OpinionJune 13, 2010
Speak Out 6/13/10
EVEN though the Missouri Arts Council received no appropriation from the General Assembly, a Southeast Missourian editorial cavalierly suggested that the council dip into and spend most of its $17.5 million trust fund, since art is "good for Missouri" and the fund will surely be replenished with tax money "down the road." I was so stunned by the editorial's theme I choked on my breakfast. ...
Arts spending
EVEN though the Missouri Arts Council received no appropriation from the General Assembly, a Southeast Missourian editorial cavalierly suggested that the council dip into and spend most of its $17.5 million trust fund, since art is "good for Missouri" and the fund will surely be replenished with tax money "down the road." I was so stunned by the editorial's theme I choked on my breakfast. Somehow, spendthrifts have wormed their way into the once fiscally prudent brains of the members of the editorial board and led them to collectively embrace a financial course of action that could lead to the collapse of the entire arts council.
History, meth
MISSOURI ranks No. 1 in the amount of historical preservation money we receive. We should be proud. We also rank No. 1 in the number of meth labs. We should be ashamed. Oddly, state Sen. Jason Crowell recently more than implied that we need to cut the former but was silent about the state's failed obligation to do anything substantial to deal with the latter.
Economic trend
DURING the latter years of the Bush administration, we were losing more than 700,000 jobs a month. In the last few months, we have averaged several hundred thousand job gains. That is why Southeast Missourian writer Alaina Busch deserves special recognition. In a recent front-page story about school building projects, Busch made reference to our "failing economy," thus refuting those economic experts who see our economy improving.
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University mission
I agree that it is impossible for a university to be all things to all people. By stretching resources to offer everything from freshman remedial courses to graduate work, quality suffers and becomes mediocre at best. Administrators should revisit and revise Southeast Missouri State University's mission in order to best serve the area, not themselves.
Not a good sign
THE argument against the casino has nothing to do with the right to lose money. The issue? Would a casino be good for our area? I don't see how a business that takes money from our community will benefit us. If you visit other casinos and you see business after business offering payday loans and pawn shops. That is not a sign of increasing wealth in a community.
Pray harder
WITH the cost of everything going up, what happens if we have unexpected health problems? What if we lose our home because of gaming losses? For many, gambling becomes a sickness. I do not want to become a burden because of a deck of cards or slot machine. City meetings open with prayer. Let's pray harder.
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