Speak Out 11/2/05

People would come

CAPE GIRARDEAU is perfect for a casino riverboat. We have a unique name that would draw people here to go to the boat. We have excellent restaurants and hotels to compliment a casino. Talk to your local leaders and people of influence. Let's get a riverboat here.

Compassionate voting

I'M BETTING we could find better ways to cut the federal budget than the one the House Agriculture Committee just found: cutting food budgets for poor. What do we spend on trips into space, on funding for potential artists, on politicians' retirement plans and travel expenses, on foreign aid (even to countries which harbor terrorists), on no-win wars and on the thousands of things our government spends our money on? It seems to me the Republicans have quite a death wish. Unbelievable as it sounds, multitudes of Republican voters do have a lot of compassion.

Bogus numbers

SYNDICATED COLUMNIST Michelle Malkin is correct: 2,000 is a bogus number in a bogus occupation. The number is bogus because it fails to account for the hundreds of our brave men and women who were mortally wounded in Iraq but clung to life only long enough to die in Germany or stateside. The occupation is bogus because it's not about fighting terrorism. It's about promoting terrorism, and the cause is global U.S. corporate domination. We should, as Malkin says, mourn every American and Iraqi killed or injured because of an evil act of deception perpetrated on a frightened and trusting American electorate by their government. This is no advertisement for democracy.

Frivolous lawsuits

WHAT A novel idea, and why didn't we think of it sooner? Eliminate lawsuits against companies whose products we willingly buy, including unhealthy food and cigarettes. Wouldn't it be great to live long enough to see America's romance with frivolous lawsuits ended? Or to see Americans once again taking responsibility for their own behavior?

Abusing the system

I KNOW a woman on public aid with a master's degree. She worked in her field for less than a year before she decided she didn't like it. The father of her child pays child support and provides health insurance, but she still uses her medical card for the child. Isn't this abuse of the system?

Zalma's great effort

I WANT to let the Zalma Volunteer Fire Department know it put on a good hayride, dinner and haunted house. For a small village, the turnout was good. You guys did great. I hope to see it next year.

Better entrance

DO CAPE Girardeau officials have plans for a nice entrance into to Cape from Illinois? Right now it looks pretty bleak and depressing. It's such a beautiful bridge across the river. You expect something special, but the first thing you see as you enter Missouri is a billboard. I hope a nice welcome sign with some roses or other landscaping is in the works. How about some cherry trees along the right of way to soften the industrial look of the highway and fence?

Great band year

CONGRATULATIONS TO the Central High School Marching Tigers on an outstanding year. You should all be proud of yourselves for accomplishing so much this season. You have all worked very hard and have done a terrific job of representing the city and your school at your competitions. The icing on the cake was at the Edward Jones Dome during the St. Louis Marching Band Festival when the band and color guard finished third out of 12 schools in their division. What an outstanding performance you put on, and what a great job you all did of improving over last year. You all should hold your heads high and be very proud of the season you had.

Uninsured motorists

RECENTLY MY wife and I were involved in an accident where the person at fault had no insurance. Once again, those who obey the law are having to pay for those who don't. We later found out that you can file a report that will revoke the license of the uninsured driver until he reimburses your deductible. I encourage others in the same situation to use the system to get these drivers off the road.

Great program

I HAVE to agree with the comments about the great Halloween program at Alma Schrader Elementary School. I am so happy that my children are able to have such wonderful music teachers. Both of them go over the top with their programs. Their dedication to our children's music education is overwhelmingly observed. We can't wait for the Christmas play. I am sure that it will be another great performance to add to the school's long list of great achievements.

Need bus system

I CANNOT believe Cape Girardeau isn't working harder to get a bus system. We were all angered when we saw how the poor were treated in New Orleans, yet we are doing the same thing in Cape Girardeau. Many of those who are able to work could hold a job and get off public assistance if they had reliable transportation. Cape is not a pedestrian-friendly town either. Walking is not really an option. Even though I am fortunate enough to own a vehicle, I would pay higher taxes to accommodate a bus system. Not only would it help out those families in need, but perhaps I could save some money that would have gone to buying gasoline.

Building boom

YOUR RECENT story said building permits are down, but look around. There's lots going on around here.