Speak Out 3/16/09

Political agenda

IN recent days the Missourian has run several op-ed pieces critical of President Obama and his programs. Columnist Charles Krauthammer disagreed with Obama in the very beginning and opposed what the American people hoped to achieve when they chose Obama. Are these the right people to evaluate this program? In choosing to publish such articles, the Missourian tells us little about Obama and his programs but a great deal about its own political agenda.

Governor is right

SO far I agree with what Gov. Jay Nixon has done with the stimulus package. I agree that the rural bridge over our Osage River should be fixed. When would the funds be available to fix a bridge such as this? I don't think St. Louis deserves more stimulus money than anyone else. The governor is using the money for the right things. I am for maintaining that which we have and keeping a good infrastructure.

Crying over taxes

I'D say that any couple making over $250,000 can afford to be taxed. In these tough economic times, they shouldn't be such crybabies. They've been so blessed. Others have so little and work as hard as they do.

School hours

I think that school should be in session five days a week. We are not having such tough in economic times that we need a four-day week. Some teachers have complained they don't have enough hours to get everything taught. If the schedule goes to four days a week, teachers' salaries should be cut for sure. A lot of people are getting their salaries cut, and if teachers are not producing the same amount of work, their salaries should be cut as well.

No guns

I do not believe that Ameren workers should be allowed to carry weapons, nor should the minister in Illinois who got gunned down by the weirdo, nor schoolteachers.

Make concessions

FOUR years isn't much time for President Obama to turn the last eight years of damage around. All he can do is to take on two or three priorities and go with them. The top three issues that need to be tackled; health care, education and jobs. If there are no concessions made by all, we won't correct these problems.

How we eat

NOW columnist George Will has stepped into our business. He is right that Americans are overweight and corn is too cheap. But one does not necessarily cause the other. Americans are overweight because they consume too much soda and fatty food. It would not matter if the soda had sugar derived from sugar cane or sugar beets. It is still high in sugar content and low in nutrients. High fat levels in a hamburger and fries are a problem, and we need to learn to eat food with less fat and calories. We need a fast-food restaurant that sells fruits and vegetables instead of soda, hamburger and fries.

Private business

OUR country has to have private business to make money and pay employees so the government can collect taxes. Now that our president is intent on shrinking business and enlarging government jobs, it will be impossible to collect enough tax money to pay for big government. We want America to succeed and for the people of America to succeed. To do that we need to turn back socialist policies and promote business.

Bigger mess

SOMEONE said it will be hard for President Obama to get us out of the mess we're in. Seems to me that everything he has done has made an even bigger mess.

Time to go to work

SINCE the Obama White House has managed to insult both Great Britain and Russia with diplomatic gaffes recently, the administration might find more success if it focused on its job instead of trying to destroy Rush Limbaugh. With the country on the ropes and the White House stumbling from one crisis to another, President Obama should realize, now that the election is over, he needs to stop playing politics and do his job.

Don't want failure

WHEN 9/11 happened, nobody in our country (Republican or Democrat) wanted our president to fail. Now we are in the midst of the worst world economic crisis of our lifetime. No one, Republican or Democrat, should wish for our president to fail. Anyone who believes that Rush Limbaugh has the right answers should go online and read some of his most famous quotes. This is not a person to be admired as a leader. He seems to lack any conscience in the remarks he makes. I am a Republican, but I do not want my president to fail.

Irresponsible owners

I live on County Road 316 and cannot believe how many irresponsible pet owners out here let their dogs roam freely. I'm most worried about a couple of hound dogs. They get in our trash and do their business in our yard. Not only are these animals creating problems for our family, they could get run over as well. As a pet owner myself, I don't believe anyone who says they love their pets if they allow them to roam.

