Speak Out 4/18/08

Simple facts

IT'S ABOUT time conservatives take their heads out of the sand and realize that the Reagan and Bush tax cuts for the rich, which were supposed to trickle down and help the economy, are not working. Democrats are accused of tax-and-spend, but conservatives spend and put it on credit, which runs up our national debt to more than $9 trillion. My simple math says that with 300 million people in the U.S., that amounts to $30,000 for each citizen. This is a tax, because it will have to be repaid someday. Please accept simple facts.

Irresponsible society

I DO not understand why people expect government to bail them out every time something unexpected happens. If you do not have insurance, that is your fault, not the government's. If you choose to live in a flood plain, that is your problem. As long as government sticks its nose in every problem, people will not learn to be responsible. I have insurance for just about everything I can, including disability. There is no reason for the irresponsibility of today's society.

Leopold under the gun

AN INCIDENT took place involving an elementary student supposedly bullied by another student at Leopold School. Several teachers may be facing child-neglect charges by the state, and one may be charged with child endangerment. I believe my fellow Leopold residents should stand up for the school and its teachers. This could possibly lead to shutting the school down if the student's mother sues. I'm tired of all the nonsense.

Brilliant logic?

A SPEAK Out contributor believes Cape Girardeau's sales tax is too high, thanks to the newest tax increase, and plans to shop in Jackson. Brilliant logic, indeed. This person would drive 15 miles farther round trip to save a few cents on sales tax. Maybe Sikeston, Farmington or Poplar Bluff has lower sales tax too. Maybe we should spend $20 extra on gas money to save a dollar on tax just to spite Cape Girardeau.

Deserves attention

THIS DESERVES national attention. Bridget DiCosmo's deconstruction of the shocking lack of evidence used to convict Joshua Kezer in the Mischelle Lawless murder case and the admirable search for justice by current Sheriff Rick Walter should result in a new trial for Kezer and a journalistic prize for DiCosmo.

Too late

I ENJOYED "The Pajama Game" at Notre Dame Regional High School. The students did a good job. It was a great bonding experience between my niece and myself. Too bad it is the last time we will attend a musical at the school. It did not start till 8 p.m. and was not over until 10:45 p.m. I wish it has started at 7 p.m. I know it was supposed to be family entertainment, but it's hard to entertain the family when the children are asleep because it is past their bedtime or hard to get up for church the next morning from lack of sleep.

Who's the hypocrite?

HUMAN RIGHTS activists attacking torch runners, global warming activists flying around in personal jets, animal rights activists dogging out people who made mistakes, tolerance-loving liberals not being tolerant of my faith. Funny, they all say Christians are the hypocrites.

Change the slogan?

WE'VE GOT a ways to go, but someday we might have to change Cape Girardeau's slogan to, "Land of 1,000 sinkholes."

Stoplight at center

I WAS curious if the city was going to add a stoplight to the entrance of the Osage Community Centre now that we are getting a water park. What tax fund would this expense come out of?

Political asset

U.S. SEN. Kit Bond said, "Levees are smart investments." Politically, they are. Environmentally and in numerous other ways, they are unmitigated disasters.

Cleanup volunteers

THANKS the Vision 2020 Group for cleaning up the Center Junction area. I noticed three people picking up trash Saturday morning, a cold raw day for volunteering one's time. What have you done for your city today?

Stricter laws

I FEEL so sorry for everyone involved the in shooting of the pit bull. The owner should have kept it safe, and his neighbor should not have to live in fear for his cat or himself on his own property. I believe the laws are not strict enough and have led to this. I have been through this myself, and virtually nothing was done about the problem. In fact, I was made to feel like I was in the wrong to complain to the police. So it comes to this. We need stricter laws with stronger police involvement.

Saving horses

ALL HORSE owners know that the price of feed and hay has gone up dramatically. There are a lot of people who can't afford to feed their animals. Please, if you can't feed your horses, don't be ashamed to go to the Humane Society and ask for help. Don't wait until they have to be rescued.

Food-card fairness

REGARDING FOOD-CARD abuse: To judge someone by items they have in their shopping cart is unfair. I was guilty of feeling this way until our son became disabled. Many disabilities are not visible. Maybe the chips and sodas were for a special birthday. We should be thankful if we are healthy and don't need assistance. It could happen to anyone at any time.

Wrong environment

I'M NOT sure taking those fundamentalist Mormon children out of their environment is the best choice. Foster homes aren't all they're cracked up to be. I would suggest that an orphanage run by some caring institution would be better than foster homes. Our government can do better.

Press freedom

THE MISCHELLE Lawless story is the exact reason we have freedom of the press in the United States. It's so newspapers can find the truth and print it for everybody to read. You are the reason for freedom of the press.