OpinionAugust 1, 2001
SPEAK OUT
THE PROBLEM with the Mexicans coming in is that Americans are lazy. They don't want to work. They want a job and a paycheck, but they don't want to do manual labor. The only way Americans get it done is through Mexican labor. So if Americans don't like it, then they should change their work ethics so they're willing to work and do a little sweating for their pay instead of wanting someone else to do it and then get a handout from the government...
Sweating for paycheck
THE PROBLEM with the Mexicans coming in is that Americans are lazy. They don't want to work. They want a job and a paycheck, but they don't want to do manual labor. The only way Americans get it done is through Mexican labor. So if Americans don't like it, then they should change their work ethics so they're willing to work and do a little sweating for their pay instead of wanting someone else to do it and then get a handout from the government.
Help the teen-agers
THE SCOTT City police officers want a raise. Let's do something good with the money and build something in town for the teen-agers instead of letting them go out cruising and getting drunk. Do something about these places that sell alcohol and cigarettes to minors.
We need the chamber
IN REGARD to the Alan Journet letter in which he is criticizing the Missouri Chamber of Commerce for a conference it had: Thank God we've got the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. We are small business owners and members of the chamber. We need resources to help us avoid being fined out of existence by irrelevant environmental regulations.
Liberal actions
FOR YEARS I've heard how Democrats are so liberal. Now George W. Bush wants to forget about enforcing the law on 3 million Mexicans who are here illegally. He says let 'em go, don't worry about it. Now that's liberalism, people. It will encourage more Mexicans to come across the border and stay. And my former senator, John Ashcroft, a big man as far as law and order is concerned, wants to cut back the necessary time to register before you buy a gun? He wants to make it tougher for law enforcement to check out criminals trying to buy guns? Now that's being liberal. I don't know what the word liberal means to your people, but those are two very liberal moves in my opinion. Which party is really liberal? I don't see a lot of difference.
Flooding is worse
I READ with great interest your article about the flooding and Walker Creek that was published July 28. We've lived in the same location since 1984 near Denis Scivally Park. Since the Walker Creek project completion, our water problems have been worse. I've called the city about this. I asked them to come to my house when it's raining and look for themselves, but they never show up. The rain last week wasn't nearly so bad as it was in 1986. However, the flooding was a lot worse. The Walker Creek addition has made the situation worse in the branch that goes through Denis Scivally Park. City. You need to look at that, and do it now.
Source of funding
I WAS reading in the paper where the Jackson schools are going to offer computer classes to the community. I think it's a great thing, but I'm wondering where the funds are going to come from. I also see they're providing lunch for the day sessions. That's a great thing to do, but I'm sure the community appreciates the fact that they're providing the lessons for free, and the lunch isn't needed. The evening sessions don't have a meal provision. I think we should try to save that money.
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Not a perfect world
TO THE caller who says, "If you don't like it, move": In an ideal world, that would be a good option. However, many bad landlords have something on their side called a lease. Many who rent can't afford an attorney and are stuck with the option of the problem or paying the remainder of their leases. I am lucky enough to have a terrific landlady. If all were like her, things would be so much simpler. As far as the water in the basement, if I knock over some power lines and your car is damaged by the fall, do I fix the pole and forget about it?
Generous gesture
THIS IS to the gentleman who pressed a $100 bill in my hand at the children's home auction: Thank you. Thank you when my heart surpassed my wallet for your generous gesture.
Random act of rudeness
I HAVE just returned home from an errand. An SUV pulled in and parked next to me as I was loading my purchases, leaving barely enough room to open my car door and get into my vehicle. As I entered my vehicle, my door fell open and bumped the SUV. The two passengers in the SUV immediately exited and bumped my vehicle not once, not twice, but three times before I could even roll down my window and apologize for accidentally bumping their SUV. You know what? I am just plain tired of people in this town being so petty. I was raised to always be courteous and think of others first. This is the rudest town I've ever lived in. I try every day to look for acts of kindness that spontaneously come my way, but six days out of seven I'm left with a feeling of despair. So don't expect me to be so courteous next time. Remember the saying: When in Rome, act as the Romans do.
The city has changed
OVER THE last week that I've been home visiting family, it saddens me to read the Missourian and Speak Out and see what kind of community Cape Girardeau has become. It's certainly not the same town I grew up in back in the 1960s and 1970s. Back then, the people were more down-to-earth and seemed to care about each other. By reading Speak Out, it seems that's no longer true. I really feel sorry for Cape Girardeau and what it's become. It's too bad it can't be what it used to be.
Planning for energy
IF WE follow the advice of all these environmentalists who are opposed to the new power plant being proposed, we will someday find ourselves in the same boat California is in with high electric bills and rolling blackouts. We can either move ahead wisely and build power plants as needed or live in squalid and backward conditions by following the tree huggers.
Same line of work
TO ADD to an earlier Speak Out comment, it's ironic that Richard Kinder and Rush Limbaugh have both made their fortunes in the same line of work: the production of natural gas.
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