I AM a resident of Jackson. I am a senior citizen. My children are grown. I love football, particularly the Jackson, SEMO and Rams teams. I have seen them all play and love watching them. I voted for the tax increase which we must have to educate our young people. I have the solution for the money. We need to cut out Jackson football for one year and then vote for the money. Who on the school board is brave enough to solve this problem?
IN RESPONSE to the person who said military experience doesn't translate to the civilian sector: I am a retired member of the Air Force. I have never used intimidation. I was always open to suggestions from even the lowest airmen and had a great deal of respect for all my troops. The training and education I received far surpassed what I received in the civilian world. In the military you have a larger organization to run, requiring more leadership skills. How many civilian managers are trained to go to war? The military also believe in a great sense of teamwork. It is true that there are a few bad managers from the military, but most are good people.
I AM saddened by the results of the Jackson school election and embarrassed for the people of Jackson. This has always been a progressive community that supported its schools. Many have said they don't want an increase in taxes. Those I have heard say that have plenty of money and are able to buy themselves any material things they want, but they can't give to the youths and help out educational facilities. Shame on you, Jackson.
I THOUGHT maybe the church would sell its Hopper Road property for a speedway or drag strip. I'm sure NASCAR would be interested.
WHO IS looking out for the working people of America? It sure isn't the Democrats. They whine and fight every tax-break issue. How many unions want lower taxes? They want higher dues. The Democratic leadership doesn't want to lower taxes. They want to control your tax money to offer promises to the rich, the greedy and the selfish.
PEOPLE WHO are praising Bush about the tax rebate should consider this. They are being bought for a few hundred dollars while he rapes the economy, the environment and our pockets. Next year this tax rebate will have to be paid for by those people that got those few measly hundred dollars.
WE UNDERSTAND David Goncher's disapproval of the board of education's handling of the Randie Fidler situation, and we can understand how he would be frustrated trying to work against the majority. But when he resigned, it just made that majority stronger and made it so the people he disagrees with have more power. We need more people on the school board like Goncher, and we need them to think about what is right. I think everybody on the school board is trying to do their best, but sometimes they disagree. Now that group is going to have more power.
I WAS surprised to see that David Goncher resigned from the school board, especially since he did not make any big public fuss when Randie Fidler wasn't rehired. That would have been the time to do this when there was still an opportunity for the community to get something done.
I DON'T understand why a church would want a lake on its property. It seems like that would be a big liability waiting to happen. Besides, it would be a habitat for snakes and mosquitoes.
I WOULD like to know what all the fuss is about just because President Bush is taking a 30-day vacation at his ranch in Texas. Our previous president took an eight-year vacation, except for worldwide travel with his family.
I WATCHED George Bush trying to tell us about his decision regarding stem-cell research being funded by our tax dollars. I am 71 years old. I've got all kinds of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I do not know whether any of us will benefit from that, but everybody should benefit, although everybody won't benefit from the use of their tax dollars paying scientists so that the scientists will be assured they'll make money. It's as simple as that. When Bush says the federal government is supposed to fund this research, he is a traitor to my cause. I am a Republican.
MOST AMERICANS believe stem-cell research is absolutely necessary and is for the good of the entire world. But most Americans do not agree that it should be federally funded -- that this should come out of the pockets of the taxpayers of this country.
HAVING REACHED the senior citizens status some 10 years ago, it is difficult for me to understand the selfishness of fellow senior citizens who vote against every Jackson school tax proposal placed on the ballot. I am fully aware that the monthly payments which I receive have far exceeded anything I may have paid into Social Security during my working years. I am only the fortunate recipient of this windfall because parents of today's schoolchildren are paying dearly to keep those monthly checks coming. To me, it would be a disgrace to vote against anything that would benefit their children. I never cease to be amazed at the outright selfishness of so many people my age.
TEACHERS SHOULD be disenfranchised on school votes because of a conflict of interest? By that same token, I think all Republican voters should lose their right to vote in 2004 because they may have the opportunity to vote for George W. Bush and another huge tax cut, which is a conflict of interest. I congratulate Cape for helping out our teachers with their below-average pay.
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