Speak Out 2/9/11

Preposterous statement

FOR David Limbaugh to say that Obama's "at war with American business and the free market" is preposterous. It's hard to respect a publication when it prints garbage like this, even on the opinion page.

Food for cash

RECENTLY, I was behind a young mother with one baby. She was using food stamps and WIC, and she got enough food to last two years. Tomato juice, orange juice for a baby and vodka for whoever. Do you think she sold some food for cash to buy other things? It's time to look into this horrific activity.

Bring troops home

I respectfully ask that if Michelle Obama wants to do something to help military families, why doesn't she talk to her husband about getting the troops back home where they're supposed to be, which is what he advertised he would do when he ran for office?

Drug testing

GOOD job, Missouri House, for requiring drug tests for welfare recipients. It may hurt for a while, but in the long run, you really are doing these people a favor. And I, for one, do not want my tax dollars to go to drugs. Thank you. Stand firm.

Egypt vs. Iran

THE rioting that's going on in Egypt brings back memories of when Jimmy Carter was president. We had a weak president in the United States, and he would not back the shah of Iran. The shah of Iran wanted to have the United States of Persia where women had equal rights and they were friendly to Israel and friendly to the United States. But Carter didn't understand it and would not back the shah, and we got Khomeini and, now, possible nuclear bombs out of Iran.

Stop the burning

BURNING leaves is disgusting. I thought the law was that you couldn't burn after 4 p.m., and recently people were still burning leaves at 5:45 p.m. It's smog. It is terrible for health purposes. Why don't the police department, fire department and the city of Cape Girardeau crack down on these people who are burning into the night? Please, Cape Girardeau, take control of this terrible thing that pollutes our air and our homes.

Public health issue

IT is not solely the right of the business owner to decide how to run their business. Otherwise they'd be serving outdated products and have asbestos on the walls. As a property owner, I too have rules and regulations, like not letting my grass get too tall or my trash pile up. The people of Cape Girardeau will soon have the opportunity to vote for an ordinance that protects people. Whether we want to admit it or not, this is a public health issue.

Disruptive activity

IT'S foolish for someone to say if you don't want to live near a quarry, just move. You've raised your children. You don't want to just move. You want somebody that's coming in and being disruptive to the community to move. It's more than dust that bothers the children. It will be the continued blasting. No matter how quiet they say it is, it's disruptive.

Behind the times

A recent Speak Out comment said, "Maybe Cape Girardeau should be a pioneer and pass a prohibition law against smoking." Even if Cape Girardeau would pass such a law, the city would hardly deserve being called a pioneer. Other more health-conscious communities have had such laws for years. If anything, Cape Girardeau is woefully behind the times in many respects, including that of banning the use of tobacco products in public places.