OpinionApril 11, 2001
SPEAK OUT
I regret having to make this Speak Out comment, but I do not apologize for it. The American hostages in China are being held hostage to the concerns of U.S.-based multinational corporations and Big Business interests. This is in addition to a growing body of evidence indicating increasing human rights abuses in China. ...
It's Big Business
I regret having to make this Speak Out comment, but I do not apologize for it. The American hostages in China are being held hostage to the concerns of U.S.-based multinational corporations and Big Business interests. This is in addition to a growing body of evidence indicating increasing human rights abuses in China. The tepid response of Bush and his corporate cronies indicates the hostages are being sacrificed to the almighty dollar. In urging caution and prudence concerning the hostage situation, the Southeast Missourian has cast its lot with the big-monied interests. This is not surprising, but is still very sad.
Anti-democratic?
Stunningly, David Limbaugh seems to have become a single-issue advocate. He has expressed support for an obscure group which has targeted for defeat any member of Congress who opposes Bush's tax-cut proposal. Single-issue groups are anathema to compromise, the cornerstone of our representative democracy. Thus, the question must be asked: Has Limbaugh made a radical addendum to his political philosophy by becoming not only anti-Democrat, but anti-democratic?
Mature concession
I was really disturbed by the tone of the recent Speak Out comments about Dr. Ferrell Ervin and his election defeat. The comments were mean-spirited and petty. Dr. Ervin accepted his defeat very graciously. It is too bad these callers couldn't be as mature.
What about kowtowing?
I was just wondering what the Cold War warrior who has had some serious Speak Out commentary published warning us of the evils of international communism thinks of Bush's appeasement, even kowtowing to the Chinese?
Other entertainment
Of course Cape won't get intelligent films like "Pollock." The only entertainment in this town is from downtown bars, rodeos, out-of-date bands or inane country music at the Show-Me Center.
We know our art
A Speak Out commentator recently speculated that the reason the movie "Pollock" has not come to Cape is because the movie movers and shakers don't think we understand art. My own take is that it's not coming because they know all too well that we do. Drip painting is the biggest hoax ever foisted on the art world. Folks around here have common sense and realize art when they see it.
Enough of a drop
Many categories of crime have been dropping dramatically. Some attribute part of the decrease to the Clinton administration's popular C.O.P.S. program, putting many more cops on the streets. Bush has proposed gutting the program. As part of the rationale for slashing and burning the project, a Bush spokesperson opined that it was designed to be only a three-year experiment. I guess a three-year drop in the crime rate is long enough.
No hostage ire
Why aren't you Republicans yelling and screaming because George W. Bush hasn't brought our hostages in China home? Were President Clinton in the Oval Office, you would be raising all kinds of tantrums about this.
Corporate pork
President Bush's proposed budget cuts corporate welfare. You heard me right. He's suggesting sticking it to corporate pork. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is beside itself with anger. Maybe the president is going to be OK after all.
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Big postal bonuses
TO ALL the people who are wondering about the post office closing on Saturdays to save money because they've lost so much money, I'd just like to remind them that Postal Service management paid themselves $280 million in bonuses last year. Maybe if they were doing such a good job, we wouldn't be in the hole. Maybe they didn't deserve the bonuses.
Big impact on families
CONCERNING GOV. Bob Holden's transportation plan: I have a family of five with a medium income. I drive for a living. It looks like this plan is going to cost me almost $1,000 a year out of my household budget. I'd like to see the Southeast Missourian do an analysis of how much this is going to add to the current budget and apply that to an average family and calculate in the driving costs and sales taxes of the average family.
Make it our decision
I JUST read in the newspaper where a bill had passed that allows adults over 21 to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. It said they could make up their own minds. Why can't people over 21 make up their own mind if they want to drive an automobile without seat belts? I think that should be adults' own decisions too.
Teaching a lesson
I NOTICED since Clinton's national health care program was killed during his first term, the insurance companies have gotten more belligerent and have raised their rates higher. And pharmaceutical companies have gotten higher and higher and the medical community seems to be more arrogant. Are they getting back at Clinton, using the senior citizens who need health care and use every penny to buy insurance for prescription drugs or go without? All I know is that after one Democratic proposal loses out, the Republican Party and the insurance companies and the medical profession seem to be more and more belligerent. They just want to teach us a lesson about socialized medicine. Shame on them.
Raise speed limit
I THINK we ought to get together and get after the city council to raise the speed limit to 55 mph on Highway 74 that goes into I-55. It is a speed trap to catch motorists. Forty-five mph is ridiculous. We can't help that they made it wrong where it has to cross Kingshighway. They should have made a tunnel under Kingshighway. The speed limit should be raised to 55 mph. Let the city make money in a different way other than the police officers playing hide and seek.
Dressing for God
I DON'T pretend to be a religious man, but why are the people so up in arms? They don't seem to mind dress codes for offices or businesses or schools. They go along with the rules. But in God's house they claim to be good Christians and suggest they should dress decently to go in church. They seem to object to that. If you want to honor God, why not dress up for him?
Leave garbage alone
I WOULD like to make a complaint about recycling people. When I come home they're tearing into my garbage bags. I pay a lot of money for them. Do they do everybody like this?
It's not for you
I READ where the governor wants to increase your taxes by more than $700 million in Missouri. The same newspaper says the liberal Democrats want to cut our taxes by $450 billion so they can put it in some of their programs. Anyone who works for a living knows that you're not entitled to these programs. If you work in this country, you don't get any of these federal programs. They're for people who don't work or foreigners.
Against tax cut
DID YOU hear what Jean Carnahan did? She voted against the tax cut for all us people. She voted against the Bush tax plan. Sounds just like a true Democrat. She likes to tax and spend. She won't give any of it back. I hope the people are happy who voted for her.
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