Speak Out 6/2/06

Political establishment

IT WAS refreshing to read an editorial in the Southeast Missourian criticizing Republican state Sen. Jason Crowell in particular and the Missouri Legislature in general for some of their failed efforts. Sadly, once in control of the legislative branch, most Republicans became part of the long-dominant establishment they seemed to run so hard against.

No difference

THANKS FOR your excellent article pointing out the contrast between Republican-controlled Cape Girardeau County and Democrat-controlled Scott County. There is one minor thing that might have been added to the article, although adding it would have rendered the piece somewhat irrelevant. The difference between Republicans and Democrats is zilch.

Bring back the roses

CAPE GIRARDEAU is no longer known as the City of Roses. It was a wonderful slogan, but a few folks decided they didn't like it. Most likely they were newcomers who had never known the pleasure of seeing all the wonderful roses around town or never took a drive to Jackson to see the beautiful 10-mile rose garden. These folks thought it would be wise to pay an out-of-state advertising firm $40,000-plus to develop a new slogan for our fair hamlet. That money would have been better spent replanting all the lost roses all over town so we could have lived up to our name of the City of Roses. I propose a campaign to bring back the City of Roses name. I will donate my money and time for the replanting of roses. Who's with me?

Arriving on time

MY CHILD is going to the summer weight-lifting program at Jackson High School. The coach told the kids that if they get there at 8 a.m. (the starting time), they are late. They are supposed to be there 10 to 15 minutes early. I don't have a problem with that, except the coaches don't get there until 8 a.m. The kids stand around waiting. This morning it was starting to rain. There were kids waiting in the rain because working parents had to drop them off.

It isn't broke

HOW WILL the polling-place volunteers know that the picture on a photo ID is actually that person? Identity theft is gaining momentum in this country. What's the point of fixing a system when it isn't broke?

Tall grass

I THINK it's awful the way Cape Girardeau puts signs in people's yards because the grass is too high, yet the city continues to let the grass on city property grow 3 to 4 feet high before it gets around to mowing. That's like the pot calling the kettle black.

Need street lights

HOW ABOUT the city spending some money on street lights for the northeast section of town? There are no street lights at night on Vincent Park Drive, Timon Way, Dumais Drive, Marvin Drive, Vincent Avenue and North Main Street.

Other opinions

CIVIL RIGHTS is never a one-sided issue. The First Amendment clearly states that U. S. citizens have freedom of speech. I may not like people's opinions on certain issues, but I can't stop them from getting on the soapbox.

Enjoy life

MY HEART goes out to those people who live vicariously through the Hollywood elite or the imagination of life portrayed on TV or the big screen. I believe the old saying: Truth is stranger then fiction. You really haven't lived until you enjoy your own life.