Speak Out 3/17/03

Ending the taxes

I'M WITH the chamber of commerce on its endorsement of the Cape Girardeau tax issues. How can the city officials and council assure me that the taxes will go away at some point? If they can assure me of that, then I vote yes.

Purse is returned

I WANT to say thanks a million to the person who found my purse at a local department store and then turned it in. The store called me, and I got it back. My faith was restored in humankind. Thank you.

Ticket all of them

THIS IS in response to the bonfire back in January with all the underage drinkers. I think everyone there should be ticketed.

All for ratings

HOW LOW are our TV morals? We have Bill Clinton and Bob Dole giving their opinions on "60 Minutes" every week. What do you expect from CBS? What a sick and valueless society. Anything for ratings, I suppose.

Gambling and preaching

I'M GETTING so tired of you so-called Christians talking about gambling and then going to church. You know your preacher isn't even preaching the Gospel. You're gambling and then listening to a false preacher. I'm ashamed.

Being a socialist

IF HAVING national health care means being a socialist, then I'm the biggest one. If someone believes in a strong labor union to protect our benefits, then I guess I'm one of those too.

Plenty of denial

THANK YOU, Mike Wells, for a great story about the bonfire incident. The story shows that our trouble in society isn't Hollywood's displays of sex or violence. It isn't taking prayer out of school, the liberal agenda or homosexuals. Our problem in America is the parents who refuse to believe that their precious child is capable of drinking or getting into trouble. Wake up, parents. Denial isn't just a river in Egypt. I don't blame the schools. It isn't their job to get involved in these matters.

Biggest rip-off

IT AMAZES me that people are so against casinos when the biggest rip-off is the Missouri Lottery.

Laughable talk

THIS AREA is represented by practically all Republican politicians. They talk about the Democrats who tax and spend. What a laugh.

Stepping up to the plate

AS A Gulf war vet, I want to say that liberating the people of Iraq or any nation where terrorism rules should be a goal of all world leaders. If no one else wants to step up to the plate, I guess it will be America. It's the only way to advance humanity around the globe.

Lower drinking age

AGE 18 to 21 -- what a difficult age to be. By 18 most people have a license to drive and have graduated from high school. They have gone off to college or have a job in the adult world. They are registered to vote. Eighteen-year-olds pay for their own insurance, get married and can be called for jury duty. They are adults living in society. They have to be responsible members of the community. But they can't drink a beer. That is a crime. I think it's time to lower the drinking age to 18.

Blame in on the wife

I'M READING about gas prices going up and how some people are starting to drive their vehicles less. For owners of SUVs and gas guzzlers, this is poetic justice. They waste resources driving these monsters. My wife is one of those. She goes to the store two or three times a day, which is ridiculous.

Money shortages

LET ME see if I've got this right. The state budget is in a mess. Cape Girardeau is short of money. Southeast Missouri State University is short of money. But here we're hell-bent on getting the River Campus built.

Bring them home

IT'S ABOUT time we brought our servicemen back home. They are getting tired of waiting. We are giving Saddam Hussein more time to get stronger.

Smiles mend us

I READ in the paper the other day where someone was upset about someone laughing at work. If we're too busy to laugh, we're just too busy. Maybe a lot of people don't know it, but many a smile hides the broken heart.