Speak Out 10/4/07

Lenient judges

REGARDING THE drug dealer on Rampart Street; If you go to Missouri Case.net (www.courts.mo.gov/casenet), you can see that this offender has a track record going back 15 to 20 years of drug selling and other infractions. Yet judges keep giving probation or a slap on the wrist. And he's not the only one. I suggest citizens take time to look at who's in the police report and then look some of them up on Case.net and see how many times they've been arrested and how many times they've been let go for things such as selling drugs. Those people are selling to our children, yet judges keep letting them out. Start noticing which judges keep letting these criminals go. Stop putting those judges back in office. We tend to blindly re-elect judges, and that needs to end.

Interest-group politics

A RECENT Missourian op-ed column seemed to suggest that interest-group politics began with Roosevelt and the New Deal in 1936. The writer, though a historian, appeared to be totally unaware that interest-group politics was much older than that. Groups like the railroad companies, the meatpacking industry, the sugar growers, the loggers and various other interest groups have been trading support from the government for their tax money and their favorite projects for any number of years. Seldom have I seen such in this reading of history. Interest-group politics did not begin in 1936. It finally expanded to include the average person, not just wealthy business.

Ethanol pollution

WHY IS Cape Girardeau not concerned about all the pollution that will be released into the air by the three proposed ethanol plants in the Nash Road area? The prevailing wind is southwest and will carry that pollution right over Cape.

Obnoxious burning

I AM amazed by the people who have burn piles going with no regard for the terrible smell and smoke that their neighbors have to endure. I wish the city would have a no-burn order and strictly enforce it so we can enjoy sitting on our porches and enjoy the great outdoors this time of the year.

Pigs and squirrels

READING DAVID Limbaugh's thoughts about what is happening inside the Democratic party is like listening to a pig talk about treeing squirrels.

Thanks for 911 call

I WANT to thank the man who was so nice to call 911 for my husband Friday evening at Drury Lodge. It was so thoughtful. I'm sorry I did not get his name. My husband is still in the hospital, but he is doing better.

Where's the asphalt?

WE IN northern Cape Girardeau County were promised County Road 419 from Friedheim to Route B, less than two miles, was to be blacktopped this year. It was prepared last year for blacktopping. Then county officials said we would get chip and seal, which we do not want. Here it is October and nothing has been done. Promises, promises. Hereafter, I will vote no on all taxes.

Think for yourself

THE PERSON who said global warming is part of a natural cycle is dead wrong. The rapid increase in Earth's temperature at this time in our history is directly related to human activity and is not a natural occurrence. Stop listening to politicians who are controlled by big oil. It's called thinking for yourself.

Late bloomer

SOME OF the worst teachers my child had were in the third and fourth grades, so how dare anyone suggest we should be like Germany and tag children by the age of 10 for vo-tech or college bound. Now my child is in high school and makes the honor roll.