Speak Out 12/18/08

Thanks for basket

I WOULD like to thank the Jackson police and fire departments for the Christmas basket they gave away. I've got four grandchildren who weren't going to have much of a Christmas. The police and firefighters gave me two gifts apiece for those grandchildren. I want them to know how much I appreciate this.

Waiting to nab

I THINK it's really dirty when a state trooper waits to see who comes out of a private club, pulls them over and gives them a ticket. These clubs do good for the community. Why doesn't the trooper go to that club and help give out 700 food baskets? The member who was arrested does a lot of good.

A way out

I THINK I can figure a way out of this financial crisis America is in. End the war on drugs, which has spent billions and billions of dollars and has done absolutely nothing to stem the flow of drugs into this country. We should also end illegal immigration, stop putting nonviolent criminals in prison and bring a riverboat to Cape Girardeau. All these ideas would have to pass the conservatives, and I don't think they're really interested in America.

Trimming the sails

I NOTICE the talking heads on TV can't figure out what's happening with the economy. I'll give you a metaphor. When the sailors on the ocean see a storm coming, they trim their sails. The same thing is happening with big business. These people aren't stupid. They hear all about how they're going to have to furnish all this medical care and how their taxes are going to be raised. What do they do? They get rid of the deadwood. They're trimming their sails. We've got change, and there's going to be more change.

Grading papers

I'M GLAD to see teachers grading their own papers. One of my pet peeves is when they would switch around papers for students to grade. How can a teacher let some student judge an essay answer? Ideally the teachers would be grading the papers in the evening or during a free hour, but kudos for grading their own papers. I don't think it's appropriate having students grading the papers.

Stamp machines

I AM frustrated that the postal service doesn't provide stamp machines for people who work and don't have time to stand in line for hours. It doesn't matter whether I'm in Cape Girardeau or Jackson. Neither post office has a machine. It's bad enough when Christmas isn't here, but when it is, it's horrible to go in and buy stamps. If you buy stamps in the stores, it costs extra. Please, postal service, put a stamp machine in your lobbies. We would all appreciate it.

Support automakers

I'M PROUD of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson for voting for the bailouts, especially for the automakers. I don't see where it helps anyone for people to be out of work, especially at Christmastime. I don't see how it helps us if we have to pay unemployment benefits. My GM car is a great running car. It takes a lot of abuse and keeps on going. We should support our U.S. automakers.

Limited party

MY PLACE of employment has once again had its annual Christmas party, which I cannot attend because of all the public drunkenness, coarse behavior and sexual advances. I resent it. If the company wants to do something for its employees, it should host something that everybody is free to attend, not forbidden to do so by their religious beliefs. I don't think it's right that the company spends all this money every year and violates its own business mission statement.

Bailout spending

IF ANY of the money for the bailouts for automakers or banks is used for any executive bonuses, the bailouts won't accomplish a thing. That isn't what the bailouts were intended for. Put all mortgages on fixed interest rates. Everything would clear up as fast as could be. There's a way to get out of debt, but the United States won't do it.

More lanes to stripe

I READ where the Missouri Department of Transportation is restriping lanes in Cape Girardeau. I wish it would do something about the highway between Cape Girardeau and Jackson. When it rains, the lines are impossible to see. We deserve much better.

Neighbor issues

I READ the story about the neighbor who poisoned his neighbor's dog to shut it up. How sad is it when neighbors can't talk to each other to resolve an issue. I have a dog that is kept inside 99 percent of the time. Occasionally my smart dog will escape from our home to wander the neighborhood. My next-door neighbor will see the dog and call the police immediately instead of calling me to let me know my dog got out. I have tried to talk to my neighbor about this, and she says it's her duty to do this. Nice neighbors we have here.

Slow down in ice

WHEN IT is icy and snowy outside, please slow down. My 18-month-old son was in the car today, and I was almost hit by a driver who was not paying the least bit of attention to the road. Thank you to all of those who got out of their vehicles to help the ones who were stuck in the snow. I saw several of you helping. Please slow down.

We need FairTax

ECONOMIC RECOVERY will never come with government bailouts or public works programs. America needs fundamental tax and spending reform. The best tax reform proposal is the FairTax. The FairTax currently has the support of over 90 senators and representatives. It is also endorsed by more than 80 respected business and university economists, including professors from Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

No correlation

CONTRARY TO what a recent comment implied, there is no correlation between the quality of scores on standardized tests and student-teacher ratio. None.

Paying premiums

I WORK in a business with a number of smokers. My insurance premium is based on the claims submitted by my fellow employees. While I do not smoke, don't drink alcohol, exercise regularly and try to eat healthy foods, these couch potatoes around me smoke like chimneys (not inside, fortunately), never exercise, eat lots of junk food and spend the weekends boozing and partying. I think their insurance premiums should be higher than mine because of their lifestyle. But they are not. Why should I have to pay for their riotous living?