OpinionMarch 17, 2001
SPEAK OUT
IN RESPONSE to the Speak Out caller who feels that it's the principal and teachers' responsibility to keep children from bullying each other: In theory, this might be nice, but the reality is bullying, teasing and tormenting take place everywhere, not just in the school setting. ...
7Dealing with bullies
IN RESPONSE to the Speak Out caller who feels that it's the principal and teachers' responsibility to keep children from bullying each other: In theory, this might be nice, but the reality is bullying, teasing and tormenting take place everywhere, not just in the school setting. It's rarely done in the presence of those who have the authority to stop it. The only way the principal can curtail it is if someone tells. Many times this doesn't happen for fear of retaliation. Our administration and teachers do the best they can. Parents, take the time to watch and listen to your children playing. A bully is easy to spot as young as preschool. Teach your children to respect and tolerate others, and don't wait to blame it on the school's lack of discipline. By that time, it's too late.
Watching wildlife
I WAS reading Christa Sharp's letter to the editor regarding the Arctic National Refuge Wilderness Act. With all the polar bear, caribou, musk oxen, wolves and migratory birds that she talks about, it sounds to me like the oil men will have some excellent opportunities to see wildlife in its native habitat while they're putting down their oil wells.
They'll get theirs
PRESIDENT BUSH is for giving all the people tax relief. But the Missouri governor is going to take it all away from us in higher gasoline taxes and higher sales taxes and higher property taxes and higher energy taxes. And who knows what they'll think of next? They are reneging on the Hancock surplus revenue being returned to the taxpayers. What an outrageous betrayal of the taxpayers. They overtax the people, and then the state keeps it.
Handling food
I READ with interest the article stating that local restaurants are getting a clean bill of health. Let me say right here and now that several of the fast-food establishments here have surely been overlooked. I work as a food handler, and it's mandatory that we wear plastic gloves and have our hair covered. I have observed several employees of local fast-food restaurants get going right into the food with their bare hands. Most of the restrooms have signs instructing their employees to wash their hands before returning to work. Even at that, they should wear gloves when handling our food. Maybe a few lines in Speak Out may make some of the managers pay more attention to their employees, especially if they know the public is watching them.
Admit the mistake
WHEN I make a mistake, I try to be an adult and admit to that mistake. That's what our city leaders ought to do in regards to the roundabout. Not only is this monstrosity dysfunctional, it's dangerous. I'd hate to be a patient being transported to St. Francis Medical Center by an ambulance that had to negotiate this obstacle. Roundabouts would be great in quiet residential subdivisions, but not at a heavily traveled thoroughfare. Get rid of it.
All those taxes
TO THE people who supported Bob Holden for governor: How do you feel about his news conference proposing all these taxes they're going to put on the people? The Democratic Party has always been known for tax and spend. I'd like to know what happened to the six-cent gas tax that went into effect for the 15-year highway program. I think the state's trying to fleece the taxpayers just like the oil and gas companies have done.
Players can donate
I WAS reading where this Cardinals president was asking the taxpayers to help fund this new stadium they're wanting to build in St. Louis. If they want a stadium that bad, they should ask each of the ballplayers to dig deep into their pockets and donate at least a million dollars of their annual income. Then they could have their new stadium by 2005. But they'd better not ask me to help fund it. I think that's ridiculous and an insult to the taxpayers. If the taxpayers are taxed on this, I think every taxpayer should be allowed into the stadium free from this point forward.
Simple rules
HOW CAN we restore confidence in our Democratic system? By truly caring about people and telling the truth.
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Democrat protection
IT'S THE Democrats who started Social Security, and it's the Democrats who have protected and are still protecting it. Had the Republicans had their way, it would have been gone long ago.
A fair streak
I WANT to commend Jon Rust for his columns about Missouri politics. He displays a fair streak that is unusual for the Southeast Missourian.
His hand is out
EVEN BILL Gates is said to have fallen on hard times. Apparently, he was overheard walking up to a man on the street and saying, "Brother, can you spare a billion?"
Too much good
AMERICANS ARE bored. They are not suffering to the degree that they want. There is growing sentiment for a good, old-fashioned recession. Of course, none of this makes any sense, but time after time folks fail to understand that mankind is an irrational creature, not always motivated by what common sense would seem to dictate and much more susceptible to the power of emotions as opposed to reason. A future filled with never-ending, never-interrupted economic growth and prosperity would be simply too much to bear.
Put out the fire
GOSH, GOP columnists, commentators and pundits, I hate to say so, but while you blather on endlessly about bad boy Bill Clinton, Rome is burning.
Deal with bullies
I AGREE with your March 10 editorial, "Never ignore signs of potential violence." But why do you stop short, like all the experts do, of adding that a possible way to stop this carnage is to stop the bullying? I'm wondering if it is because most of the bullying that harms these miserable young people into taking action that ruins so many lives, including their own, is so often done by the school's worshipped and adored male athletes. Whether I'm right or wrong, I'd like to see someone stand up to these bullies and explain to them that they are responsible for a lot of this carnage. When are we going to do something about this?
Costs go up too
I DON'T think minimum wage rate increases truly help anyone. It's always accompanied by price increases, from restaurants to landlords. Unless the government asked for a price freeze and then raised the minimum wage, only then would it truly help people.
Don't remove markers
IT IS illegal to remove markers posted by survey teams. To the persons who are removing the pink-flagged signs from recently surveyed land on Kurre Lane bounded by Melrose and Platt Avenue, there is a $5,000 fine for removing survey markers. Please stop doing this.
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