Speak Out 2/5/08

Virtual leader

Why doesn't the Cape Girardeau School District hire a virtual superintendent? He'd never leave. And this would ensure that all decisions would be objective and in the best interest of the school system.

Throwing money

Jack Knowlan Sr.'s comments were spot on. I would like to add that it is absurd to throw money at the American people and think it will cure our economic woes. We have outsourced our jobs to other countries, adding greatly to our unemployment. We allow illegals to take jobs that belong to Americans. We have entitlements that greatly overtax citizens. No wonder we are in the mess we are in. It's going to take more than a few hundred dollars thrown at us like we are trained seals in a zoo. How about doing away with the federal income tax system and going to a flat tax? That won't work, because it would cause too much unemployment in the federal government. We couldn't have that, could we?

Ethanol winners

For everyone who has badmouthed ethanol in Speak Out: The Sikeston ethanol plant will not be built. You have won. You have also won because ethanol blends have cleaned up the smog in cities better than anyone predicted. You have also won because 10, 20 and even 30 percent blends of ethanol are giving surprisingly better fuel economy in existing cars compared to regular gasoline. Everyone thought ethanol would hurt fuel economy, but it accidentally has helped. You have also won because ethanol blends are holding down the price of regular gas. Just a few years ago, diesel was always 20 cents a gallon cheaper than gas. Now with ethanol blends, gas is 30 cents cheaper than diesel. You won.

Late decision

I am a student at Central High School. When the school leadership knows it is going to snow and knows the snow will cause traffic problems, the top priority should be the safety of students, not be keeping students until they've eaten lunch, putting students in danger. Next time, send students home when the streets aren't already covered in snow. Thanks.

Not that important

Newt Gingrich's ethics are terrible. His political philosophy stinks. However, up until recently, I gave his historical views some credence, because he is supposedly an historian. However, that went down the tubes when Gingrich pontificated on the radio that this year's presidential election would be the most important since that of Abraham Lincoln. This election is not that important, except that voters may reject out of hand the short-lived political philosophy of Gingrich and a handful of other anachronisms.

Professional pay

FOR THOSE of you who don't want to pay teachers more, stop comparing the profession to non-professions. Teachers spend the same amount of time in school as a computer software professionals, but computer software professionals make about $80,000. Teachers work just as long, too. When do you think they write lesson plans? That happens after 3:30 p.m. Most of you are making the oil CEOs richer than God, but you can't seem to spend the money on your kids. Don't give your children excuses. Most of you don't want to spend more on education because you don't value what teachers do and you're jealous that they might get a salary increase instead of you.

Time to act

QUIT WHINING. Teachers in Missouri have the legal power to collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions. Use it.

Jovial jewel

JIM RUST was a wonderful choice for Cape Girardeau's prestigious Rush Limbaugh Sr. award. His decades-long commitment to community betterment is unequivocal. Jim Rust is a jovial jewel.

Retirement plan

IF YOU are receiving Social Security, determine how much you paid into the system. Calculate what you have already drawn. Ask yourself, "Who is paying the difference?" Regardless of what certain socialist politicians tell you, there is no Social Security lockbox. If you are receiving $800 a month in benefits, unless you paid in $500 a month for the last 35 years, you're living on someone else's money. Those of us supplementing you are being more than generous, since we are providing over 35 percent of your income and paying part of your medical care through Medicare and Medicaid. As for being on a fixed income: So am I. I have to work my tail off to get a raise, and it is generally no more than 3 to 4 percent. I'm planning for my retirement. Why didn't you?

Where to cut

MANY OF us might find better ways to cut the federal budget than cutting social programs. We might suggest cutting foreign aid, including African AIDS programs when the money should be going into fighting it here, reducing politicians' salaries and perks, cutting back on excessive civil servant positions, cutting out at least some of the non-essential programs, including most pork-barrel projects. If our own citizens are not as important as the above (plus hundreds of other things we pay for), what does that say for us as a country?

Have to pay

I DO not understand the comments saying that people with no health coverage go to hospital emergency rooms for their care and don't have to pay for it. They don't have to pay at the time, but unless things have changed over the past few years, hospitals send a bill and expect payment, don't they?

Planning ahead

SOMEONE SAID he felt sorry for those who had planned to retire and live off their Social Security benefits. He claimed the government sold these people a bill of goods. Stop blaming the government for people's lack of planning. The Social Security system was designed and has always been touted as supplemental income to add to what was put aside for retirement. The government has been clear on that. Anyone who did not plan accordingly and has only Social Security to live on after working a full-time job has nobody to blame but themselves.

Replace the flag

THE FLAG at the Cape County Park North needs to be replaced. It looks disrespectful.