Speak Out 10/5/09

Trash plan

I have not talked to a single person who is in favor of the proposed trash pickup system for Cape Girardeau. It doesn't matter what we want or how it will be hard for the handicapped or the elderly. The fact that the city let us see the system in action doesn't mean a thing. City officials have already made up their minds. So we will go from being the city of roses to the city of ugly trash cans in yards. Maybe with a few colored lights on them no one would guess what they are.

Beautiful fall

HAS anyone noticed what a beautiful fall we're experiencing? I think we've been lucky this year. We've had a beautiful summer. The weather wasn't horribly hot like it was last year. The fall looks like it has a lot of promise. The days are beautiful. I know there's a lot of things going on in the world right now, but take the time to look at how beautiful God made everything for us.

Rundown lake

WHY has the state of Illinois abandoned Horseshoe Lake? I can remember when it was so beautiful. Now it is like a swamp with few fisherman, campers or hunters. Back in the day, the campgrounds would stay full. The state had the money to add two lanes to a road that served the area, but not a dime to clean up the lake. The people of Olive Branch, Ill., and the surrounding area would love to see the lake cleaned up. Please bring back Horseshoe Lake.

Public outcry

IT has become apparent that the only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is this: One party stands for law and order. The other stands for nothing unless the public outcry becomes so loud that they have to deal with it. It is really sad that the social organization responsible for President Obama reaching the office he now holds has had its true colors exposed. It makes me wonder if Obama knew what was going on.

Iran sanctions

IRAN'S President Ahmadinejad does not care who calls for sanctions. He does what he wants, no matter what anyone says or does to punish him. The man is intent on having a nuclear weapons program. He is a fierce opponent of the Jews and the nation of Israel. He wants to blow them off the face of the earth. This is not hyperbole. Listen to the hate-filled schlock the guy spews about Israel. The sanctions are a joke to him.

School safety

HAS any other parent had problems with the drop-off and pickup lane at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson? Parents leave their cars on both sides of the lane. Children are darting across the road. Teachers are parking in the lane. And there is no supervision whatsoever out front. This has been brought up to the administrator, but still no results.

Need regulation

JAMES Bowers (Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Literacy) calls for students to be educated in basic economic principles, though he fails to identify what they are. That likely because Mr. Bowers still believes an unregulated free market with the concomitant laws of supply and demand are sacrosanct, even though the events of the last year indicate the absolute necessity of government regulation and readiness to intervene in the economy once free-market capitalism takes us to the brink of collapse, as it always has and always will.

About processions

ENOUGH already with the comments on funeral processions. On a divided highway, those coming from the opposite direction do not need to stop. If they can do so safely without causing harm to drivers behind, so be it. I have seen many processions on Kingshighway going to Cape Memorial Park and every time have had to avert an accident. It may be necessary to do away with processions on streets such as Kingshighway, especially during peak travel times, for safety's sake. I believe people who pull over on a divided highways for funeral processions are trying to be respectful of the dead, but remember those traveling from behind aren't yet aware of the procession until it's too late. And if you must pull over for a procession on a divided highway, make sure it's not right after a hill or a blind spot. And always pull as far over as possible. Do not stop halfway in the middle of the roadway.