Speak Out 4/23/06

On the other side

I AM a self-sufficiency case manger with the Division of Family Services. Food stamps increase Missouri's revenue and put a lot of money into our farmers' hands. Everyone should experience being on the other side: lose your job, don't have a decent education and try to feed a family of four by working at McDonald's. It can't be done. Most of the unskilled positions in Cape Girardeau pay minimum wage. These people can't afford insurance or food. If they get insurance, it is not enough. I think if a person experiences how hard it is he would understand that not everyone can be as blessed as he is. If you want to help, provide jobs that pay more then minimum wage.

A good thing

THERE ARE some huge, beautiful roundabouts in Kansas City on Ward Parkway. There are great roundabouts all over Europe. Roundabouts work and are good for traffic. Once we learn how to use them, we can have more roundabouts in Cape Girardeau.

Working class hurting

HOW CAN a country as big as ours fight a war in Iraq when the price of gasoline in our country is skyrocketing and oil company officials are making billions in dollars? Our present administration can't stop that from happening so that middle-class working people can afford gas to go to work. There is something terribly wrong with our country if our administration can't step in and do something about this. The working class is suffering. We are tired of working to make profits for the millionaires.

Working Democrats

I FIND it ridiculous to imply that Democrats don't work. This country was built on the backs of working-class Democrats. When you vote Republican, you are voting for the wealthiest of Americans, the ones who have the most to gain by the high oil prices, high interest rates and high food prices. Many working-class Americans have been conned into thinking they are taking a stand on abortion when they vote Republican. By voting Republican, look were it has gotten us.

Lots of offshore oil

I WOULD like to comment on the rising gasoline prices. Isn't it funny that every summer gas prices seem to go up? Just when the working person is trying to get away on vacation, gas prices go up. I have a nephew who has worked on the oil rigs in Texas for years. He says we have more oil offshore, and the government knows it. Instead of pumping that oil, the government told oil companies to cap it and to see if they could find more oil. My nephew has told me that we have so much offshore oil that it is ridiculous. Our gasoline prices should be barely over $1 a gallon. That is how much oil we have, and President Bush knows we got it. Why is President Bush so adamant about helping the people in Iraq but not the people who faced Katrina and the people having to face high gas prices?

We need help

AMERICANS NEED help. Interest rates are going up. Our gasoline prices are ridiculous. People are out of work. People don't have homes. And people are still having a hard time since Katrina. Yet we are worried about taking care of Iraq. What about the people in our own United States?.

Causes of hepatitis

NOT EVERYONE who has hepatitis C made bad decisions like being a drug user and sharing needles. A lot of people got hepatitis C from blood transfusions. Other people get hepatitis C from being a health-care worker and being stuck by a needle.

Democratic support

FOR THOSE who believe that Democrats are a burden to society, here are some facts. Transfer payments are government payments in which someone receives income because he is entitled. These transfer payments include welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and veterans' benefits. In Wayne County, Mo., in 2002, more than 41 percent of personal income was from transfer payments -- the greatest in Missouri. Next to Wayne county were Reynolds County at 39.9 percent and Ripley County at 39 percent. Currently the people in these counties live off the government. Who did the majority of the people in those counties vote for president in 2004? Bush, by over 60 percent in each of the counties. In St. Louis County, only 10.5 percent of personal income was from transfer payments in 2002. Clearly the Democratic residents of the wealthy counties in Missouri are supporting the poor Republican counties in Missouri.

Lethal injection

I GET so tired of hearing those on death row and those who support them complain about how inhumane lethal injection is. They weren't considering how inhumane they were to their victims. Remember, lethal injection is only performed on those who take the lives of others in heinous ways.

Political overkill

I'VE HEARD enough. My mute button on my remote will probably wear out before these informational political commercials are finally silenced. I listened to an anti-Bush commercial once, but must it run several times within a half-hour? That is what I hate about elections. The commercials. Commercials only influence me to vote against someone. I hate them.

Port hysteria

PRESIDENT BUSH did not try to sell our ports to an Arab country. Two corporations brokered a deal to sell operations of port terminals, not the ports themselves. The government stopped the deal because of mass hysteria from an uniformed public. But Dubai Ports World, the same Arab company involved in all of this, has operated the Miami port terminals for decades. They still run them and do an excellent job.

Political snake

I BOUGHT a pet snake. At first it seemed like it would be a nice pet, but when I took it home it shed its skin and showed its true colors. It was high-maintenance and self-absorbed. When it misbehaved it did not stop. It kept making the same mistakes over and over, as if it hadn't learned any better. It hissed constantly and worked hard at perfecting its intimidation tactics, frequently seeking out weaker and more vulnerable prey. It was particularly eager to go after disabled creatures. It turns out my snake was a Republican. I guess I should have purchased a puppy.

Strong economy

IT SEEMS like everybody is attacking President Bush. I think you have to give the devil his due. The economy is doing what he said it would do. We have the best economy and more people working than ever. Homeland security is working. There haven't been any more attacks on American territory. There has never been a Congress that switched political control when the economy is doing as good as it is.

Paying for medication

THIS IS in response to the person who commented about hepatitis C and being a taxpayer and having to pay for people's medication that cost thousands of dollars for hepatitis C. I had hepatitis C and paid $189 a month for my Medicaid. You are right: There is always two sides to every story.