Get the facts

I am not a Rush Limbaugh fan, so when I first heard he'd said he wanted our president to fail, I thought he was being his typical self. A friend suggested I read the actual transcripts of what he has said, so I did. I didn't read the transcripts as provided by Limbaugh, but as provided by independent sources. In not one instance did Limbaugh say what his critics are claiming he said. He did say that because he cares about America and Americans, he hoped that some of Obama's policies fail. I think every single American would, if they were being honest, have to say they feel that way about every president they've lived under. It is impossible for a president to please everyone, even their staunchest supporters, on every decision. So to those who have denigrated Limbaugh for comments he didn't even make, I suggest you stop listening to rumors and get the facts before passing judgment.

Now who's greedy?

WHO'S greedy? Me for wanting to keep the money that I worked to earn? Or those who think they deserve it (through President Obama's redistribution) and didn't work for it? Obama and his minions are calling me greedy. Sad.

Selfish brats

TO the person apologizing to the Greatest Generation for the mess our country is in: Don't. It is their fault. While they fought fascism, totalitarianism, empire-building in Japan and communism, they spoiled their children and raised them to think only of themselves. The Greatest Generation raised the narcissists who are the baby boomers. They reared the selfish brats who are running and ruining our country. Today's boomer politicians are stealing from their grandchildren and great-grandchildren to pay for their own self-gratification, vanity and largesse instead of looking out for the next generation.

Keep the deductions

IT'S one thing to talk about charitable giving and how it's from the heart, but it's another if you're used to getting deductions for your charitable giving. With the all of the jobs been lost, many of us have suffered. It's not a time when you want your tax bracket to change. This would be the the worst time to take away deductions for charitable giving.

Dangerous highway

THE Missouri Department of Transportation started work on Highway 72 over three years ago. The road is one sorry mess. It reminds me of an Army obstacle course. This is a dangerous situation. Something should be done at once.

Perryville Road speed

SPEEDING is getting really bad on Perryville Road. I'm afraid there is going to be a bad accident. Kids are driving 60 mph in a 35 mph zone.

Thriving casinos

I can't believe Missouri casino revenue was up $5.1 million in February. This is where people are going. They are addicted to the casinos, I can't believe where people are spending their money.

Charitable requests

UPON opening my mail today, there were request for money for the Children's Cancer Research Fund, the Leukemia Fund, the American Lung Association, a missionary charity, the American Heart Association and a $100 request to spay and neuter your cat from the ASPCA. In the previous months I have donated to five of the above organizations. Today I have more Easter stationery, bird stamps, note pads, calendars, return address labels, a dream catcher and the list goes on. I have also noticed these charities no longer have postage-free return envelopes. What is going on?

Ride the bus

AFTER reading comments about the highway congestion at South Elementary School, I have a solution: a big yellow object about 60 feet long. It's called a school bus. That would alleviate a lot of the problems.

Bouffant hairdo

I'M a hairdresser since 1960, and a fan of "Hairspray." I've seen the first movie and the remake with John Travolta, the musical at the Fox in St. Louis, and now at River Campus in Cape Girardeau. In the 1960s, the salon I worked at received an invitation to enter bouffant styles in a national style book by Mr. Ray. He was from Memphis and a well-known stylist. We had Lueders Studio take our pictures, and they were placed in the style book. Ricki Lake starred in the first movie in the 1980s, and the picture of my style was selected as a poster in the window of the beauty salon scene. People magazine took pictures of Ricki when she was heavy, and there in the background was my picture. The article was promoting her talk show. To my surprise, sitting in a box seat close to the stage, my picture was on one of the screens. That hairstyle came around full circle to my hometown of Cape Girardeau. "Hairspray" was a wonderful production, and we are very fortunate to have the River Campus.

Human life

IS human life of any value? Should we destroy one life in hopes of saving another? If we can accept the killing of a baby before birth, are we ready to euthanize the elderly and disabled? Who should make the decision of whether a life is worth saving? Should it be based on cost alone? Will we decide on the battlefield whether a soldier should be treated or shot? Who should make these decisions?

Raise the age

IN order to cut down on the high dropout rate, the legal dropout age should be raised.