

Big mistake

I THINK it would be a mistake to put stoplights on Route K by Notre Dame Regional High School. It would turn out to be a death trap just like out there at the Fruitland exit where all those stoplights are. There have been more bad accidents than there had before they put the lights up. It's all due to cars, it's not the trucks involved.

Iraq's game

ON A recent rainy afternoon, I noticed how bored my sons seemed to be, playing in those boxes that his toys came in. So I asked him if he would like to play a game. He said "Sure, Dad, I would love that." I said, "Now here are the rules. I want you to find three butcher knives, a bottle of bleach, a can of paint thinner and a box of rat poison but you cannot go into the kitchen, pantry, or basement." He reluctantly said "OK" and began to look behind furniture, under the bed and finally said, "Now come on, Dad, let's be realistic. We're in America. I don't like playing by Iraqi rules."

Safety not first

MODOT SAYS safety first, no matter the hardships and loss of homes, businesses, churches and the cost. Now they give a reprieve to the most dangerous area in Jackson, where every accident (and there are lots of them) is in one way or another connected to left turns. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for the businesses as everyone should be. Without them Jackson would be in big trouble. But one thing we all know is that MoDOT's safety slogan won't wash.

Trade, don't trip

GIVE DAY trading a break, caller. It beats day tripping for a rush.

Kudos to Cape

KUDOS TO Cape's school board for rejecting the proposal of Prestwick Plantation developers. There is just no disputing the fact that the developers are attempting to use TIF for purposes not intended by those who passed this worthwhile legislation. My only concern is that somewhere down the road the school board may be tempted to compromise. Please don't. Stay the course.

All wrong

THE CALLER in the Oct. 9 Speak Out who blames St. Louis for Missouri's bad roads has it all wrong. You see, metro St. Louis accounts for over 40 percent of the state's economic activity. When combined with Kansas City, well over half of the state's economic output is in its two largest cities. Perhaps all of Missouri would have better roads if rural residents were more supportive of the metro areas in our state.