Speak Out 4/16/08

Appoint the judges

TO ALLOW the voters of Missouri to elect members to the Missouri Supreme Court would be an unmitigated disaster and one unparalleled in the annals of Missouri jurisprudence. Gary Rust seemed to write that Supreme Court judges should vote according to how the voters would want them to vote. Their job is to interpret the state's constitution, free of political interference and not subject to the whims of the voters. The Founding Fathers knew this when they provided for the U.S. Supreme Court. The same holds true for Missouri's highest court. If justices behave illegally or unconstitutionally, they can be removed from office through the impeachment process.

Nonreligious school

CHARTER SCHOOL: Does anyone know of any initiatives to create a nonreligious-based college prep or charter school in the area? I've talked to many parents with school-aged children who would pay to send their children to this type of school if available.

What did he know?

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE that Kenny Hulshof may be too busy running for governor to take the time to comment on a case he prosecuted where an in-depth series by the Southeast Missourian seems to indicate there could have been a gross miscarriage of justice in the conviction of Joshua Kezer for the murder of Angela Mischelle Lawless. Frankly, I'd like to know what Hulshof knew and when he knew it.

Take a hard look

ORAN VOTERS: Before you vote again for mayor, please drive or walk around and look hard at this town. Take off all blinders. There are ordinances for condemned homes and trash. Some homes have multiple families living in them. Some have roofs caved in. And many more have so much trash and junk one can't see the homes. Why hasn't something been done? Also, why don't the citizens of Oran have a spring cleanup. No money? Why? If this continues, in 20 years there won't be a town for you to vote in.

Single father

I'M A single dad raising my son alone. I paid child support for 12 years to his mom before she decided the teenage years were too tough for her to endure, so I got full custody. She refuses to pay a dime of child support to us. Had I missed a payment during those 12 years, she would have taken me back to court in a heartbeat. Instead, she thinks she shouldn't have to pay. My son and I both work. He is also in high school. We struggle to make ends meet, but she couldn't care less. There are just as many deadbeat moms as there are deadbeat dads.

Buying union

I AM an active member of my union. I buy union as much as possible. Unfortunately, when it came to buying a vehicle, I had to go with one that I knew would last and one that would not have problems. Most union-made vehicles are of poor quality. This is not do to the workers, however. It is poor engineering. If I am going to invest in a vehicle, I am going to get one of high quality and durability. I also will not support a company that sends work to Mexico.

Plenty of sinkholes

I DON'T know what the record is for community sinkholes, but China has more than 30,000 of them, allegedly caused by engineering mistakes.

Federal aid

AS WE turn to the feds still one more time for assistance (this time concerning the sinkhole scenario), why don't we just cut to the chase and ask that Cape Girardeau be made a ward of the federal government like Washington, D.C.?