Speak Out 2/21/08

Useless laws

THE LAWS intended to thwart the making of methamphetamine are useless and have the effect of doing nothing but inconveniencing the innocent. With a family of six, at any given time there are at least two of us using Sudaphed. Yes, we have to "smurf" to keep up our supply. What's our option? If officials set up a statewide electronic database, we're probably either going to have to go to jail or go to our physician regularly to get prescriptions renewed for more expensive products that really do not work any better, wasting our physician's time and our time and money. How about we punish the actual meth producers instead of the innocent users of over-the-counter medications?

Good investment

WE WERE without electricity for almost three full days. I don't know what we would've done without the generator we bought about a month ago. It certainly wasn't what you'd call comfortable, but our food didn't go bad, and we were able to sleep in our own bed. We're truly blessed. A generator is a valuable investment.

No chip and seal

I AGREE that the Cape Girardeau County Road Advisory Board should be disbanded. It is wasting county money on chip-and-seal projects. Perry County tried it and failed miserably. Use hot-mix asphalt and be done with it.

Hard-working crews

I FEEL so fortunate to be one of those who didn't lose power. When I drove by the Osage Community Centre and saw what looked to be like 50 power trucks, it gave me a sense of thankfulness for all the hard work the utility crews are doing. Keep up the good work, and thank you to Cape Girardeau Public Works Department as well.

Waive my taxes?

I WAS without electricity for close to 90 cold hours. I have damage to my property. I have suffered tremendously. Will the county waive my taxes this year as they did after the tornado for Bent Creek residents? It's only fair.

Chaffee crews

I WOULD like to thank the Chaffee street department for the work the crews put in cleaning up our town so quickly after the ice storm. They did an amazing job. Also, a huge thank you to AmerenUE for the preventive work it did on the tree limbs before the storm hit. They have been in town for weeks trimming and cutting down problem trees. I'm sure this helped our town maintain power when others lost theirs. Big kudos to all.

No plates

I WANT to know if we no longer have to have license plates for our vehicles. It would save me some money each year not having to pay for them. I drive around Cape Girardeau all the time and see many cars and trucks without license plates. Is this not illegal?

Praise for Citizens

I WANT to thank Citizens Electric for the fine job its employees did during the ice storm. We live out in the Leemon area off Highway 177. The Citizens phone system had updates even at 3 a.m. of what was going on, and we knew crews were already working on the situation. When I looked out my window, I could see the spotlights in the distance observing the damage. I knew Citizens was doing all it could to restore power as quickly as possible. It did an excellent job.

County crews

TO THE Cape Girardeau County Highway Department employees who came out County Road 544 and County 553: Kudos to you too. I saw you out in the wee morning hours. Thank you all. I know you had worries of loved ones at home on your mind. I want you to know that we appreciate all that you do.

What a waste

I DRIVE by the multimillion-dollar federal courthouse every day on my way to work. It makes me sick to see that beautiful building empty except for security personnel. Is anything being done to fix what's wrong and get it occupied, or is it going to disintegrate before our eyes? What a waste of taxpayers' hard-earned money.

Cater to danger

PEOPLE WHO drive haphazardly on Mount Auburn Road could be characterized as what is today termed "adrenaline junkies." That's why it's so important for Cape Girardeau citizens to fork over more tax money to provide opportunities for these people so that they won't endanger the rest of us. I'm talking about building several skateboard parks and indoor rock climbing facilities, providing numerous wide-open areas for sky divers, cordoning off several areas on weekends for street racing, making public space available for extreme stunts.

Stunning statement

I'VE NEVER been so disillusioned. At first, I thought it was a misprint. But, after reading it in context, again and again, it was accurate. I'm speaking of two stunning sentences written by David Limbaugh. They were, "Let me say it again, more directly. I will support McCain if he's the nominee." Thus, from a high perch as a self-proclaimed unreconstructed ideological conservative purist, Limbaugh has caved in to a compromising pragmatist of arguably (since he doesn't demand anything of McCain in order to get his support) the most sordid sort. This is a sad day for America.

People will decide

YOU CAN define the word recession all you want, but if the American people think were in a recession, we're in one.