Speak Out 10/22/07

Republican't

What is a Republican?

No one can now say.

That's why the White House

They'll fritter away.

Use chip and seal

I LIVE in northern Cape Girardeau County, land of the forgotten people. Our county road was on the schedule to get blacktop this year, but we got shoved back in favor of someone else's road, obviously someone with more clout. We would be glad to have chip and seal on our road. Instead we get the road grader moving the dirt from one side to the other with no gravel in between.

Bus driving

I AM a Southeast Missouri State University bus driver. I would like to respond to the recent comment about bus drivers running red lights. I have been driving since I was 16, and now I am 62. I have had one accident when my vehicle was hit in a rear by another car. I think there is a great misconception of the drivers of large vehicles, whether it be a bus or an 18-wheeler. I watched another driver run a light at Normal Avenue and Sprigg Street at 40 mph. I have always been cautious at this intersection since a lot of students are not familiar with our area. I have had my signals on to make a right and have had cars and motorcycles go past me on the right side. These are just a few of the things these drivers look for when driving. The majority of the drivers I work with are conscientious of their work and the responsibility they have to the people they transport. I am thankful this person who will now drive a car instead of riding the bus has a vehicle to drive. So many do not. My dad always told me people who live in a glass house should not throw stones.

No sign of changes

AFTER CAPE Girardeau County voters approved the half-cent sales tax for road improvements and upgrades in the sheriff's department, I've noticed that the roads have not been fixed and the sheriff's department has not been upgraded. I will never vote another tax measure in this county again.

Feeding the hungry

WHAT'S WRONG with our city officials? The whole lot of them claims to be Christians. Where is your brotherly love? I've been to the Christ Church of the Heartland. The Holy Spirit is there. The Bible says to feed the hungry. Didn't Jesus feed the multitude that followed him? This city is turning into Sodom and Gomorrah. Look at what happened to them. As Christians, let's pray for this church. It is doing what Jesus asked us to do. City officials are messing with a higher power. I would be fearful.

For better sound

REGARDING THE public-address system at Houck Stadium: It is bad, but it's not an item the university can afford to address on its tight budget. Maybe people in the community could help all of us have a better sound system.

Outreach or scam?

I'M CALLING about the church selling food and the big furor it has created. Someone was quoted as saying, "We make a good living and we don't really need this food, but we like to buy it because it's cheaper." There is the problem. If it really is an outreach for the poor, that's one thing. But if it's something where people can get cheaper food, it's a scam.

Do it right

IF I recall correctly, it's been a little over a year since the Missouri Department of Transportation repaired all the holes on Interstate 55. Now MoDOT is doing it again. Somebody needs to step in and say, "You're doing this wrong. Do it right this time."

Growing corn

YOU RAN an article on the front page about genetically modified corn. From a farmers' point of view it would be wonderful if you could outlaw genetically modified corn worldwide. That way there'd be less corn and corn would become more valuable. But since you can't outlaw it worldwide and growers would still grow it in Argentina and Brazil, you'd better just leave it like it is.

Double standard

IT'S BEEN several months since Don Imus was fired over his racial remarks. What he said was inappropriate. Black leaders were quick to call for removing Imus from his job. The same black leaders promised that changes would take place in the lyrics of rap and hip-hop music. In watching MTV and listening to new rap and hip-hop releases, nothing seems to have changed on the part of black musicians. The old double standard seems to have reared it's ugly head once again.

Open campaign

A RECENT article by the Associated Press lamented the high number of public appearances our governor has made compared to Attorney General Jay Nixon. Since Nixon funnels most state legal work to lawyer cronies who in turn fund his campaign, he can quit the facade that he's doing his job and join the governor on the campaign trail any time he chooses.

Dog breeders

I HAVE a comment on the dog case in Rockview. If the people moved into the neighborhood with 32 dogs, were they not required at that time to have a breeder's license and were they not supposed to turn that information over to the Internal Revenue Service for collection on profits from the dog sales?