Speak Out 12/11/08

Comparing counties

I LIVE in a neighboring county, one many Cape Girardeau County residents make fun of, citing low socio-economic status of residents and the supposed low IQ of residents. However, I work at Procter & Gamble and listen all day to the gripes of my coworkers who live in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. My coworkers complain about their leaders and rising crime rates in their communities, among other things. My county is led by commissioners who get along and hold meetings that are held at night so taxpayers can attend. Our crime rate is low. We have lower gas prices than Cape Girardeau and sometimes even Jackson. Our mayor appreciates city employees, and our county commissioners don't act like 3-year-olds. In short, I think those of us from the sticks aren't doing too bad.

Deer not dangerous

AS A spokesperson for deer rights, I would say that deer are dangerous to humans only because we have demanded such excessive control over our environment, such as building parking lots over forested areas once populated by deer. Now the deer are more prone to wander onto streets. Deer are not inherently dangerous to man. It is the other way around.

Pearl Harbor holiday

REGARDING THE Pearl Harbor anniversary: As I drove through Cape Girardeau on Dec. 7, I was shocked to see that the only flags flying at half-staff were at Freedom Corner. Even the National Guard did not have the flag displayed properly. Congress, by Public Law 103-308 as amended, has designated Dec. 7 of each year as "National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day," and the U.S. flag shall be flown at half-staff at all state buildings and facilities. It seems that some have forgotten the brave souls who paid the ultimate price on that day.

Time to resign

ILLINOIS SEN. Dick Durbin, who once likened American soldiers to Nazis, doesn't find Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged crimes worrisome enough to ask for his resignation. His political pragmatism is disturbing. Blagojevich should resign, and so should Durbin.

Street visibility

KINGSHIGHWAY AND William Street are too dark and you can't see the lanes when it's bad out. Please, whoever is charge, do something about this before somebody is hurt. Thanks.

Dangerous highway

CONSTRUCTION OF Highway 34-72 in Jackson is screwed up. It reminds me of a go-cart track at the fair. Cars are going every direction. School buses are out there trying to pick up children while playing dodge the driver. Cars are driving on both sides of the highway, going behind barriers, driving side by side. If you drive out there, may God be with you.

Moving to the center

LIBERALS HAVE a distorted view if they think the answer for conservatives is to move to the center. The new center is now the old left, since the liberals have moved so far left. The Democratic presidential and vice presidential candidates during the last three elections have been about as extreme left as possible. That's not what most people want or stand for. Since Democrats have won, all we hear is how conservatives need to move to the center if they expect to recover. It won't work. Liberals will not be able to shut up the conservative talk-show hosts no matter how hard they try. Rush Limbaugh just received an award from Barbara Walters as of the most fascinating people in 2008. Keep up the good work, Rush. We shall return -- and probably a lot sooner than the liberals think.