SPEAK OUT

Poorly designed

TO THE proponents of our new roundabout: Have you actually driven through it? I have. I have also driven on roundabouts in a number of other countries and across our nation. Ours is the only one I have seen that is less than two lanes wide. The turn radius of ours is too short. Ambulances and fire and rescue vehicles can barely negotiate the turn. In fact, fire engines have to drive up on the curbs, which will quickly ruin them and cause the need for expensive repairs. Roundabouts can be an efficient way to control traffic, but only if they are properly designed. Ours is not.

Respect the flag

AT A recent SEMO basketball game, I was astonished at the number of people who acted like it was an inconvenience to stand and show respect for the symbols of freedom of this country during the national anthem. When the national anthem is playing, you need to rise to your feet, look at the flag and place your hand over your heart until the music is over. And for goodness sake take off your hat. I realize there are many international students and visitors who attend sporting events, but it is still proper etiquette to stand and show respect to the flag and anthem of the host nation.

Learn how to drive

I DON'T understand why people are so against the new roundabout in Cape. How hard is it do drive around in a circle? Even my child, who is learning how to drive, has been able to navigate it without any difficulty once he figured out what he had to do. It's just a learning process. The people who are complaining about it are also the same people that feel that we don't need to worry about cameras at stoplights. They're the ones who don't know how to stop when they should stop at a stop sign or red light. I think the people of Cape Girardeau need to realize that when you're sick, you go to a doctor. When you need financial assistance, you go to a banker. And when you need a road, you go to an engineer. This road should have been designed by an engineer. I'm assuming it was since it was a Cape Girardeau project. We ought to be satisfied with it, learn how to drive and quit complaining.

Better ideas

I'VE HEARD a lot of people talking about the roundabout as well as the comments in Speak Out. My curiosity got the best of me, so I had to go check it out. They were all right. This is the most idiotic thing I've ever seen. It angers me that we spent money for something that is poorly designed and not needed. All that's needed are some stop signs. I see projects going on in town, and I think they are never going to work. They don't understand how to divert water. Maybe this explains why if it sprinkles in Cape, the streets are flooded. I thought engineers graduated from college. I can see these things won't work and have better ideas. And I'm just an old mom with a high school diploma.

School authority

I'M CONCERNED about all these school shootings and about who the blame is put upon. In the Colorado case, they found out that the kids who did the shooting had been physically and verbally abused. If the teachers had done that to the kids, they would have been fired. These were kids abusing other kids. The man at the top is the principal. He has the authority to stop it. He also has the responsibility to stop it. If he did not stop it, he should be fired. I don't think you should put the blame on children and have them tattle against other students when they know they're going to be retaliated against. The abuse should be stopped at the top.

Raising our taxes

DEMOCRATS, I love to see that your man Bob Holden is raising taxes. I'm so glad that he's going to raise those taxes. George Bush is trying to put money back in our pockets, but Holden is trying to take it for himself.

Like a Democrat

I HEARD our new Democrat governor wants to raise taxes on gasoline, groceries, car tags, registration, you name it. Is that what we need: more taxes? That's just like a Democrat. Tax, tax, tax and spend, spend, spend.