Speak Out 12/6/05

Poor postal service

IT IS so frustrating what the U.S. Postal Service has done to Cape Girardeau. There has got to be some federal legislators or someone who has the power to contact the authorities of the U.S. Postal Service and try to straighten out this mess. There aren't enough post office boxes to go around. They don't have the supplies that are needed. They don't have the parking that's needed to handle the traffic the size of a town like Cape Girardeau requires. It is an embarrassment to Cape Girardeau to be treated in such a manner. Even a small town like Delta or Oran has a better post office than Cape Girardeau. It is really sad. Surely there's someone out there who can make a difference. We should not have to fight for a parking space. We shouldn't have to go to a substation that doesn't have all the supplies it needs.

Thanks for credit card

I WANT to say thank you to the person who found my credit card and turned it in. It was someone at the mall, and I appreciate it so much.

Iraqi readiness

BY ALL rights, Iraq should have a military or at least an effective police force by now. I know people say they're still threatened with being killed. Guess what? That's the way it's been everywhere there have been wars. The Iraqis need to pick it up and take care of the job so we can get our boys out of there.

Ready to help

JOE SULLIVAN, I am reading your column. I too love fruitcake. So if you have anything that maybe too much for you to handle, let me know, Joe. I will gladly take them off your hands. But I can't handle the ones with rum because I am diabetic. I'll be watching your column.

SEMO's spending

I'm reading the Southeast Missourian headline, "Dobbins: Our school may not get state funding until '06." Later in the story, Southeast Missouri State University says it will look at raising student fees if the state funding hasn't been appropriated by 2007. The university should have never started this project without the funds available. Who do SEMO president Ken Dobbins and the board of regents think they are? I would hope that the governor and legislature would look at this carefully and do something about it.

Time for Plan B

STATE SEN. Jason Crowell recently made it clear that next year's legislative session will be as narrow in scope and blind to the needs of Missourians as was last year's embarrassment, which netted the governor a 34 percent approval rating. Never mind the critical need to address health care and jobs in our state. Lawmakers will spend another futile year pushing fundamentalist's inspired initiatives on birth control and abortion, passing useless legislation that is likely to be overturned by courts anyway. Attacking Plan B birth control will please a few misguided and scientifically challenged radical fundamentalists while leaving the majority of Missourians bewildered at the ineffectiveness of this legislature. Maybe it's time for voters to come up with their own Plan B.

Need a dog park

ON A recent trip to Kansas City, we had the opportunity to use one of the city's dog parks to let our pups get some exercise and do a little socializing. We had a wonderful time and were able to get some exercise ourselves and meet some locals. A dog park would be a great idea for Cape Girardeau. It would be a place to get outside with family and pets and would also provide visitors staying at hotels or camper parks an opportunity to let their pets have some fun. All we need is a little community support. I know it's out there. Come on, Cape, let's build a dog park.

Take pride

ARE QUALITY workmanship and customer service a thing of the past? Whatever happened to taking pride in the work you produce?

Good memories

HUTSON'S FURNITURE store in downtown Cape Girardeau is always so beautifully decorated for Christmas. It reminds me of the way things used to be in our fair city and should have remained.

Bulk delivery

I WON'T take one letter across three states for 39 cents, but I will take a tractor-trailer full of 500,000 letters worth $195,000 in postage.

Let students pay

IF THE Missouri Legislature denies the $17.2 million request, it looks like Southeast Missouri State University might need to increase tuition to pay for the River Campus after all. I do not think the legislature should approve this money. Our state can use $17.2 million areas of greater concern. SEMO president Ken Dobbins can put his money where his mouth is and pay for the River Campus with the additional students the River Campus will bring to SEMO or rely on alumni donations. If these students and graduates cannot put $17.2 million back in the system, they should not take $17.2 million out of it.

Wonderful program

WOW! THE Christmas program presented to the public at La Croix United Methodist Church was wonderful. I can't remember when I have laughed as hard. Humor, Christmas, music, surprises and the warmth of hot chocolate and cookies made the night memorable. Merry Christmas, La Croix.

Oran policing

I HAVE known former Oran police chief Howard Stevens for over 30 years. I think it is a disgrace that he is being degraded by the new chief of police. It is a worse disgrace that the mayor and the city council are allowing it to go on. Stevens is a good, decent man. I think he did a wonderful job as chief of police. If he was not doing his job, the mayor and council should have fired him a long time ago. He evidently was doing something right to remain on the job for 28 years. The new chief is making Oran look like a bunch of hoodlums live there. It is a nice quiet town, but it won't stay that way long if the mayor and the city council let this continue. They need to get control of the situation before it gets out of hand and someone gets hurt.

Helping the poor

DESPITE WHAT one Speak Out writer claims, America does more to help its poor and the poor all over the world than any other nation in history. I challenge him to show proof of one person who has starved to death here who was not mentally ill or refused help. The No. 1 health problem, even among the poor, is obesity.