SPEAK OUT

Out of touch

TO THE administrators of our local hospitals: You are out of touch with what's going on in the nursing department. As a nurse, I can tell you we are short in all departments, and most nurses are working a 14-hour to 16-hour shift with very few days off. Contrary to belief, money is a big motive for keeping nurses as most are leaving for better paying jobs in St. Louis. I would suggest that administrators talk to your people before making such comments.

Against power plant

ABOUT THE new power plant proposed in Cape Girardeau County: I have long been a resident of Crump, and we were not informed of this until just recently. I do not want a power plant in this area because of the noise and smog pollution. And I do not like the way this was underhandedly brought in this area through the commissioner of this county and state Sen. Peter Kinder. And I do not think it is necessary.

No utility freeloaders

ON ELECTRIC plants: We don't need their smog. We don't need to carry them nearly free on the tax roles, or build them a plant on taxpayers' money. They would probably use all the groundwater up in the area. Those companies are making billions of dollars. We don't need them freeloading on us. Any commissioner who puts that over on the taxpayers will get no vote of mine. The Cape Girardeau County people should be allowed to vote on this.

Shooting straight

I WOULD like to make a comment about Planned Parenthood and all these other programs that believe you can't stop teen-agers from having sex. If that's the case, then on these drive-by shootings why don't we have bulletproof-vest distribution centers and teach the shooters to be expert marksmen. When it comes to risky behavior these liberals keep telling us they can't stop, then why not train these people to be experts, because it's another type of risky behavior. That way little babies wouldn't be shot.

Reassessing taxes

ATTENTION, VOTERS. Did you know that if your real estate property was reassessed higher it means your taxes go up? Then they will go up again if the school levy issue passes. Just call the phone number on your reassessment notice.

But who's counting?

JUST ANOTHER 3 1/2 years and I will have a president. Can't wait.

Calming exercise

I SAW a woman in a parking lot who was so angry her hands were almost fists. She was talking to a child through clenched teeth. I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what to say, so I walked on past. I was a coward. It was still on my mind the next morning when I read an article on the Internet. It was a portion of "Wherever You Go, There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. The main point was this: When you find yourself growing angry, do the following exercise. Unclench your fists, then place both hands in front of your chest close to your heart with palms facing each other. Gently press your palms together. Hold it for the count of 10. Repeat as needed. Some people may say, "Oh, it's praying hands." Others may recognize it as a mudra. Still others may recall that they've done this exercise to work the pectoral muscles. The result is that the anger subsides. The next time you feel like yelling or hitting, give this simple exercise a try. What have you got to lose but your anger?

Let people vote

THE MISSOURI Republican Party can ratchet up the rhetoric until it rains rubies, but there's no way Republicans should have prevented the people from voting directly on the transportation proposal. The Missouri GOP now appears to be antithetical to the populism they so proudly postulated in the past.

Money mountain

ETHANOL ADVOCATES may benefit from California's woes, but this doesn't mean taxpayers won't have to continue forking over mountains of money to subsidize what some consider a suspect endeavor.