Speak Out 6/24/05

Restaurant hours

SOME AREA restaurants that have closed recently lost customers because they didn't maintain regular hours. We drove quite a distance to go to one restaurant, and when we arrived, it was closed. Smart restaurants know when their customers want to eat and are open to serve them. My hat is off to the restaurants that know what hours to be open.

Luxury sidewalks

THERE ARE people like me who are single parents, go to school, go to work and try to raise a family and barely get to see their kids, and we have no transportation. Do you think the city is fixing up the sidewalks on the south side.? No. The city is making it so the rich people on Lexington Avenue can walk up and down their streets. Who cares? Why don't they do something more productive with the money and help the economy grow?

No comparison

I'M TIRED of hearing U.S. torture being justified by a "they did it too" mentality. Yes, the terrorists are much more barbaric in their torture, but that's what makes them terrorists. As a civilized nation, we should not be comparing our military's actions to those of barbarians.

Great entertainment

AMAZING! THIS is the only word to describe the performance my family witnessed at Port Cape of the River City Player's Broadway revue. The singing, dancing, acting and buffet were all outstanding. I can't remember a time that my wife and I have been so thoroughly entertained. It's great to know that there is such high-quality talent in the area. People will be sorry if they missed this show.

Faculty erosion

A SPEAK Out comment argued that Southeast Missouri State University has balanced its budget on the backs of students. It also has balanced its budget on the backs of faculty. Under the current administration real income and benefits to faculty and non-administrative staff have eroded as a much larger portion of the salary pie goes to administrators and out-of-state consultants. SEMO has the worst fringe benefits package of any university in the state and salaries below the national median. As older faculty begin to retire the administration will replace them with less qualified non-doctoral instructors so they can spend even more money on non-instructional administrative salaries.

Made in the U.S.

MANY PEOPLE have been commenting on whether foreign or American cars are better. Most cars are made in the U.S. although many have Japanese or German names. There is a Toyota plant just a state or two away. Some cars may still be made overseas and their roots may be in Europe, but generally most are produced in the United States. We have two foreign cars and one American truck. We haven't had any trouble with any of them. Our Hondas have hundreds of thousands of miles and are still going strong with no major problems.