Speak Out 11/24/09

*** Nuisance cats

TO the cat owners living in and around our subdivision on Route D: Be responsible for the numerous cats you've brought to the neighborhood and turned loose. For the past few years I've tolerated your cats making messes in my yard, climbing on my vehicles, smelling up my porch and being a nuisance on a daily basis. If this doesn't stop soon, you'll need to pick your cats up at the animal shelter or I'll relocate them to a family that is responsible. If you can't be responsible, you don't need pets.

*** Courthouse insurance

CAN the Cape Girardeau County commissioners tell me why they have changed the contract that will require the Girl Scouts to buy an insurance policy to hold their luminaria ceremony at the courthouse the evening of the Jackson Christmas parade? These young girls sing Christmas carols and collect gloves, hats and scarves for the poor. They have been doing this for 25 or 30 years. I pay approximately $50,000 a year in real estate taxes. Is that enough to cover the insurance? What's going to burn? The sidewalks are concrete, and the courthouse is stone. I thought the courthouse belonged to the taxpayers. The commission may have standing room only for its first night meeting Dec. 7. I hope they will rethink this decision.

*** China business

WHICH country manufactures the highest quality goods on earth today? Which country will it be tomorrow? How about the United States? In the past, it was Germany and then Japan. I think the U.S. should set a goal for itself for the future. Whom do we need to trade with? China. Marketing firms need to study Chinese history and culture so we can produce new products for the Chinese people as well as products that have been retail icons. We should hire Chinese shipping firms for delivery. We should also invest in retail properties and buildings in China as well.

*** Special needs

REGARDING budget cuts and getting rid of special-needs aides: I work in a special-needs room and see the need for aides. They are there to ensure a safe environment for a special-needs child and as to make sure that child is successful in school. Some aides have more than one child at a time if the children are higher functioning.

*** History's story

NOTHING new under the sun: "All history is one long story to this effect: men have struggled for power over their fellow men in order that they might win the joys of earth at the expense of others, might shift the burdens of life from their own shoulders upon those of others." -- William Graham Sumner (1840-1910), American academic and professor at Yale College.

*** Better care, more jobs

I would like to comment on Byron York's column regarding jobs in America. I agree with him on one count. Jobs should take top priority right now. There is some contradiction in his column, though. How can he argue that the administration shouldn't be focusing on health care? On that very same page in Speak Out, someone questioned where we were going to get the doctors to cover the increased demand provided by more Americans with health care coverage. That is a good question. Another good question might be, "Where will we get all of the support staff that the doctors need to safely and effectively take care of these new patients?" There will be an increased demand for RNs, nurse's aides, office staff, food service workers and custodial staff at all of our nation's hospitals, radiology centers, labs and doctors' offices. Health care facilities will have to be expanded. This would create construction jobs. More Americans with access to health care will surely translate into more jobs for American people. Let me say it clearly for all to hear: The majority of the American people want this health care bill to pass.