Speak Out 6/2/10

Keep the money

WHEN the Medicaid and Medicare system are going broke, I don't know why Michael Jensen is crying about parents not spending all the money. When I was growing up, unless there was someone really sick in our house we didn't go to a doctor. Jensen is wrong to lash out at parents. Often, they don't have a car to get them to town. Sometimes it's hard to even get groceries, much less unnecessary doctor appointments. I thank anybody who leaves a few bucks in my wallet.

More intervention

REPUBLICANS and Democrats are both believers in and practitioners of capitalism. In general, the Democrats believe in more government and oversight of the economy so that everyone plays by the rules. When it comes to the BP oil spill, Republicans have switched gears and are screaming for government (taxpayer) intervention to stop and clean up the oil spill, clearly for crass political gain.

Presidential records

PRESIDENT Obama has had a record-setting presidency: Largest budget deficits. Largest number of broken promises. Largest number of self-serving speeches. Largest number of failed candidates backed by a sitting president. Largest number of potentially criminal acts by any administration's first year in office. Largest environmental calamity to ever occur on a president's watch. Highest rate of unemployment since the Great Depression. Most devastating loss in American's retirement and pension funds since the Depression. Most racially divided and polarized American electorate since the Civil War. Biggest loss of integrity and trust in the national media. Most anti-American sovereignty attitude and policies of any American president. First American president to address a joint session of Congress with a foreign president to attack and insult our immigration laws and our national sovereignty.

Neighborhood impact

PEOPLE have backyards but put swings and sliding boards in their front yard. That lowers the neighborhood. No wonder people can't sell their houses.

Veterans' money

IT is a sad day when we're talking about veterans donating money for fireworks. My husband, who was a combat veteran, will tell you that he would rather see the money put into playground equipment or something that would be lasting instead of shooting it up in the air and forgetting it the next day.

No casino

THERE are a lot of old people gambling. There's nothing like squandering away your children's or grandchildren's inheritance. If there's no casino, then Grandma and Grandpa would be planting flowers and reading books and other things. I don't think a casino helps the public. I think there are decent ways to gets jobs. Eventually the good things will come, but once you've got the bad things, it's hard to get rid of them.

Sidewalk mailboxes

THIS is to compliment the city of Cape Girardeau and whoever had anything to do with the widening and repair work on Mount Auburn Road. It is wonderful. It's as smooth as glass. It was a great project. The only drawback is the row of mailboxes in the middle of the sidewalks. I still don't understand how anybody could let that happen.