Speak Out 3/19/08

Have a plan

I RESPECT the leaders of Jackson and believe them to be good people, but their response to the ice storm shows lack of planning. We were told to bring our storm-damaged trees to the curb for pickup. That was a good thing. However, making promises and then not committing the resources to fulfill the promise is a bad thing. If city workers can pick up all this mess, they don't have enough to do on their regular job. Please hire some contractors to finish the job, or else it will be summer before the limbs are all pickup up. I never thought I would say this, but be more like Cape Girardeau. Have a plan so people will at least have an estimate as to when their refuse will be picked up.

Jackson's cleanup

I WOULD like to thank the Jackson city workers for their work on the cleanup. They have taken my limbs away along with everyone else's along my street. They will get to everyone in due time. With the large-scale damage, it will take a little time. I see some complaints about the Jackson cleanup, but please don't waste our money by bringing in outsiders to do the job. Our money should stay with our workers. Good work, Jackson.

No need for tax increase

A MULTIMEDIA campaign is gearing up to convince voters that we need higher tax rates in Cape Girardeau. We do not need higher rates. As more stores are built in Cape Girardeau and more people buy things here, the city automatically receives more sales tax money. The city never needs a tax-rate increase. It does need to continue to work for sales growth. That will fund expansion of the park system and storm-water improvements. Never vote for a tax rate increase.

Culling the deer

I TRULY agree with Joe Sullivan concerning the deer population. People seem to picture a great number of crazy hunters killing deer in front yards and on porches. Columbia, Mo., has a wonderfully controlled program, and why Cape Girardeau has to be so slow to initiate the same — well, that's Cape. The Missouri Conservation Department can easily appoint the first 20 applicants — that's all that would be needed — after they pass an adult hunter test. There would be rules where the kills can be made. Pet owners are asked to "fix" their pets, so wouldn't this be showing the same responsibility on our part?

Fix the ramp

THAT WAS great news to hear about the Branding Iron coming to Cape Girardeau. I was surprised about the location. Please do your guests, especially handicapped guests, a favor and fix the broken concrete by the front door. It is next to impossible to push a wheelchair over that broken concrete ramp.

Silencing Christians

THE UNITED States is actively silencing Christians with so-called hate-crime laws and separation of church and state. All of you need to go to www.silencingchristians.com and watch at least the trailer and the first episode. Then speak up. Do not let your governors and senators and other officials continue to discriminate against only Christians. Don't believe me? Go to the site.

Fourth branch

WITH ALL due respect to former congressman Lee Hamilton, who was a member of the 9/11 Commission, I do understand lobbying but disagree with his thesis that lobbyists have become and should be the de facto fourth branch of the federal government.

Witty style

I NOT only enjoyed Joe Sullivan's sinkhole column a lot but have all of his others as well. His keen sense of humor and witty style makes reading them a pleasure. I look forward to more. Thank you.