Speak Out 6/17/11

Humane auction

I would like to encourage everyone to patronize the Southeast Missouri Humane Society auction next weekend. I know that some people have taken some very good things there, some new with tags -- toys, games, work clothes, all kinds of things. Please drop by and also while you're there take a look at the animals who will give you lots and lots of love.

Brandom's support

JUST read the article on Brandom running for Senate -- "Brandom running for Senate in the 27th District." Has the 27th District map already been released? Have Cape and Sikeston already been mapped in the same district? Looks like more politics and back-door deals. Kathy Swan standing by Brandom's side. Who's on the Senate redistricting commission? Kathy Swan.

Turn it down

THIS is to the person on Revlon who plays their radio so loud that everybody on Revlon and Leroy can hear it with the windows closed and the air conditioner on. It's time to get your hearing checked. Either shut it off or turn it down.

Tree folly

IT is folly for people on Bloomfield Road to complain about the trees being cut down or the road widened. Learn from Franklin School. All the objections raised against demolishing the school fell on deaf ears. What you care about or think makes no difference.

Privacy values

IT'S laughable listening to all these pundits claiming that Obamacare is unconstitutional and will be reversed by the Supreme Court due to violation of the 10th Amendment. The same Supreme Court upheld warrantless searches of your home by the police without cause and upheld the Patriot Act, which did away with the 4th Amendment. Why is it that the pundits only care about the Constitution when they see money involved and not American values like privacy and unlawful search and seizure?

Birds Point

I think they should consider leaving the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway open. It would be much cheaper in the long run to leave it open then have to flood it again and then have to pay the "residents" federal money to recoup their losses. That area belonged to the river before man-made levees were put in.

Kudos to Corps

THE floodway worked exactly as planned. Kudos to the corps for having a planning, executing the plan and staying safe.

Obama's recovery

STOCK market down seven weeks in a row, unemployment up over 9 percent again -- enjoy the Obama recovery, folks.

Where's the EPA

I'M confused. How is it dangerous and a health risk for people to burn leaves or trash outside, yet farmers can burn entire fields right next to main highways and cities, with the smoke engulfing both, and that's all right? Where's the EPA?

City communication

LAST November, Cape Girardeau voters were told to vote a certain way on the sewer plant. That's called extortion. Next we are told our bills are going up July 1, 2011, instead of in 2012. That's called falsification. We have commission boards controlling our electric and gas rates but who controls a city that just doesn't care about us citizens? And that 2 percent you gave the city employees, well, now that goes toward their water bills.

Baseball thanks

I was in Capaha Park yesterday with my grandson. We were watching the Capahas warm up for their baseball game. One of the players came over to the fence and put a ball over fence for my grandson. I wanted to thank that man. I hope he sees this in the newspaper because he made my grandson's day.

GOP and health care

SHHH. Don't tell anyone but not so long ago, right-wing think tank and sponsor of the Sean Hannity show the Heritage Foundation once favored government-sponsored health care but later was, in my view, pressured into changing its mind.

Where's the relief?

I read in USA Today that food and gas prices have lowered. Must be everywhere but Cape Girardeau. I just returned from a trip visiting towns from St. Louis to Rolla, Mo., down to Gainesville, Fla. and back. Price of gas ranged from $3.41 to $3.46. So why is it still $3.59 in Cape?

H is for heartbreak

I have an elementary school age grandchild who lives in the school district doing away with the letter people. She is heartbroken and hopes someone can do something about getting them back.

Freedom mob

AGELESS and angry columnist Mike Jensen appears to have suddenly become obsessed with Internet orchestrated flash mobs and their potential for disruption. One wonders where Jensen was last summer when Freedom Works, the Club for Growth and other right wing groups were organizing flash mobs to descend on members of Congress, cause substantial disruption and raise Cain concerning issues they felt weren't being properly addressed by Congress. If I were a betting person, I would wager there was more than a good chance that Mr. Michael Jensen was a willing participant in one or more of these flash mobs.