Speak Out 2/2/09

Economic sacrifices

THE Great Depression was brought on by President Hoover's raising taxes in a mild recession. Then in the 1930 election, he got a Democratic Congress, just like President Bush did. Then the country locked up. It took millions of men dying to give us the economy we have. President Roosevelt may have got the economy going with the war, but a lot of men died to give us this economy in World War II.

School speeding

I'M at Orchard Elementary School in Jackson. The police in Jackson need to patrol this area. The speed limit is 15 mph, and motorists are driving 30 and 40 mph. Even the bus drivers coming out of the bus parking lot are driving more than 15 mph. This needs to be watched. It's dangerous.

Get the jobs back

THERE'S no way that this new stimulus package is going to work. It will not help clerks, office workers or factory workers. These workers will not benefit from this at all. You've got to get the money to the average person. We need to do what we can to get factories back in the U.S. I propose that we buy these factories, bring back to the U.S. and, after the are profitable, turn them over to the factory workers. That way we'll have the jobs here. We've got to get the jobs back.

Bless the workers

I would like to commend the men from the city or any others who have kept on top of things and have done such a wonderful job in cleaning our streets in Cape Girardeau while we have had so much ice and snow. I know God will give them a special blessing by helping so many people. I pray for them when they are working out there in this frigid weather. God bless you all.

War profits

I would love it if President Obama would go after the Iraq war profits of Halliburton, KBR and Blackwater.

Chaffee thanks

I want to thank the people of Chaffee for cleaning the streets and keeping everything in order. Thanks to AmerenUE for restoring our power. And I want to thank Jim at Larry's Quick Mart for being open when nobody else was. Thanks to everyone who helped people out during the storm.

Neighborly help

I want to thank the two men who helped my husband and me get our stuck vehicle out of our driveway Thursday morning in Cape Girardeau. It is men like you and others like you who take the time to help one another who make Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri such a great community and area to reside in. In the last couple of days I have witnessed several people lending a hand to residents who were in the same position. Thank you for the thoughtfulness. The help was greatly appreciated.

Appliance dumping

TO whoever thought our land near Hidden Valley is a dumping ground for their washer, dryer, refrigerator and dishwasher: It's not. People say government is to blame for the way our country is today, but that is not the case. It's the people who have no respect for themselves or others. Once again, someone else has to clean up.

Normal air traffic

A recent comment drilled home a point by referencing a claim that 600 private jets arrived in Washington for President Obama's inauguration. As a former air traffic controller, I need to share my perspective. That number of private jets landing at all airports servicing a metropolitan area like our nation's capitol over a one- or two-day period is pretty normal.

Support coming

I think many more congressional Republicans will support President Obama's stimulus package if they can get support for adding their pet provision that U.S. corporations get a reduction in taxes on corporate profits earned abroad.

Bury the lines

I cannot think of any reason why a winter storm should be able to cause this much grief in the power grid. Why not pump those federal bailout dollars into upgrading the system and burying power lines, thereby creating decent-paying jobs, boosting the economy locally and helping improve conditions in this backwoods area in general? Call your federal legislators and demand that part of this bailout that we are paying for be applied to power-grid upgrades.

Sports program

SOME of you need to face reality. A good sports program trumps a good academic program every time in selling and promoting the merits of a school.