Speak Out 12/21/06

Think for ourselves

I'M TIRED of "the Founding Founders said or thought this and that" comments. They weren't gods. It's time we think for ourselves.

Tough explanation

TRY EXPLAINING in person to a Dana Corp. employee who is losing his job to Mexico the theory behind globalization and the fact that in the end there will be a net increase in the number of jobs that come to the United States. However, I would advise you against doing that unless you are hungry for a knuckle sandwich.

Give the raises

I AM so ashamed by the way Cape Girardeau County is handling the sheriff's deputies' raises. The sales tax would not have passed for the roads had it not had included benefits for law enforcement.

Three Rivers' problem

LOOKS LIKE Southeast Missouri State University's action in kicking Three Rivers Community College out of the higher-education centers is having an effect at Three Rivers, which killed a women's sports program that provided opportunities for young women from our region. Perhaps Three Rivers should close some of its duplicative sites where it charges almost as high a tuition as Southeast.

Show some support

IT LOOKS as if the deputies of Cape Girardeau County are getting shafted again. Not only are they not receiving their raises Jan. 1, but they are going to have to pay more out of pocket for their health-care coverage. Without any raise in pay, I don't see how most deputies will be able to afford health care. We owe these guys a lot for risking their lives every day. Sometimes there is only one deputy patrolling the entire county. Show them some appreciation, county commissioners.

Stay longer

THE AVERAGE Marine spends six months in Iraq, while the average Army and Army National Guard soldier spends 15 months there. Maybe Marine commandant Gen. James T. Conway should consider keeping Marines in-country a little longer before he considers other alternatives to ease the burden on the Marine Corps.

Revolutionary headline

IF TODAY'S journalists were working in 1776, would we see this headline: "General Washington, we're tired of your defeats. What is your exit strategy from what is obviously a losing battle?"

Caution on raises

IT APPEARS Sheriff John Jordan sure gets his temper up when the Cape Girardeau County Commission tries to reason with him over salary increases for his department. The money isn't there for increases Jan. 1, and the sales-tax increase included things other than salary increases for his department. Commissioners, you're doing your job and trying to work out the budget. It's a hard job, but the tax money just isn't there. Now we've heard about the health-insurance received by the county employees in addition to their salary. All these things need to be explored before they're put into effect.

Net pay decrease

I HOPE the county commissioners realize that many employees of Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department have to apply for food stamps because they do not make enough wages to earn a decent living. How can the commissioners give the roads money in March from next year's sales tax when they're already getting money from this year's property taxes -- the taxes they abused for the past many years? The roads are getting a huge bonus, but our deputies who risk their lives for us every day are getting nothing except higher medical bills. Not only will they not get a pay raise they deserve, they will have to pay more out-of-pocket for health insurance, thus they get a pay decrease.

Helping others

JOYCE HUNGATE at the Revival Center in Jackson does more than help the poor. I know a woman who ate Thanksgiving with her and her sister. It's a wonderful thing that she opens her center to anyone. I hadn't heard of her until the recent article in the paper. I think it's important at Christmas to remember what Jesus would do. It doesn't seem like the center is that big of a problem. I've driven by and never noticed any problems.

Ride along

I HAVE a suggestion on the pay raises for the deputies in Cape Girardeau County. They need those raises, and possibly a little more. Why don't Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones and Commissioner Larry Bock ride with these guys for a month? Another question: When do the commissioners get their next raise? While we're at it, let's do something about the county highway workers and the courthouse workers.

Private-school choice

THE EDITORIAL board of the Southeast Missourian needs to get educated if it believes school vouchers have anything to do with providing choice to parents. It has everything to do providing private-school choice. The choice will be which students the private schools take and which ones they don't. I volunteer in the public schools. It's not the schools that are failing the kids. It's their parents. No one can educate kids who can't behave themselves for five minutes.

For stuffy people

STANDING AT concerts is part of the experience. If you can't handle that at the Show Me Center, I would suggest the place for you would be the River Campus. That's where the stuffy people will go.

Pleasant experience

I WAS at city hall paying my water bill and forgot my keys on the counter. The pleasant woman working there came out and gave my keys to me and wished me happy holidays. I didn't get her name, but she was so sweet.

Enjoy the ornaments

I HOPE that whoever steals Christmas ornaments enjoys them. They have certainly disappointed us at Christmas.

New street lights

WHAT HAPPENED to the street lights that were to be placed on Jackson Boulevard this summer with funds from the county owed in back road taxes to Jackson? Did they forget, or did they use the money for something else?

Checkout cheats

I'M CALLING about the people who go bring more than 10 items to the 10-item-only checkout line. I understand it's busy during the holidays. But the rest of us don't want to wait either.