Speak Out 2/9/09

Questionable picks

WHERE are our ethics? Is this what is the promise to clean up corruption in our government meant? If these are the best men they can find, what does that say about the rest of our men and women?

Taking children

I'D like to know how a parent who does not have custody of a child can go into a school and remove the child without the authorities being notified. My grandchildren were taken today from a public school by their mother without any authority.

Thanks, Ameren

I want to thank AmerenUE for the great work its crews have done. I'm sure they're underappreciated.

Big electric bill

I'M wondering if anyone else in Jackson has received an outrageous electric bill. I usually have electric bill of about $80. This month it's $140. I have not used anymore electricity. I watch television with the lights out. This is quite a bit for someone on a fixed income.

Thanks for help

I'D like to thank the men who helped me get out of my drive on Rampart Street on Saturday, especially the man God sent along with a tractor with a blade.

Positive column

IN a world of negativity, there is one positive column in the Southeast Missourian, and that is Ellen Shuck's. I look forward to every other Saturday to read her column. Her tribute to the Lord is rewarding and inspiring to many. It makes me stop and think just how normal my feelings are and how blessed I am. Thank you, Ellen.

Fair pay

I do not like today's editorial cartoon. Teachers make what they deserve. They're paid a fair salary. Everyone goes to work. Everybody earns what their employers can afford to pay. The only ones who make more than they deserve are the celebrities like David Letterman.

White House comment

THIS morning I called the White House comment line and asked them to try to balance the budget. I think we got into this economic mess by spending too much money and going into debt. If you agree, please call the White House comment line.

Plowing driveways

I wish to thank the man who plowed driveways in Jackson so people could get out. God bless you.

Business blame

SMALL business owners keep saying how the economy is driving them out of business. I drove to Cape Girardeau to do some shopping. One shop is closed with a sign that says "Be back in a little bit, went to run errands." Another shop has a sign on their door that says they're open, but they're not. I went to the store next door and was told they don't open every day. If you want to be in business, you need to have hours and keep them. If you're not going to do that and you go out of business, please don't blame the economy. Take the responsibility.

Conscientious plowing

THE snowplow just went through our neighborhood pushing the ice back a little bit and the driver stopped and raised his blade to protect the driveways of people who had shoveled out their driveways. I certainly appreciate his efforts. It takes more time to do that, but you can see they really are trying to serve people.

Expecting a handout

THE federal government, state governments and all other governments down to county governments remind me of a crapshoot. Californians want to be bailed out by U.S. taxpayers. It's like they're betting on the bailout to come. They spend regardless of income, and then they think, "Oh, we may be in trouble." They keep on spending hoping somebody will come to their aid. That's the way so much of our government is today.

Awesome job

I'D like to address to the special road district. It did an awesome job on the county roads during this ice storm. We appreciate it. Keep up the good work.

Police shouldn't lie

I do not like the idea that the police lied to the man accused of killing a dog before he confessed to his crime. Suppose you drove your car through a yellow light and policeman charged you with running a red light. The policeman says, "I've got a movie showing that you ran the red light."You might say, "Oh, I might have made a mistake, I might have ran the red light. I confess." You've just confessed to a crime you did not commit because the policeman lied to you. That's a bad idea. Policemen should not lie in order to get a confession.

Paying taxes

IF John McCain can make Joe the Plumber a hero and Joe didn't pay some of his taxes, perhaps there's room for a few appointees who didn't pay their taxes. It's so hard for the public to see what's real and not real. Whether it's Joe the Plumber or these appointees, they should be paying their taxes.

Getting change

MY comments are about the new administration and the economy. U.S. citizens voted in November for change, and boy, are we getting it. Under President Obama's leadership, we're rapidly changing from a free-enterprise democracy to Obama's form of dictatorial socialism. Our elected officials are following like blind sheep regardless of what the people they represent want. History has shown that most projects the government undertakes result in inefficiency, cost overruns and overspending. The new federal courthouse and the Mississippi River bridge in Cape Girardeau are prime examples. Our U.S. representative, Jo Ann Emerson, voted for the first $700 billion bailout knowing full well that people in this district were against it. Look what has happened. The first $350 billion was spent without any accountability. What makes us think that this new spending package will be any different? At the end of the day, someone has to pay, and that someone is the American taxpayer. We're looking at huge tax increases down the road. Welcome to change.

No comparison

WE have snow and ice-covered roads, but that snow and ice will melt and all will go back to normal. Some tree limbs are down and thousands have lost electricity. This is a relatively short-term situation. Hurricane Katrina destroyed thousands of towns and businesses, wiping out entire communities. The water didn't recede and leave everything as it was before. Comparing our temporary situation to those who are still not back in their homes after Katrina is nothing more than self-centeredness.

Help the pets

A big thank you to all who have helped during the 2009 ice storm. But let's not forget the ones who still need our help. We need to be helping the animal shelters. They are in desperate need of blankets, towels, food and litter. You have given so much to help others. Now help the pets.

Sort of agreeing

FOR once, David Limbaugh and President Obama agree, sort of. Limbaugh opined that bipartisanship is dangerous. President Obama is seeking bipartisan support for the stimulus package but is on record as saying he won't seek bipartisanship for the sake of it if it means nothing will get done. Limbaugh is hoping the president ends up more or less getting a partisan Congress to cram this bill down our throats. Down the road a few years, when evidence shows that the bill had the desired effect, pundits will point to David Limbaugh and note that he should have been more careful in the sense that he got what he wished for, except that it worked.

Ring those bells

BRINGING out the Salvation Army kettles to help those who help others is great. More and more people need help not only because of winter disasters but because of all the lost jobs. Until things are looking up, bring those kettles out one weekend a month and ring those bells so we don't forget those in need.

Balancing act

IF President Obama keeps nominating tax evaders to government posts, their rush-to-be-honest back tax payments may eventually balance the budget.

Where's the president?

I am confused. For years President Bush was severely criticized for his response to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It has been more than 10 days now since a devastating ice storm struck the Midwest affecting hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens. Where is President Obama? Has anyone heard from or seen the president in the storm area? Why not? Why has Obama not seen fit to visit the area? Why is there no outcry deploring the lack of response from President Obama? If it was so important for President Bush to visit New Orleans, why is it not just as important for President Obama to acknowledge the problems Midwesterners are facing now?

Winning, and losing

AS the use of the word "pork" replaces the use of the word "stimulus" in news stories about President Obama's proposed bill for jump-starting the economy, the sad truth may be that the GOP will win the battle and the nation will lose the war.

Make the switch

CONGRESS has voted to delay the big switch to digital television until June, saying Americans aren't ready. How could that be? This process started in 1988 then gained momentum 1996 and again after the communications problems with 9/11. In 2007 all TV networks started an information campaign to educate the public about the switch. So how come there are so many Americans who are not ready? Maybe it's not that important to them. Do the switch and let those who aren't ready suffer the loss.

It's a tax increase

THE stimulus is a tax increase disguised as a spending bill. Every time the government decides to increase spending, it is a tax increase. That's more of my time that I don't get to work for myself, more of my time the government gets to control. Eventually, my children will get to spend their time working for the government to pay for the new president's spending wish list. It's a bad idea.

More of the same?

I worry that our weather pattern is changing and we can expect ice storms every year. Which is better: spend to better prepare, or pay to repair all the damage caused by the ice?