PLEASE STOP trying to bait David Limbaugh into commenting on local issues. Even if Cape Girardeau's church-versus-state controversy concerning a church's food distribution business begs for his analysis, he has to live here and should not be expected to take a position on a local issue which would (either side he took) alienate substantial segments of the community.
I HAVE been trying to follow the information being released about the high dropout rates for the Cape Girardeau School District. I don't understand the lack of information coming from the central office or the school board. Is this something Central High School is trying to address by itself? How could the district as a whole not address a 40 percent black dropout rate? Should not the public be hearing frequently about what is going on in the middle school and the junior high school as to programs directly focusing on this? We hear about United Way and THRIVE initiatives, but these are not taking place during the school day and involving students and teachers. Is anything taking place that is showing great promise that the public could rally around and provide support, whether it be financial or time. For every student who drops out, we pay a high price. I've seen news articles too many times lately about building a new stadium at the high school. District patrons want a successful district academically.
I HAVE a mother like the one in the comic strip "Sally Forth," and there is no way I or my husband would let her live with us. The problem with mothers like that is more rampant than you think. What daughter-in-law or son-in-law has not dreamed of kicking their in-laws out of their house? I thought it was funny.
I AGREE with the comment that our government's job is to provide security and safety from terrorists, not buy everyone health insurance.
AS LONG as children get an education, what does it matter where they go? Wouldn't it be better to have our children learning in a happy environment rather than a bad one? There is a bill buried in Congress that says that children can attend any school they wish as long as it is in 30-mile radius of their home. I say if you don't like the situation, don't complain. Vote. I will, because I would rather my children attend Jackson schools than Cape Girardeau schools.
FEMA's FAKE news conference marred what was otherwise a much less clumsy than Katrina effort to deal with the California wildfires.
PEOPLE KEEP asking where we're going to get the money to pay for this or that government program. That's simple. Borrow it and, if necessary, Congress will raise the debt ceiling. That's the American way. President Bush just surpassed Lyndon Johnson as the biggest spender in U.S. history. Quit worrying.
ETHANOL IS a nonviable farce that takes money out of my pocket and gives it to farmers and energy companies.
TO ALL of you complaining about city workers leaving holes in your yard: Get over it. You would be complaining about them not picking up your branches. These people are hard workers who were out doing their job way before you were even out of bed and still working well past the time you were in bed. Don't complain about these people doing a hard job for you. Good job on cleanup, city workers.
I SUPPORT Gov. Matt Blunt's crackdown on illegal immigrants in Missouri. Critics say profiling is being used against Hispanics. It is plain and simple: If you have proper documentation to show you are in the country legally and you do not have any arrest warrants, you are free to go. What is the big deal? Southeast Missouri has had a huge influx of Hispanics over the past two years, and if someone would check they would find that the majority of them are here illegally. If they are here illegally, deport them.
I WOULD like to thank everyone who took part in the 2007 "Make a Difference Day." I hope our city can organize a huge citywide event for 2008 to encourage volunteerism. Groups or individuals who are interested in 2008 participation, please contact United Way at 334-9634 for more information.
As someone who was privileged to attend several events last week at the new River Campus, let me say this: What a diamond in our city's crown.
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