SPEAK OUT

Marijuana laws

THE NEW Mexico House of Representatives narrowly approved legislation that would permit qualified patients to smoke marijuana medicinally in accordance with state law. The state Senate passed a similar, though not identical, version of the bill last week. Both houses must now agree on a final version of the bill to send to Gov. Gary Johnson for approval. The House's passage of the bill readies New Mexico to become only the second state (Hawaii passed a similar law last year) to approve legislation exempting medical marijuana patients from criminal penalties under state laws.

He's a lawyer

DAVID LIMBAUGH is always putting Democrats down, saying they're untrustworthy. Just ask yourself: What is Limbaugh's profession? Is he not a lawyer?

Family values?

WHY AREN'T you good Republicans upset that George W. Bush is already beginning to break his campaign promises on important issues? Were he a Democrat (and thank God he isn't) what an outcry there would be. I guess breaking promises is in keeping with family values so it's OK, right?

Clinton's techniques

DAVID LIMBAUGH has spilled a lot of ink trying to convince us that George W. Bush is quite different from his predecessor. Yet Bush's flip-flop on carbon dioxide emissions is classic Clintonesque. According to the March 13 edition of The New Yorker, Bush has quickly mastered Clintonian rhetoric, but, unlike Clinton, uses it as cover for policy changes promoting pure greed.

Circular poetry

Sometimes I think

my life is going

around in circles.

And then I realize

it literally is

as I, mesmerized,

in a trance-like state,

endlessly drive

the roundabout.

Whippersnapper views

THE THEME of a recent Southeast Missourian editorial was that tax cuts force Congress to control spending. Horsefeathers. Is some young whippersnapper writing those editorials, one who has no recollection of the Reagan years?

Another title idea

DAVID LIMBAUGH will likely not cotton to the suggestion of a Speak Out caller and write a book on how the Bush brothers stole the presidential election. Rather, I would expect Limbaugh to pen a more challenging tome, perhaps a philosophical one, entitled, "Yes, God Is a Republican."

Spending boost

PETER KINDER is proud of his parsimonious spending cuts in state government. Ordinarily, I would agree with the senator. However, with the Bush recession rearing its ugly head, perhaps Kinder should reconsider and advocate profligate spending in order to stimulate the economy.

Made me a Democrat

REPUBLICANS DON'T care if Rome is burning just as long as they have their man sitting in the White House. Nothing else seems to matter. What's more, they will find 1,001 excuses to blame the Democrats for whatever goes wrong. The Republicans did do one good thing. They made a Democrat out of me.

Loves burning smells

TO THE person in Speak Out complaining about burning leaves: Why? I love the smell of burning leaves, whether it be spring or fall. I also like the smell of wood burning, and barbecue cooking on an outside grill. These are some of the pleasures of living.

Up to parents

I AM a working parent who does the best I can to teach my kids about drugs. I smoked pot when I was younger and suffered no ill effects, but I don't want my kids to do it. One problem is my tax dollars being spent on stuff like the idiotic commercial, "This is your brain on drugs." Come on, this is the best the government can do toward education? I read a letter from a thoughtful person who called in "Real war on drugs." I think he made some very good points, especially the part about parents leaving the job of parenting up to everyone else. How can we expect our children to trust us if we leave them to be monitored by the government, police and schools?

It works elsewhere

ROUNDABOUTS ARE popular worldwide because of their ease of use and because they can decrease the number of crashes significantly. Many are placed strategically at busy intersections just because of safety reasons. There is a roundabout in Columbia, Mo., that is situated along a major road and an interchange of I-70. It has reduced accidents over 70 percent, and the city would like to implement more at busy intersections with high accident rates. Why is it that only the people of Cape Girardeau are having such problems driving around a circle? If you feel it is too small, maybe it's because your vehicle is just too big.

The race flag

A CALLER says repeal of the estate tax would widen the gap between income levels in whites and blacks. That is so amazing its not even funny, although it had to have been a joke. It just amazes me that someone could continue to blame whites for their own refusal to achieve. Whites have no groups which are white-only. That would be construed as racist. Stop waving the race flag every time you don't get something for free.

Others involved too

AS THE grandmother of two 14-year-olds, my heart breaks for the young girl in Jackson. I know what she did was wrong, but someone else was involved also. Why is it always the girl who pays the price and the man or boy walks free? He should also be in custody right along with her.

Don't drive on it

REGARDING THIS roundabout: Folks, it's pretty easy to figure out. If you don't like it, don't drive on it.

Slum slam

IS THIS the opinion of all Jackson citizens or just yours, Mayor Sander, that if you don't live in Jackson you live in slum cities? With opinionated people like you there, I'd never want to live in Jackson.

Ban the burning

I WISH the city would ban open burning. Everybody in my neighborhood is burning leaves at the same time. They burn well into the night. They never get caught. It's really annoying, even with your windows closed, you smell all that nasty smoke. There's no excuse for it. All they have to do is bag it up and call the city and ask them when they'll come and pick up the leaves.

Won't get over it

I THINK it's very obvious that the Republicans are in. Take the new bankruptcy law, which is going to make it hard for employed people who find themselves in a bind. Look at what Peter Kinder's trying to do in Missouri. We'll never get over this election. It was stolen, and there's no other way to put it. We'll never, ever get over it.

Penalizing teens

ARE WE the only people in the Cape area with this problem? A teen-ager makes a minor subtraction error on a small checking account, and $100 or more of charges are quickly racked up before the first notice ever reaches the customer. A deposit is made as soon as the error is discovered, but not before the account is grossly overcharged and a teen is penalized severely. The customer-service people are unwilling to make the proper concession. However, this bank seems to be recouping its losses on hardworking high school students. If your bank is guilty of this practice, then call customer service and complain. Perhaps there is strength in numbers.

Need answers

CAPE GIRARDEAU schools need a system so that when there is a problem or safety issue, parents can get an answer. Last week, when there was a student who allegedly threatened to shoot other people, I got home from work and called the board office to find out if it was true or just a rumor so I could allay my child's fears. The secretary said the board office hadn't had a chance to tell her about it, even though the incident happened fairly early in the morning. She didn't know anyone who could talk to me, and her answer to my question whether it was a rumor or was it based on fact was, "Well, I don't know." Communication with the public is a very integral part of the district's job. That's something they're failing in. When parents call with a legitimate concern about their child, we need to be given answers.

Bad location

I'M CALLING about the roundabout. I was able to navigate it. But I think the roundabout is in a very bad location. That's a busy street, and the roundabout isn't needed there. That intersection does need a four-way stop sign. The roundabout could be beneficial in a residential area or even some park setting. I think the city needs to reconsider the roundabout's current location at a busy intersection.