Speak Out 4/11/06

Major Greek donation

I WOULD like to recognize the women of Alpha Delta Pi for donating $20,000 and 10,415 cans of food to charity this Greek Week at Southeast Missouri State University. I think their hard work deserves some respect.

Best puppy ever

I TOO bought one of those Democrat puppies. It is the best puppy I have ever had. Never again will I own any other kind.

Emphasis on sports

SCHOOLS AREN'T giving as much attention to education as they are to sports. If you don't play a sport, you're not popular and don't get attention. I don't think schools need to have students take more classes. Just spend money and give more attention to education instead of sports.

Too much government

I LOVE my country. But it seems like people are getting crazy, and the government is trying to take over too much stuff. Someone spills hot coffee on herself and tries to sue McDonald's. It's coffee. Coffee is supposed to be hot when you drink it. The government is trying to eliminate fatty foods. I can understand speed limits, because that can effect other drivers on the road. But what we eat is our own business. If I didn't know any better I'd say our government is turning communist.

Lessons ignored

EVERYONE IS talking about the Democrats. Look at the condition the United States is in right now. I agree that something needed to be done with Iraq and its government, but we keep digging ourselves deeper and deeper. When will we ever learn?

Musical reminder

I LOVE the song "Dirty Old Town." I'm reminded of the song every time I drive through the community. That's why I strongly oppose any effort to clean up Scott City.

Revolution coming

SOMETIMES I think David Limbaugh has taken up residence in a fantasy land. With Congress and President Bush in a descending freefall of approval, Limbaugh keeps bashing Democrats. Limbaugh would be better served to reconcile himself to the coming Democratic revolution at the polls and start praising conservative Democrats who are closest to his stance on the issues.

Garbage job

THE JOB I do is much more dangerous than any police job. I do not ask for glory, and I am looked down upon by most of society. I risk my life more on a daily basis than any cop ever has. I have been hit by cars, smashed with out of date equipment and assaulted by the very citizens I serve. I am a garbage man.

Health choices

THE MASSACHUSETTS governor has proposed mandatory universal health care for every citizen of his state. If you don't want to sign up, the state will fine you $1,000 and confiscate your tax refunds. So much for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Before you let government start influencing your health-care decisions, you might want to make a side-by-side list of what it does well and what it does inefficiently. Do you want no choice except inefficient health care?

They're all the same

I FIND myself laughing at the Republican/Democrat comments in this forum lately. To steal a line from "The Distinguished Gentleman," the Republicans and Democrats spend so much time bickering and trying to do what's in their political interest that nothing ever gets done. There is no such thing as a Republican or Democrat, just Republicrats.

Are they listening?

A COMMON statement while I was growing up was, "Can't never could." Something can't be changed if individuals don't want it to be. It seems to me that middle-class America is waking up and beginning to let its voice be heard. My only question: Do our politicians hear our voice?

Simple stop sign

IRREGARDLESS OF where the money originated, the poorly planned and executed roundabout on Silver Springs Road is continuing to be a financial drain. A simple stop sign would have done the same thing and not have cost nearly so much. The number of tires ruined and front-end alignments can't be counted. This smacks of the old saying, "Working hard to keep from doing work." Change for the sake of change isn't always the answer. Now we have another two weeks of driving inconvenience. What next?

Tobacco issues

WHAT IS sadder than patients sitting in their wheelchairs with their IV stands so they can smoke is an addicted smoker going through chemical and psychological withdrawal while in one of the most stressful situations in their lives: being in a hospital. If radical non-smokers would like to see smoking banned everywhere, then they should be willing to reap no benefits from the high tobacco taxes the states bring in. Did you know that Arkansas is the only state which uses tobacco revenue for tobacco-related expenses?

Bigger concerns

I KEEP reading the cable discussions and thinking how odd it all is. The water, electric and gas prices for one's home are so high, but people are complaining about cable prices. Something has happened in America that we place more importance on things like cable-TV service and newer vehicles to drive than we do on the basics of life. When a month's water bill for two people runs $40 and gas for heating runs almost $200, something is skewed.

Business as usual

MISSOURI CHAMBER of Commerce president Daniel Mehan accurately pointed out that the Republican-controlled Missouri Legislature is in bed with the cable companies to the degree that no consumer-friendly legislation allowing for competition with the cable industry is likely to be forthcoming. What a shame. Missouri voters put Republicans in charge of the state legislative branch thinking the Republicans believe in competition, and all we get is business as usual.

Promote from within

SCHOOL DISTRICTS that hire retired educators to fill vacancies should be giving the jobs to younger, qualified candidates, preferably from their own school district. There is not a shortage of teachers in this area, so to use that excuse is ridiculous. Someone gave these people an opportunity 15, 20, 30 years ago, and now they are taking the opportunities away from younger educators who can't get hired because they don't have any experience. You hurt the morale of your district staff when you don't promote from within.