Speak Out 4/13/11

Federal subsidies

THE story on federal subsidies for the Cape Girardeau airport says that a plane ticket costs $49 and it would cost $100 if we didn't have that subsidy. That means every time someone flies to St. Louis, the taxpayers are paying half of their fare. I don't really think that's appropriate. There are other alternatives.

Bush's fault

DEMOCRATS did hold power for a while during the last couple of years of the Bush presidency, but Bush made the final decision on everything that was passed.

House Republicans

REPUBLICANS keep on talking about how they have an answer for everything and that they can fix the economy. But so far we haven't seen anything. So what are they waiting on?

Fix Lexington

I would like to request the mayor and city council take some of this glorified casino money that they're going to get and apply it to fixing Lexington Avenue between Perryville Road and Old Sprigg Street. If this gets any worse we're going to have to park the vehicles and start walking because we won't be able to keep tires on our vehicles.

Becoming angels

GOD made specific angels and they are angels, but when we die, we do not go to heaven to be an angel. We go to heaven or we go to hell, but we will never be an angel. It might make people happier to think that, but they need to read their Bible.

Government help

I guess if I had welfare babies and was a drug addict or an alcoholic, I'd get all the help I needed. But after working 28 years and being a good worker and a hard worker, when it's my time to get help, to get disability or to get any sort of help, what does the government do? They turn me away and won't help me do anything.

York column

BASED on a recent Byron York column, it seems to me like he thinks it's only right for the Republicans to protest. If he had a job where he had to work for a living, he would understand why the people in Wisconsin are fighting for their rights. He seems to be a typical tea party person who believes only in helping the rich and not the poor.

Opinion balance

I'M a subscriber to your paper and I wonder why every opinion on your editorial page is biased toward the Republicans. Do you not know that half of your subscribers are Democrats, and you should at least try to be fair to both parties?

Balloon littering

TO the litterbugs of the recent balloon release: Please think of another less, far reaching way to celebrate an occasion. What goes up must come down, and we see balloons and ties littering trees in our neighborhood. It has also been documented that various animals have tried to eat pieces of deflated balloons only to wind up in serious trouble. Littering takes many forms, and this is definitely one of them.

Cyclists' rights

I think the people who want to ride bicycles should ride them right in the middle of the lane. If people don't like it, tough. We have the same rights as everybody else to be on the road. And if they don't want to let us ride on the side of the road where it's safer, we can ride in the middle of the road as I did when I was a child.

Gun rights

I believe nonviolent felons should be able to get their gun rights back. I can see taking away gun rights from violent felons. They don't need anything as far as weapons. The way things are now people need to have a gun, at least in their house to protect themselves. There are too many break-ins and nonviolent felons who should have the same rights as everybody else.

Trusting God

IN the Middle East we are witnessing wars between Muslims and other Muslims, between Muslims and Israel, between Muslims and the UN, and between Muslims and the U.S. These are real physical wars that we can see with people dieing every day. But behind the scenes it is a spiritual war that we cannot see. Spirits who follow God are fighting against spirits who follow Allah. This is a more important battle, and we should learn to put down our physical weapons and trust in God.

Unemployment benefits

I know some people need unemployment benefits, but there are others who abuse it. I know someone who won't even look for a job because he can draw unemployment.

Smoking ban

CONGRATS, Cape Girardeau voters, on upholding the rights of property owners! I don't like the odor of smoke, but I can choose to go elsewhere if I want. Or I can start my own smoke-free business.

Tax-exempt groups

THERE are a lot of local ministers who drive Cadillacs and other luxury cars. Why are churches exempt from paying federal taxes like other lucrative organizations?