Speak Out 10/21/06

Speaking the truth

In response to Matt Sanders' column "Where everybody's all the same": I agree with his comments about the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. The arts council truly caters to the white middle-class to upper-class people of Cape Girardeau. Some of the personalities you meet are not in touch with the realities of the world. This organization could be great if the membership would be more cordial toward people who are less fortunate and not shun people outside their little clique. If these improvements were made, I guarantee the membership would increase along with art-loving customers visiting the art galleries.

Failing schools

THE EDUCATION for All Handicapped Children Act of 1977 guaranteed a free education for students with disabilities. Roughly 11 percent of all students now qualify at a cost of $6.9 million, which is strapping many school districts. This act apparently includes live-in schooling, and one family is suing a school district in Colorado for the $135,000 annual fee for their child to be institutionalized under the guise of education. With that act and No Child Left Behind, our politicians have, as usual, taken good and sympathetic ideas that went way too far. Somewhere along the line, we have forgotten that families should bear the majority of responsibilities of parenthood. The government, in placing so much emphasis on students who cannot or will not learn, has harmed those students who can and will.

School spending

IT USUALLY costs less to send a child to a private or parochial school. This was proven at least a decade ago when a St. Louis-area pastor fought for bus privileges for parochial students. He justified the request by comparing the tuition the parents paid with what local schools spent per student. The difference was several thousands of dollars per year per student. Parents of private-school students pay school taxes for which they receive no real benefit. Since it is less costly to educate each child in a private school, and statistics still show they receive a better education, then why are we not fighting to eliminate public education and go to a private system with our school taxes paying for a better education for less money?

Campaign truth

I WILL petition Missouri's congressional delegation to place into law that all political ads must be true and proof presented upon request. I feel people of this state should have factual information on which to make voting decisions. I am tired of hearing an ad against a candidate knowing the information being spewed is totally false. Thirty-second sound bites win elections. Who will stand up with me on the truth for a change?

Stand up to VA

AS A young lad in Southeast Missouri, a friend's father was hospitalized in Poplar Bluff at the Veterans Administration hospital. He served four years in World War II and was promised and received health care from the VA. Vietnam vets also received care at VA hospitals until a few years ago when the VA started to classify them by how much money their family made or had. With today's returning vets, care is being meted out, and many are not getting the care they need. Many of these guys and gals never knew what their exposures would bring in later life. They are finding out. As they require treatment and medications, the VA is no longer there for them. This is a travesty. Stand up for them or no one will stand up for you when it is your turn.