Speak Out 6/6/10

Beyond constitutional

CONTINUING the socialistic policies and practices of the Obama administration, a growing list of government directives is being imposed on banks receiving bailout money. For instance, these financial institutions that are getting government bailout funds have been told to put off evictions and modify mortgages for distressed homeowners. They must let shareholders vote on executive pay practices. They must slash dividends, cancel employee training and morale-building exercises and withdraw offers to foreign citizens. Whatever the merits or demerits of any of these directives individually, all of them represent things that the Constitution never authorized the government to do.

Borrowing, spending

CAPE Girardeau schools are borrowing tons of money for construction and renovation. I applaud the district for taking some federal grants to help pay the interest. The thing you have to keep in mind is the federal government is borrowing so much money that it's going to run out someday. What's going to happen to the grants? Be careful. Try to spend less taxpayer money.

Enjoy life

MY children and my grandchildren are able to take care of themselves. They're not waiting for me and my husband to die so they can have what little bit we have. If we want to go to a casino and spend a little bit of money, that is our business. That's what's wrong with the U.S. today. Everybody's sitting around waiting for somebody else to take care of them. We owe our children a good upbringing, not scrimping and saving every penny so our children can have what we've worked hard for. People should enjoy their lives while they can and quit worrying about saving for their children.

Poor in, poor out

LEAVE it to grandparents who toiled the ground, worked in sweat shops, raised their children in good health, clothed them and, above all, gave them faith in God. We don't need a young whippersnapper to think we are going to stay home in our rocking chair and save our money. We will go to the casino. We were raised poor, and we'll go out of this world the same.

Mind the meds

JUST because a geezer is lucky to have a good genetic endowment doesn't mean the rest of us old fogies should abandon our meds. The elderly cannot live on vinegar, water and honey alone.