Speak Out 10/19/08

Runners trump golfers

IMAGINE MY surprise when I found out that I could not play golf at the Jaycees Municipal Golf Course on Friday because it was being closed in order for Southeast Missouri State University to hold a cross-country meet there. Southeast Missouri State University, municipal golf course, open to the public, tax-supported. I won't even go into all the reasons this was wrong. I hope the parks and recreation board will not do this again.

Waiting for help

I HAVE a 10-foot-high, 5-foot-wide, 200-foot-long pile of brush. I'm disabled. How much brush do you think I'm going to be able to get rid of by myself? Yes, I am dependent on city government. I sure hope the city crews come before somebody hits my car.

Right-wing boost

DAVID LIMBAUGH seems concerned that an Obama administration might shut down what Limbaugh wrongly describes as conservative talk radio. That aside, why would an Obama administration do such a thing? It is the very right-wing blowhards Limbaugh wants to protect who have helped propel Barack Obama to the verge of the presidency.

Don't blame Bush

TO THE person who was blaming his financial woes on President Bush: What have you been doing with your life in the past eight years? I have a job and make more money than I ever have. What's your excuse? It can't be Bush, because Bush hasn't affected my finances. There are plenty of jobs to be had. Just because it isn't your dream job doesn't mean that it's not a job. Quit waiting for the government to hold you hand.

Take off the limits

VOTE FOR Proposition A for the right reason. I am a schoolteacher. Regardless of where the money is supposed to go, I am voting for Proposition A because I do not feel the government has the right to tell me how much of my money I can or cannot gamble with. If I go gambling and I am willing to gamble with $5,000, that is my business. If the government knows what is best for our money, why are we in a financial crisis? Vote for Proposition A to get government out of that aspect of our lives. I hope the money goes to schools.

Muting the ads

I WISH the politicians would upgrade their campaign ads or stop them. I'm wearing out my mute button on my remote control. Every time they come on, I mute them. I've heard enough. It's ridiculous.

Driving advice

REGARDING THE comment giving driving advice and how you should drive in the left lane only if you're passing: That person is talking about state laws. On most state highways, that is the law. In Cape Girardeau, that is not the law. If this person would drive the speed limit, he wouldn't have to worry about somebody driving in the left lane. But they're speeding, so they're catching up to the vehicle in the way, and they don't like it.

Causing pollution

READING ALAN Journet's column about climate change. I would think he would know enough about climate history to know that it has been tropical in this part of Missouri. The ice age came almost this far south. What does he think caused those things because back then? It wasn't polluting, because we weren't here. It must be a higher power than Journet or the rest of us. I admit that we add to the pollution, but we are not the cause of it.

No help for the poor

EVERYBODY IS bailing out the bigwigs and the rich. What about the poor people who work? We've had bad credit because of our circumstances. We can't get a loan to pull ourselves out, but the rich get richer. What about us? I disagree with what the government is doing by bailing out the banks. The heck with the poor folks. There's no middle class. It's rich and poor.

Not cost-effective

SPECIAL-INTEREST groups that forced ethanol on us are at it again. This time, it's Proposition C, forcing utility companies to use subsidized renewables that are not cost-effective, causing your cost of living to go up again. Remember, utility companies can pass costs on legally. There is little incentive for them to keep costs down.

Waiting in the ER

REGARDING THE use of hospital emergency rooms by people with tummy aches: I agree that some people go there when they could possibly go to the doctors the next day. I went to the ER when I was coughing up large amounts of blood. I sat there more than six hours before I was seen. There was a man with his head cut open who waited after I did. A child was throwing up, and he was given a bucket. Another man, a diabetic, sat in a wheelchair. He was incoherent and had not eaten all day. He was there after I was examined. That's a long time to wait when you're in serious condition. Emergency rooms ought to have more personnel.

Long bus ride

I HAVE been traveling home from work on County Road 618 for the past couple months. A Jackson School District bus is still dropping off students at 4:30 p.m. This is way too late for children to be getting home from school. This is not the driver's fault. It is the school district's problem. The transportation department needs to split routes. An hour and 30 minutes is ridiculous to have these children riding on a school bus. This is not a one-time incident. It is every day.