Speak Out 10/7/05

Made my day

"A ONE-PARTY Republican regime has left us stuck with a government of ideologues and cronies who, when things get tough, sound awfully like Marxist apparatchiks chanting the party line." That one line from syndicated columnist Gene Lyons made my day, week, month, year and life. After thinking about what I just said, I realize many of you may conclude that I must lead a very boring life.

Making a case

QUOTING A U.S. Department of Agriculture study to make the case for corn-based ethanol is like quoting the Quran to make the case for Christianity.

Endangered middle class

THANK YOU, Southeast Missourian, for including a differing viewpoint on your editorial page. As a lifelong Republican, I thoroughly enjoy reading the columns by Gene Lyons. Instead of the Republican Partybabble, Lyons supports his articles with facts, logic and common sense. Unfortunately, President Bush and his neoconservatives are doing an incredibly bad job. Except for the wealthiest Americans, virtually every other segment of our society is suffering, especially in the long term. The middle class better wake up and object to our government's direction before we become an endangered species. Oh, that's right. President Bush is trying to get rid of the Endangered Species Act too. The middle class will just go extinct.

Not convincing

CAL THOMAS' Sunday column could have convinced us that Republicans really do care about poor people and black people and that all indications to the contrary were simply media hype. But there was this other article on the front page that said Missouri's Republican-led Medicaid reform commission has canceled both of its scheduled hearings in southern Missouri, where the largest percentage of Medicaid recipients in the state live. I am most grateful for our free press.

Spending to rebuild

WE SPENT billions of dollars to rebuild Europe and Japan after World War II. Now some Speak Out callers don't want to spend one red cent rebuilding decimated parts of our own nation. This is outrageous and borders on treason.

Spending too much

FOR YEARS and years, it was always thought that you should save at least 5 percent and preferably 10 percent of your total earnings. During August, Americans spent six-tenths of a percent more than what we earned. What in the heck is wrong with people? Don't they understand what they're doing?

Minimum wages

IT TAKES some good wits to do some minimum-wage jobs. Just because it doesn't pay much doesn't mean it's an easy job. It takes money to go to school to get a better job. Have you looked at the price of college tuition or vocational-school tuition? I see minimum-wage workers working harder than the higher income bracket that wants to keep them down. Harry Truman said, you can keep the low-educated down in a ditch, but don't forget you've got to be down there with them to keep them down.

Dangerous cycling

I'M ALL for exercise and people riding bikes, but couldn't they make a trail for cyclists? Why do they have to ride down County Road 621? Somebody's going to get hurt or killed one of these days.

Good part of town

I AM glad that the Cape Girardeau Post Office is relocating back to Frederick Street. There are many things that aren't centrally located to the people who live in this part of town. If everything in this part of town is put on the west part of town, there won't be anything left in the good part of town. The bad part of town is where you can't drive down the street at 5 o'clock in the afternoon because it's full of drug dealers, prostitutes and guns. This area around the post office is a respectable part of town where property owners care about their property.

Every detail

I READ the comment that Rush Limbaugh's drug problems should be a private affair. Did the Republicans leave President Clinton's problem to him and his wife? No, they gave us every pornographic detail, being the good Christians we know they are.

Not following rules

I'M AMAZED at the number of drivers on our highways and byways who can't read and are car blind. Road crews put up speed limit signs and paint yellow lines, but no one seems to see them. Stop signs? Forget them. Yellow means floorboard it. Red means we got there first. Last Friday morning at about 9:45 a.m., we were westbound on William Street as it crosses I-55. We were in the right lane with a small 24-passenger Durham school bus from Belton, Mo. in the left lane. The light turned yellow, and we stopped. The bus went on after the light turned red. The bus ran the next light on yellow also at full steam ahead. What's wrong with people that they cannot follow rules?

True heart of Cape

THE MAIN Cape Girardeau Post Office on Frederick Street is not in a bad part of town. It is in Old Town Cape, which is the soul of the town. Yes, a post office branch is needed on the west side to serve those who choose to live in the urban sprawl of suburbia. But to call the area around the university and the post office the bad part of town shows blindness to the true heart of Cape.

Wonderful meal

CHURCH SUPPER. We would like to say a job well done to the persons in charge of the church supper at Egypt Mills Trinity Lutheran Church last Saturday. This was one of the best meals we have eaten in a long time. It was well-organized. Everything was beautiful. Everyone was so friendly. So thanks again. Just keep up the good work.

Speaking for America

THANK GOD for David Limbaugh's excellent analysis of the liberal-left propaganda machine that has invaded America. David's voice of reason for the moral majority in opposition to the anything-goes liberal ideology is inspirational and will save America. Keep speaking up for America, David.

Big T-shirt

MY GRANDDAUGHTER sold some things for her school in order to get a T-shirt with her name on it. She was really excited. She sold the products, but when she received her shirt, it was so large that no one in her family could wear it. What kind of kindergartner can wear an adult shirt? Shame on the elementary school.

Let's start over

THE "MOON question" editorial was wonderful. It is only one question among many concerning what our government spends on things we could, or should, be able to do without, especially in times of crises. I overheard a comment the other day which made a lot of sense: We should scrap everything and start over from the bottom with essentials only. American taxpayers are funding many programs we cannot afford or even logically justify. Whatever we find about other planets will more than likely never benefit our world. NASA provides jobs for many people and companies at our expense.

Dynamite band

FOR BEING such a small band, the Oran High School band is awesome. It not only sounds great, but it looks and moves great. The old saying that dynamite comes in small packages is true in this case. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to hearing you at both the girls' and boys' basketball games. You keep the crowd and teams pepped up.