Speak Out 3/12/09

Tagging clothing

CONSIGNMENT clothing stores are a great help in this recession. I have purchased many items in the past year and appreciate the service. However, would it be too much to ask that tags be placed in the clothing tags so that when the clerk is removing them they do not tear a hole in the garment that the buyer may not notice until after laundering? Even a small hole is unsightly and almost always renders the garment unwearable. Many thanks.

He can handle it

A growing number of experts agree that for the last eight years we have lived under a virtual dictatorship of George W. Bush. During that time, David Limbaugh was silent concerning the consistent usurpation of various and sundry constitutional rights by the Bush administration. Now Limbaugh asks us to rise against alleged targeting of his brother by the Obama administration. The Obama administration would be foolish to discourage or stop Rush Limbaugh from speaking out. He is and has been accurately described as the perfect foil. Even if he was being targeted in some sinister way, I think Rush can take care of himself.

School yelling

OUR child attends Cape Girardeau Middle School. When school lets out, there are children in front of the school yelling and cussing. When it was brought to the attention of the principal and front desk all I heard from them is "Yes, I know. Isn't that a shame?" Where's the supervision? Our children deserve better.

Protectionism first

IF GM and Chrysler are ordered by the U.S. courts to go into Chapter 7 bankruptcy and are put on the auction block, only American bidders should be allowed to bid on their assets. Only through protectionism, not globalism, can the United States rebuild its productive capabilities.

On your own

EVEN though David Limbaugh tugged at my heartstrings to try to get me on board for battling the federal government for its alleged targeting of his defenseless brother, Rush, I cannot do so. Rush is simply going to have to fend for himself, in part because David wrote or said nothing about the past eight years when, according to a growing number of experts, we lived under nothing less than a dictatorship of George W. Bush. Somehow, I think Rush will survive.

Good but dangerous

JOE Sullivan recently wrote in reference to Rush Limbaugh that some of Rush's commentary was on the order of "junior high vitriol" and "juvenile shticking." I agree wholeheartedly with Joe, commend him for his courage in taking on this powerful and popular Cape Girardeau native and wish him well in forced exile in either Siberia or Sudan.

Backing success

ALTHOUGH I am not particularly a fan of Barack Obama, I am an American. He was elected president, and I hope every move he makes is the right one for our country. I cannot fathom that any American would hope that President Obama or his policies will fail.

Two sides

IN a piece on Rush Limbaugh, Joe Sullivan recently wrote that there are two sides to every issue. I think Rush Limbaugh believes that as well -- a political opponent's side and the correct (his) side.

Causing a depression

IMAGINE where we would be if the Bush administration had been successful in privatizing Social Security. Now that would have been the great depression.

Bullying by teachers

THE bully issue is all over, and little will be done. I have been dealing with this for the last seven years. On top of the children's bullying, you have teachers who humiliate children in front of the whole class. This is bullying too. Some children struggle on a daily basis to fit in with others. Children all have different personalities, and some take the smallest things to heart.

School parking

HIGH school students can always take the bus if they don't like getting parking tickets or can't figure out how to park. No one wants to see more tickets given. I've never noticed it was a real problem in Jackson. I'm perfectly happy with the police presence in Jackson. Park where you're supposed to. My sons went through Jackson High School and never got a ticket.

Keep students longer

I am concerned about the dropout rate at Central High School. We need to raise the age at which teens can drop out. They wouldn't have a choice, and parents wouldn't be stuck in the middle.