OpinionFebruary 7, 2007
Speak Out 2/7/07
Choir performances; Spending priorities; Paying for basics; Cooperative effort; Sparkling post office; Political machine; Keep out of jail; Getting donations; Pick and choose; Not a military threat; Preschool benefits; Running for governor
Choir performances
CONGRATULATIONS TO the Jackson High School concert choir and the Jackson Junior High School select Choir on their performances at Tan-Tar-A. They were selected from choirs all across the state, and their performances were remarkable and truly a reflection of the wonderful choral teaching staff at the Jackson schools.
Spending priorities
I READ where the president will ask for $150 billion next year for Iraq. The Department of Education's budget is $56 billion. I know money doesn't guarantee a better education, but imagine the kinds of facilities and modern technologies we could provide all of our students if we tripled the education budget instead of wasting it on Iraq.
Paying for basics
THE EXPERTS assessing why Americans now have a negative 1 percent savings rate are just too funny. Or they don't live in our world, where after-tax income is eaten up mainly by high rent and utility rates that leave many of us with just about enough to buy food, gas and insurance for our old cars and enough clothing to keep us from going around nude. There is a real world out here that many just cannot comprehend. At $6.50 to $8 an hour, even a single person is using all his/her disposable income on life's basic needs.
Cooperative effort
I HAVE been dismayed by the discussion about the ineffectiveness of the DARE program. DARE is a prevention program, one small contribution to a child's education. If DARE is only a small contribution, then who else should be involved in a child's education about drugs, alcohol and tobacco? Educating children about drugs, alcohol and tobacco should be a community effort. My parents -- along with help from such people as my teachers, DARE Officer, congregation, friends and other community members -- were the ones who educated me about drugs, alcohol and tobacco. When I had DARE, it was only a few weeks long for one hour a week. Did I learn anything from DARE? Yes, I did. But I also learned things from everyone else around me. I was lucky I had people willing to take responsibility and educate me. Some children do not have that. If we leave DARE as the only means to educate our children about drugs, alcohol and tobacco, then the DARE program will most certainly fail. If we support the DARE program and accept the responsibility that is ours, which is to help educate our children, then we have more of a chance. Community members, take responsibility. Parents, take responsibility, if you feel DARE has failed, then you have failed also.
Sparkling post office
I WOULD like to commend the new custodian at the Cape Girardeau post office on a great job. It's such a pleasure to walk into the lobby to pick up my mail and experience such a clean and fresh-smelling place. It makes an outstanding first impression on the public. For all the bad publicity the U.S. Postal Service gets, I would like to give this man a hand for a job well done. Keep up the good work, Mike.
Political machine
WOW, HOUSE Speaker Rod Jetton really is a professional politician. A while ago there were some ethics questions concerning his involvement in state Sen. Jason Crowell's campaign. Now he punishes a committee chairman from his own party for removing wording from a law that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled unenforceable. He repeatedly ignores the press. He strong-arms underlings into doing his dirty work with not-so veiled threats, then he apologizes by saying,"You brought this on yourself." It sounds like Jetton is getting a good political machine set up in Missouri.
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Keep out of jail
IF YOUR boyfriend doesn't like sleeping in a cold jail cell, tell him not to break the law. It's as simple as that.
Getting donations
WHILE I am disappointed that the left-wing garbage of "The Vagina Monologues" will be spewed locally, I'm also happy that the Network Against Sexual Violence is seeking funding in some other way than asking government to take it from taxpayers against their will. If they want funding, let them ask the community for donations. My guess is if the community at large knew the intent of "The Vagina Monologues," the NASV would be hurt, not helped.
Pick and choose
THE DEMOCRATS are such a hypocritical bunch. They supported the war in Iraq. Now they don't support the war. They supported the National Intelligence Estimate in 2002, not in 2003, then they did again in 2004 and 2005, did not in 2006, and now they like parts of the 2007 estimate. What a joke this party has become.
Not a military threat
IRAN IS a threat to the United States but not a military threat. The Iranians do not have the logistical capabilities to sustain a conflict with us, while the we have such capabilities because our logistical might is right next door in Iraq.
Preschool benefits
FIRST I hear people complain about the Cape Girardeau School District's low MAP scores. Now people are complaining about the district considering a preschool. This is one idea to help children start out in kindergarten knowing what they need to know. If you think that all children starting in kindergarten today know what they need to know, think again. Take a journey into one of our schools that house children from lower socioeconomic households at the beginning of the school year to view a kindergarten class. I think you might be shocked at what the children don't know. Quit assuming that all parents are taking care of their children's developing needs and understand that this is one more way that the district could pick up the slack.
Running for governor
AGAIN HOUSE Speaker Rod Jetton is behind things we don't have any idea about. Anyone with a first-grade education knows that Jetton is preparing to run for governor. God help us. Gov. Matt Blunt has been bad, but with Jetton we wouldn't stand a chance.
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