Speak Out 2/28/09

Going to the ER

NO wonder insurance costs are rising and the emergency room bills are going through roof. It's because people are going to the emergency room for trivial things. I'm 74 years old, and I've got sense enough to know what to do when I get constipated.

School days

A four-day school week is a bad idea. It would be better to let school out earlier in summer and start later in fall.

Foreign cars

ABOUT buying foreign-made products: Not all foreign-made products are inferior. I will continue to buy Japanese vehicles because they are far superior to American-made vehicles. American-made vehicles aren't in the same league with the Japanese vehicles. It's my money. Am I to blame for buying foreign-made cars? You bet, and I'm proud of it.

Innovation 2009

I enjoyed reading the Innovation 2009 section in the newspaper. Thanks for putting it together. I especially liked reading about the different businesses and who owns or manages them.

Too late

WHILE I prefer to buy American-made products, I do not worry about that when it comes to buying a car. For many years, the American auto industry arrogantly continued building gas-guzzlers that lacked many of the safety features routinely found in Japanese-made automobiles. I bought my first foreign car in 1982. I compared many cars, using information from the manufacturers and other respected sources. My research always led me to a foreign-made vehicle. American car makers ignored American consumers for years, and now that the shoe is on the other foot and they're feeling the squeeze, they want our sympathy and money. It's a day late and a dollar short in my opinion.

Power to stockholders

CAPPING failing or failed CEO salaries at $500,000 is a start, but a better solution would be for stockholders to choose the financial consultants whose decisions on executive compensation contributed to such an outrage. Stockholders have been shut out of processes like these in the recent past. It's time for democratization.

Best neighborhood

I believe I live in the best neighborhood in Cape Girardeau. I live on a street where most the neighbors get along and all the children play together. We don't ever want to move from this street. Our children always have someone to play with. The neighbors are good friends. This cul-de-sac subdivision is the perfect place to raise a family. This is the kind of neighborhood that you just don't see anymore, and we feel fortunate to be able to live here. On any beautiful day there are people all over the neighborhood in driveways, yards and streets. So look out and drive slow. If you don't like children, this is definitely not the street for you. But if you enjoy being neighborly, this is the best.

Wasteful signs

IF you drive down newly paved Farmington Road in Jackson between Independence and Main streets, you will see a couple of signs that read, "Your transportation tax at work." Could the government find a bigger waste of money than to install such signs? A more appropriate sign would read, "If you don't know who paid for this pavement, go back to school." Please, stop finding such ridiculous ways to waste my money. I know my money pays for the roads. I don't need to pay for a sign to tell me what I already know.

Economic assistance

SCHAEFER'S Electrical Enclosures Inc. wants to relocate to Cape Girardeau, bringing jobs. The company has expanded and show signs of continuing growth. It has a limited amount of time to close the deal but needs assistance from the county. It is asking the Cape Girardeau County Commission to sponsor a bond development program known as Chapter 100. This is done all the time to help economic development. Commissioner Jay Purcell voted against the measure not because of any existing law but because a law may be passed at some point in the future. I'm glad the other two commissioners had the welfare of the city more at the forefront than the commissioner who is supposed to represent the city. I feel sorry for the people of Cape Girardeau if this is the kind of representation they have.