Speak Out 3/9/06

Weatherproof golf

IN ORDER to maybe satisfy Joe Sullivan and make it perhaps the world's first, I suggest that if the county commission buys the old federal building, maybe it could turn it into the world's first indoor downtown golf course.

Easy pickings

DOES THE Cape Girar-deau Police Department not have real crime to solve? The police come out to Central High School to see how many kids they can give tickets. I'm glad our taxes are going toward real crime fighting.

Student impact

I'M NOT a student, but how can you overestimate the impact of 9,000-plus students who rent apartments, buy groceries, eat out, visit local entertainment establishments and buy clothes and school supplies all in a town the size of Cape Girardeau? Wake up and smell the money. A lot of it comes from the general direction of Southeast Missouri State University.

Government checks

MANY WANT government to make all their decisions for them. We're told government knows best with how to deal with our retirement, our health and our values. Perhaps one day the government will give us an allowance instead of paychecks to ensure that everyone gets the same amount. Oh. The government does that now. It's called helping the poor. Oh, that I should be so wise.

Feedback on issues

I JUST received some information from state Sen. Jason Crowell asking for feedback on certain issues. There were some things missing which I would like to address. There's so much talk about raising taxes and the rising cost of health care. I'd like to see items which contribute to health issues be taxed more, such as alcohol and tobacco. I don't consume either, yet those of us who don't use alcohol and tobacco have to pay for those who can't or won't work, sometimes due to the consequences of their use of those substances.

Starting to wake up

HURRAY FOR South Dakota. I'm so glad people are starting to wake up to the fact that abortion is murder. I hope Missouri follows suit.

Taking cheap shots

I THINK I have it now: Any positive comments about the Bush administration are "truth." Any negative comments about this corrupt administration are "cheap shots." I guess that means everything I would have to say would be cheap shots.

Don't eat the flowers

IN THE March 2 Southeast Missourian there was an article titled "Keep the doctor away with five a day." The photograph at the top of the article seems to show bunches of daffodil buds. I thought that to be an unusual picture to be included in an article about eating vegetables. I realized someone must have chosen that photo thinking it was bunches of asparagus. It is my understanding that daffodils are poisonous. I would not recommend that they be eaten as a vegetable.

Selling our forests

MISSOURI RESIDENTS need to be aware of a widely underreported story. The Bush administration is pushing to sell back 21,000 acres of the Mark Twain National Forest right here in Missouri. Missourians who value their unspoiled public lands should speak up.

Don't lump together

PEDOPHILIA OFTEN is derived from mental illness. However, simply lumping anyone you find different, such as homosexuals, into the same category as child molesters is irresponsible.