Speak Out 11/23/14

Winter salt

Yes, I see in the Southeast Missourian on the front page they're talking about there's going to be a shortage of salt again. Why don't they do what they do in Alaska? Why don't they add beet juice to the salt?

Petition

Yes, I guess the only thing the Southeast Missourian newspaper could have done better in your article on "Petition filed in favor of legalizing cannabis in Missouri" is to have put in a petition number, because you need to know a petition number when you're getting online at sos.mo.gov/comment. And that would have been helpful if you had put in the petition number.

Inflation

Yes, to the people that didn't understand that this health care was going to be free, how do you like paying $6 for a 6-inch stub now, instead of paying $6 for a 12-inch? That's how it's being paid. Every thing's going to go up.

County roads

According to Clint Tracy, we have the best road and bridge program in the state. I'm talking Cape County. Excuse me, but what about the railroad crossing at Jackson that knocks the tire lining out of our vehicles each time we cross the Jackson intersection? Also going west to Highway 34, Marble Hill, they pave their roads. And it's wonderful. And they're the poorer county. What about us? Is it all about smoke and mirrors, or what?

Wealth gap

A surprising thanks to uber conservative Phil Gramm for pointing out the growing wealth gap in the U.S.

School rankings

Kudos to both the Cape Girardeau Public Schools and Notre Dame Regional High School for receiving above average grades from the authoritative and comprehensive review given by the prestigious and online school ranking service, niche.com.

Smoking problem

Cape Girardeau still has smoking in public places. And everybody wants us to come there for health care? Huh.

Voters overruled

Did you read the headlines in the paper today: "State ban on gay marriage overturned"? What good does it do for the people in the state to vote for something, if a judge, one judge can overturn the constitutional ban on gay marriage? What's the use of voting? I cannot see it. I'm getting more disgusted every day.

Where's Obama

So, Mr. Obama, you hear me. Where have you been for six years? Why haven't you been listening to what the people said for that long, instead of crying in your beer now?

Thanks, government?

The word carries and undeserved negative connotation. We need to be more respectful of and thankful for the work of government bureaucrats.

Thanksgiving

This time of year I hear a lot of complaining that Thanksgiving is forgotten. We jump from Halloween into Christmas. If you want Thanksgiving to be remembered spend the day with people you care about, not shopping. We have twelve months in the year to shop. Take a brake on special days.

Constitution

The constitution means what the Supreme Court says it means, not what David Limbaugh opines.

Tracks repair

Speak Out, the train people must have put a Band-aid on the tracks and the Band-aid came off, because the tracks are just as bad as they were. I don't know why it can't be fixed permanently.

Jensen on Ferguson

Yes, I just finished reading Michael Jensen's article in the paper, Nov. 19, and I agree with everything he said about the racial issues in Ferguson. I have a granddaughter who lives in O'Fallon. She's scared to go to her doctor's office, because it's down close to where all that protesting is going on. She's scared to go anywhere near it. I mean, they've got the decent people in fear to get out. I just think it's terrible. And I don't think they're accomplishing a thing. They're sure not getting sympathy from me.

American flag

I have to tell you, I'm not a big fan of Jackson. But that big American flag flying over city hall is majestic.

State pay raise

I'm calling in about the Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials. An 8 percent increase in wage statewide for the elected officials? I'm looking to see who votes themselves the extra 8 percent. Most Americans only get 1 or 2 percent. Whoever votes this in, I will follow you and I will try to vote you out. This is disgusting. I wish I could vote myself 8 percent increase in my wage. Thank you for letting me get this off my chest. It's ridiculous.

Mail is late

I'm calling about the post office service from last year, or even this year. Our mail is so slow. Last year I sent my taxes off four days early, and I got a letter back that I was late. Now, it'll take four days to go from Cape. I know it goes to St. Louis. But what I'm saying is, when they got my letter and got my money from my taxes, I had to pay a penalty. And it wasn't because of me, because I'm disabled. And I'm a widower.