Speak Out

Environmental pollution

POLLUTING THE environment is tantamount to injuring people. You wouldn't throw out litter, would you?

School safety

WHO WOULD suggest that students be in trailers instead of building more classrooms at Central High School? As a parent, I worry when they're in brick buildings for their safety during a tornado watch. Quit complaining about the gyms and playing fields.

Excited support

I AM so excited that I have the opportunity to vote on such an important issue as park improvements. I can't wait to use the aquatic center with my grandchildren. On a separate note, I wish I had the income of the person willing to drive to St. Louis to purchase goods to avoid paying 50 cents for every $100 they spend when this small tax passes. I can't imagine the gas bill.

Disability exception

I WAS recently injured on the job and declared disabled by the Social Security Administration. Before I could receive anything from the SSA I had to sign a form saying I would pay back any money from the SSA if I won a workers' compensation claim. I guess this is similar to the Shank case, except in my case this is money I paid in to the SSA. If I don't get it, who does? Should I be given an exception as well?

Something to hide

REGARDING THE use of a Web camera at Cape Girardeau County Commission meetings: I recently heard Commissioner Jay Purcell talk how webcasting commission meetings would add to a more transparently accountable county government. After hearing his 20-minute presentation I am now a believer. Anybody who would be against this idea has something to hide.

Happy decision

I'M HAPPY to see Wal-Mart decided to give up on the idea of getting money back from the Shanks. The idea of suing a family that has been through so much made me sick. God bless them.

Cutting expenses

PIECEMEAL GOVERNMENT pay: How do you pay paper pushers by the job? Everyone wants things from the government, which is to say from the taxpayers, things like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare. How do you think those things are administered? Someone waves a magic wand? Congress requires a specific paper trail for all these programs. If you want to cut government expense, eliminate government programs. You think it's bad now, wait and see what happens if we are unlucky enough to get some type of universal health care.

Treatment question

I HAD a lumpectomy and wanted the mammosite radiation treatment. However, the oncologist told me I was too small (area in chest cavity) and was not conducive to the mammosite treatment. I now have begun the five-day-a-week, six-week radiation treatment. Please explain this. If mammosite is the best, why does there have to be a size limitation?

Military discount

REGARDING THE comment about auto insurance discounts for a son serving in the Navy: GEICO gives a military discount.

Teaching certification

IF GETTING certified to teach is so easy that it only takes a few courses and many attempts to pass the exam, then I am sure all those people with real-world experiences won't mind the little effort required to get certified. If you think teaching is such an easy job, quit putting us down, get certified and help us out.

They wouldn't last

I WOULD estimate that all of these people making "anyone can teach" comments would collectively last in the classroom for about six minutes.

America's backbone

I READ the story about Delta. It was a good story about small-town America. Delta, Chaffee and Oran are what America is all about: good people all working together in the time of need. These people do not expect a handout. They are good, solid Americans. Hang in there, Delta. Times will get better.

Reasons for fatalities

THE STATISTICS in the article on motorcycle deaths must include ATV accidents thrown in as motorcycles. Why else would it show the high percentage not wearing helmets when we have a helmet law? Look up the real killer and the cause of the fatality increases: drinking and riding at night. Almost 50 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involve alcohol. More than half the fatally injured drivers had less than five months' experience on the bike they were riding. The combination of a rider on a bike they just got or riding someone else's bike and alcohol account for nearly 90 percent of the serious and fatal accidents. Numbers that go way back still hold true today.

Rush's version

RUSH LIMBAUGH speculated that a lot of Republicans who support John McCain don't understand conservatism. Limbaugh probably should have qualified that by saying Republicans who support McCain don't understand the Limbaugh version of conservatism. One can only respond by raising a question. Who does?

On the brink

WE HAVE no alternative. Cape Girardeau will sink literally and figuratively if we fail to pass the sewer-tax proposal.

Corn Belt Tightening

As a result of all the flooding

in a wide swath of the belt,

the lack of fructosed corn

may make us thin and svelte.

Social Security math

SOMEONE commented that if we were not in a war in Iraq, we could solve the Social Security shortfall problems with the all money we would have saved. Yes, the war has cost us almost $500 billion in the last five years. However, this year's Social Security budget is just over $650 billion -- just this year. Even if you use a low average of $500 billion a year, that's $2.5 trillion in the last five years alone for Social Security. It is expected that 40 percent of the current working population will reach retirement age in the next 10 years, which could as much as double annual Social Security expenditures. So, that $500 billion is merely a drop in the bucket. It wouldn't even pay for one year.