Speak Out 12/12/10

Morton's column

I couldn't agree more with Dr. Morton's column. Just because physicians are employed by the hospitals, that does not make them better physicians.

Tax cuts

YOU will now see the middle class suffer since Republicans were voted in office. They only care about the rich people and themselves with their millions. There are more millionaires now, but you don't see them creating jobs, only putting their money in their pockets and spending it on luxuries.

Meth movie

MISSOURI may gain yet another ignominious distinction. "Winter's Bone" is getting a lot of buzz and may be up for Oscar nominations. The setting is somewhere in the Ozarks, around West Plains, and it is about meth.

Smoking employees

I don't want to be in the hospital and be taken care of by someone who smells of smoke. It's gross, unpleasant and certainly doesn't build the patient's confidence in the medical provider who should know that smoking is unhealthy. Good for Saint Francis for announcing they won't be hiring smokers anymore.

Cape's finest

CAPE Girardeau truly does have the "finest" in their fire department. Recently two of these kind-hearted heroes took a few minutes of their time to assist two ladies from a local medical practice in unloading a truck bed full of supplies and moved the load into an office.

Perot was right

ROSS Perot told Larry King once that if our government continued with the changes in our tax and trade laws, there would be a "giant sucking sound of jobs leaving this country." It seems he was the only one who told us the truth.

Jensen column

AFTER more or less dismissing factual, scientific government studies as opinions, Mike Jensen offered the opinion that clinical depression stems from "big government."

Casino approval

I opposed the casino and am sorry for the city and its residents that Cape has been approved to receive the license. It's a shame that voters are still voting according to the almighty dollar and not issues such as safety and our children.

Republicans and taxes

REPUBLICANS do not want to extend unemployment benefits when times are really tough, yet they do want to extend tax cuts for the wealthy who will hardly notice the increase. Why do the poor and middle class think that the Republicans are on their side?

Insurance

A recent speak out comment lamented that House Republican Andy Harris is taking advantage of the health care coverage he receives as a member of Congress and stated that this was hypocrisy since some Republicans want to repeal Obamacare. The difference is that health care coverage for Congress is an entitlement of employment. Health care coverage is not an entitlement of citizenship.

Thanksgiving quote

THIS Thanksgiving I recited the following quote while celebrating with my family: "We lift up our hearts in gratitude to God for our many blessings, for one another and for our nation." This quote was taken from President Obama's Thanksgiving message to the nation.

Morton is right

I agree with Dr. Eric Morton on his concerns about the buying of physicians' practices by hospitals. I think this is the worst thing to happen to health care in human history.

Rangel defense

CONGRESSMAN Rangel said he did nothing to "enrich himself." The money he kept instead of paying taxes for decades was to "enrich" whom, if not himself?