Speak Out 5/27/05

Reason for skepticism

FORGIVE US, president Ken Dobbins, when we think Three Rivers Community College might actually be able to operate the off-campus sites for less than Southeast Missouri State University. During Dobbins' reign, the price tag on the River Campus has ballooned to $51 million and counting from $36 million. We have reason to be skeptical.

Diverting dollars

I JUST read that the Cape Girardeau City Council has agreed to seek federal funds for restoration of the remaining section of the old bridge providing an overlook of the Mississippi River and for the Old Town Cape lighting project and facade grant project. Where does the federal government obtain funds for ludicrous endeavors such as this, particularly when this would serve such a small segment of the community? Should the government have excess funds, why not start diverting dollars back to the Social Security fund that has been pillaged from these many years.

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WASN'T IT just a few weeks ago that Cape Girardeau was trying to think of ways to spend $1 million in excess hotel-restaurant sales tax funds? Now the same city government is going to ask the federal government for nearly $400,000 for three more upgrades to the historic downtown area. Where does the federal government get these funds? By raiding Social Security? If these are such great projects for a section of Cape that is in obvious decline, why not let the city and interested residents foot the bill? Then we would know just how important and needed these endeavors are.

Plagiarism in letters

SO WHAT suddenly is the big deal? Have you ever started a report by writing "In a speech written by Karen Hughes (or whoever), President Bush read last night ... ." When was the last time a politician wrote his or her own words? When did you start caring that the words of a letter writer were his or her own words? In the runup to the November election you published on an almost daily basis letters containing right-wing distortions that were taken directly from the Republican disinformation campaign, each with some local author's name attached. Then you offered nary a comment, much less sought an apology. Why now do you suddenly seek explanations? Could it be that -- in typical Southeast Missourian fashion -- you are cherry-picking the letters you wish to challenge and anything progressive or liberal is attacked using whatever means you can?

Complete repudiation

MORE THAN anything else, I think the avoidance of the so-called nuclear option pertaining to Senate filibusters was a complete repudiation of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

Can't find assistance

I WONDER if there are any people in this town willing to help someone who is down on her luck. We just got our utilities shut off, and I can't find anyone in this town willing to help. I am still looking for work after graduating college recently. It isn't like I am just sitting around waiting for someone to come along and pay all my bills for me, but I do need some help. I am a single parent trying desperately to make ends meet.

A welcome compromise

THE U.S. Senate has reached a much welcomed compromise concerning the use of the so-called nuclear option. Thus, 14 senators have preserved the filibuster and have done what is best for the Senate and the country in the process.

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Ineffective testing

KUDOS TO high school graduate Kristin Hetherington's decimation of the malevolent MAP test. As she said, it is of little or no value in measuring educational achievement. In fact, I think it is downright counterproductive to real learning. However, Hetherington and others should be encouraged by the fact that state politicians have noticed the backlash against the test and have already began dumbing it down. Within a decade it will be extinct.

University reaction?

IF SOUTHEAST Missouri State University ignores the publicly professed plagiarism of professor Alan Journet, the institution will be doing so at its own peril.

Pool allowances

REGARDING THE lane lines at the Central Junior High School pool: The managers are always willing to find me somewhere to swim. At 6 o'clock there is another team that comes in. Team members pay public admission and swim in the public lanes. However, they are also more than willing to cram themselves together to allow the public a place to swim. The pool is a crowded place. However, if you ask for help, you are very likely to find someone willing to cooperate as long as you are polite about it.

Outstanding photos

SUCCESSFUL SPORTS photography takes a special combination of timing and skill, and the Southeast Missourian's Don Frazier is outstanding. He seems to be able to capture exactly the right instant in each sport, and his photos are of the quality one would expect to see in the major sports periodicals. His photos make the sports pages more interesting for readers and for the athletes who see themselves captured in his professional shots.

Responsible for cuts

LET'S PUT the blame for Medicaid cuts where it belongs. Missouri is a red state. Cape Girardeau County went three votes out of four for the Republican Party. The Republican Party always cuts social programs. That's the price we pay for tax cuts for the rich that President George Bush and the Republican-controlled House and Senate just made permanent. Republicans Matt Blunt, and Rod Jetton, whose child was born on Medicaid, and Jason Crowell are the ones pushing reductions in services. If you voted for Republicans, you are responsible for these cuts. If you didn't vote at all, you are responsible for these cuts.

Just going along

I DON'T think anyone on Medicaid should receive any sex-enhancing drug no matter what. That's one thing they can do without whether they like it or not. It's not life threatening. This shows the ineptness of government. We need to get people in Washington who have the ability to think instead of just going along. That's all they do. They don't know what they're voting for most of the time.

MoDOT's priorities

THE MISSOURI Department of Transportation is building a new intersection at Silver Springs Road and South Kingshighway where there was an intersection. It's spending thousands of dollars when we've still got a real problem at the Scott City interchange, and MoDOT does absolutely nothing.

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