OpinionMarch 29, 2010
Speak Out 3/29/10
WE pay lip service to education. Missouri's financial support for public schools has always been relatively weak. The fact that Missouri made no concerted effort to support the attempt to hold teachers more accountable for the test scores of their students and to make it easier to fire incompetent teachers makes the point. Research has demonstrated that the single most important thing in determining whether or not a student succeeds is the teacher...
Lip service
WE pay lip service to education. Missouri's financial support for public schools has always been relatively weak. The fact that Missouri made no concerted effort to support the attempt to hold teachers more accountable for the test scores of their students and to make it easier to fire incompetent teachers makes the point. Research has demonstrated that the single most important thing in determining whether or not a student succeeds is the teacher.
Eugenics movement
THANK you for the story about the eugenics movement in Germany, which is the subject of a museum exhibit in Kansas City. What Americans don't want to recognize is that there was an eugenics movement in the United States, too. It did not reach the government policy of Germany, so the situations are not comparable. But people like Margaret Sanger, who founded the American Birth Control League that later joined with other groups to become Planned Parenthood, openly advocated for eugenics. In fact, abortion as a social and political issue rose to initial prominence as a means of controlling undesirable populations. How ironic that eugenics is the topic of at least one museum exhibit at a time when our government passes a health nationalization plan with a fig leaf from the president about not using government funds for abortions.
Crumbling nation
FROM "A Nation Divided: What Happened to the Common Good?" by James U. Hammond: Lincoln warned us long ago that "a house divided against itself cannot stand." What happens to a nation when the pursuit of individual fortunes takes precedent over the common good of its people? What happens when the people's voice take second place to the desires of the elite minority? What happens when leaders make decisions for election votes instead of citizen's needs? A crumbling nation filled with debt, illiteracy and greed is what happens.
Gambling profit
I spent four years in Las Vegas, Nevada and had a non-casino job. Nevada has no state income tax. That could be the case in Missouri if enough well-regulated casinos are permitted. Gaming produces monumental revenue for host cities too. Why should Cape Girardeau give its potential gaming profit to Caruthersville, St. Louis, Boonville, Kansas City or Tunica? Let's revamp gaming and do it right: no more pretensions of riverboats.
Financial reform
NOW that health care is done we need to move on to financial regulatory reform so that we can keep Wall Street from ever again taking our beloved nation the the edge of complete financial collapse.
For the bond issue
THANK you for your editorial supporting the Cape Girardeau School District bond issue and noting that it will not result in a tax-rate increase.
Big difference
I want to thank the cart-pusher at the Cape Girardeau Walmart. Twice now he has taken my cart for me and has told me, "Have a blessed day." Such a simple sentence has really made a big difference to me, and I want him to know what he's doing is working.
Wrong change
WITH our new health care takeover passed by the Democrats 17,000 new IRS agents and $10 billion in taxes to manage them. That's not the kind of change I want.
Great team
THANK you for the outstanding coverage of the Scott County Central basketball championship in Columbia, Mo. That team is a wonderful group of young men. Thank you for showing their championship in the newspaper.
Protest efforts
IT'S a crying shame to see all the animosity, the hate and death threats against politicians over the passing of the health care plan. Nobody has ever put that much energy in protesting the fact that our military men and women are still dying in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Legislative deference
A cornerstone of traditional conservatism has been that the courts should defer to the wishes of legislative bodies. Now that the health care bill is law, modern-day conservatives have turned to what they hope are activist right-wing courts to overturn the will of the legislative branch and the people.
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Lousy idea
I live in the country on one of the roads that was treated with chip and seal. In a four-mile stretch of road, there are 56 places that need to be repaired. Those places range in size from a beachball-size hole to the size of a freight train. Chip and seal is a lousy idea.
No celebration
I am a lifelong Democrat who is 47 years old. What the members of my party regarding the health care bill has upset me so much that I can no longer be a Democrat or support anyone who voted for this bill. Democratic senators voted into law a bill they hadn't read. I believe we need health reform, but we need reform that everyone understands and all the cards are on the table. No one, not even Democrats, should be celebrating. This is what our country has come to.
Obama's bill
I hope Americans see the health care, passed by the Democrats, as not what you want but what President Obama wanted. The highest poll percentage of Americans who wanted to this plan to pass was 36 percent. We have the best health care in the world. I'm afraid in 10 years from now we could have the worst. Anybody who voted for this bill needs to be voted out of office.
Sore losers
I don't think it's right to challenge the constitutionality of the new health care program. Republicans can't accept losing gracefully. I feel for our children who have to see this ungracefulness. Shame on those Republican troublemakers.
Honoring seniors
I would like to thank the Jackson High School student council and honor society for the wonderful meal they prepared for the senior citizens in Jackson. Everyone enjoyed it so much, and their entertainment was great. I hope they keep up the good work to honor senior citizens. Thanks again.
Census waste
I have just received another post card from the census to see if I had filled out our census form. I am getting tired of all the money the Census Bureau is wasting on this when we need money for other things.
Drug connection
THE March 22 editorial cartoon called it right. People using illegal drugs are fueling the Mexican dope lords. If you use illegal drugs, you're responsible for many murderers. This has to stop, and only illegal drug-taking persons can stop it.
Young criminals
I can hardly believe how young some of these kids are who commit burglary. They're abusing drugs and abusing animals. I feel sorry for the parents.
Fair share
FINALLY, a vote for health care. Now all Americans will have to pay their fair share for health care. No more loopholes, fancy lawyers and billions in tax deductions. Welcome to the real world. It's time to do the homework instead believing whatever we hear from a political party.
Just say no
A week or so ago, "Just say no!" seemed like the greatest political strategy in American history. Now, it may be the worst and might lead the GOP directly into the dustbin of history.
Teacher retirement
PUBLIC school teachers: Why should you believe a mass e-mail from state Sen. Jason Crowell (R-Cape Girardeau) explaining (away?) a future threat to a state takeover of the public school retirement system in light of the fact that he and others voted to strip more than $120 million in aid to already financially strapped schools? You shouldn't.
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