Speak Out 12/10/10

Smoking and casinos

BEFORE we jump the gun on the smoking ban, the city better take a look at what the smoking ban is doing to the Illinois casinos. They have been losing business, and now the state is looking at changing the law.

School illusion

SADLY, a lot of folks at the local level are operating under the illusion that we can do something significant to improve public schools the way Washington, D.C., and the state of Missouri want. Due to a joint Republican and Democrat effort, public schools have been federalized via the No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top federal laws. Local control of education is beyond a misnomer. It is a myth.

Smoking solution

THE best answer to the smoking problem is to make it a law that smokers are to wear respirators. That way they suck in their own secondhand smoke.

Fog lights

WHEN are the police going to start pulling over people that leave their fog lights on and blind oncoming drivers on clear nights. If they have their fog lights on, they probably are impaired by drugs or alcohol. Otherwise they are just rude and uncaring.

Parking meters

IN Cape, there is a city ordinance against parking meters. However, you can still find them on the Southeast campus. Just because they are huge does not mean that they are bigger than the law.

Amendment

THE Personhood Amendment is just a way of trying to take away a woman's right to choose.

High prices

I always figured when I was going to be robbed, it would be by somebody holding a pistol. I didn't think it would be when I went to the doctor or called the plumber or had some work done on my car. What's going on out here today?

Chickens and pit bulls

I'D rather have many chickens next door than one pit bull three blocks away. The city needs to back off and concentrate on more important things.

Charlie Brown quote

CHARLIE Brown said, "Christmas has become too commercialized." The parking lot is packed, the stores are packed and the shoppers are rude. This is supposed to be the most joyous time of the year, the happiest time of the year. It's the birth of Christ. Have people forgotten this?

Cut spending

MOST Americans, at some time in their life, have spent too much money. We've learned that it's much easier to run up a credit card bill than it is to pay it off. It takes time, effort and self-discipline. We instinctively know that our government is spending too much money, and this debt will have to be paid off one day. Most Americans are conservative, and we know that we need to cut our spending.

Gas conspiracy

MY husband and I went to St. Louis recently and gas along the interstate at the major brand stations was between $2.44 and $2.47 a gallon. In Jackson it's $2.79 a gallon. In Perryville it's $2.69 a gallon. If the places in St. Louis, who are notoriously high for overhead, can sell it for $2.44, I'd like to know what kind of conspiracy is going on down here.

Standing room only

I want to extend a big thank you to everyone who had to stand out in the hall at the recent peripheral zoning meeting. You didn't leave. You stayed for the whole meeting. Half of the people in the room were standing. The people in the county stand for truth and justice.

Parade

I was very disappointed that the religious float in the Christmas parade was excluded from the awards. The music touched my heart and the float was reminiscent of my childhood when the birth of baby Jesus was more important than snowmen.

Wearing white

BIKES should have lights and reflective tape. Many cyclists also don't wear white at night. When people wear white or something reflective, I can see them clearly.

Adios

ADIOS means to go with God. Indeed, God help us if we don't "man up" to the juggernaut of illegal immigration that overwhelms our social, physical and cultural infrastructures.

Epidemic

ANYTHING to slow down the meth epidemic should be implemented as soon as possible. We don't need this element in our community.