Speak Out 2/16/09

Corruption within

MY wife and I both work. We pay our taxes. We could not imagine trying not to pay our taxes, but it appears that those in positions of power or influence feel they don't need to do the lawful thing. A big-time banker, a senator, a representative, a CEO, a person of position or influence -- these are the cheaters, and that's what bothers me. I am tired of discovering that those we trust to run our country, our financial system, our pensions, our investments, our savings and our retirements are the most untrustworthy persons around. President Obama voices great aspirations, but may find it impossible to achieve those aspirations because of the corruption within our government.

Buy American

HOW many people have looked lately to see how many things are made in the U. S.? It is scary to know our country is short on jobs. I say buy American and bring back our jobs before it's too late.

Buy American?

HOW about buying quality at a fair price? Far too many American-made products are overpriced and inferior. I would love to buy American products, but as long as unions are calling the shots, we will continue down the same path we are on.

The game

THE game at the Show Me Center was awesome. I would like to see games like that happen again. It was nice to see the Show Me Center full. However, the concession stand was a joke. The lines were long, and the concession stands kept running out of food. How can you run out of food when there is that much money to be made?

Sink or swim

LATELY, many liberal comments have expressed disgust for Republicans not supporting the stimulus package. However, I fail to understand what makes them so upset. If the bill works, it will provide Democrats with an excellent opportunity to damage the out-of-touch Republicans. But if the Democrats' ship sinks, they go down with it, and there won't be any Republicans on board to blame. That is the only explanation for the misguided agitation.

Leading the way

ABSOLUTELY amazing! If there was any lingering doubt that Sikeston is leading the area in Southeast Missouri's renaissance, it was demolished at the Show Me Center by the scintillating performances by Neal Boyd, the honoring of Blake DeWitt and Sikeston's victory over Scott County Central.

Wonderful games

THANK you to all who organized the wonderful games at the Show Me Center Wednesday night.

Out of the barn

RUSH Limbaugh's recently published speech was based on a false premise. A big point he made was that conservatives should stick to their principles. Surely Limbaugh is aware that those who wrongly call themselves conservatives long ago abandoned their principles. Succinctly put, the horse is out of the barn.

Reagan's era

I read Rush Limbaugh's riposte in which he argued that the era of Ronald Reagan is not over. Yes, it is. It is now that government is and has to be part of the solution to our problems, not the problem itself. Simply put, Reagan was wrong.

Garage coverage

IN the recent ice storm here in Cape Girardeau, our garage collapsed. To our dismay, we discovered that detached garages are not covered by our homeowners insurance. You need additional coverage.

Good bill

LAST year the gross national product of the United States was $2.3 trillion. The stimulus package that the president is advocating would require the nation's workers to work about four months to pay the bill. That's a good bill.