Speak Out 6/9/08

Hiding the naughtiness

I DON'T think it hurts anything for people to hold advertising signs. It provides these people with jobs. All we're doing these days is hiding the naughtiness in our society. I noticed horse racing may come back to Missouri. When there's betting in our state, it weakens our country. Money that would be used for gambling could be going to better things. How sad when we take away money from ordinary people holding up a sign but somehow cover up our gambling industry.

Making threats

ONCE AGAIN Mayor Jay Knudtson and the city council show they are anti-small business by threatening to extend sign ordinances. Unless your business is a big business or a chain with deep pockets, it is in trouble if it is located in Cape Girardeau.

Do something

I DON'T care what gasoline costs in Turkey or England or anywhere else. All I care about is the U.S. There should be something we can do instead of letting Big Oil rape America.

Honoring Shank

I SAW in the paper about the proposed honor for Jeremy Shank by naming the armory in Jackson for this young man who gave his life. That's a great idea. Not only the old people need to be honored, but the young ones too. That would be a great thing to do.

Multiple shots

I READ about the lack of vaccinations being life-threatening to children. What I consider dangerous is allowing all the vaccinations to be given at once instead of being spaced out like my children had them. They had no problems. Parents should press this with health-care providers. Don't give all these shots at one time.

Better public transit

I NOTICED the city recently allocated $4 million for expansion and repairs of the Independence Street corridor. Why is the city doing this when gasoline is $4 a gallon? If it's the government's responsibility to help people, it should also put provide better public transit.

Hillbilly city

I HAD to laugh when I read the article about the city council stopping people from carrying signs that advertise store sales or closings. What made me a laugh was the comment that we didn't want to look like a flea-market city. But the city allows the streets to be blown full of grass, and the problem grows. Doesn't this make us look like a hillbilly city?

Dangerous situation

WE'RE A close neighbor to a hog operation. The Department of Natural Resources says it has checked the ponds and creek and that there's no contamination. Those creeks used to have fish in them. Now they don't because of the fish kill from those hog operations. We had two large floods in April and March, and that cleaned out the overflow from the lagoons. The lagoons are good, but the operators wait until a big flood and then open the lagoons and release the contents into the floodwater. That's a dangerous situation. It's been going on for years.

Vulgar words

I RAISED my children to be respectful, good and kind to other people. I have seen so many people 20 or 30 years old say things about other people, and the vulgar words they use are horrible.

Keep it open

I WAS saddened to see the Little Ole Opry at Burfordville is closing. It seems in the summer there's not enough things to do, and I would like to see the Little Ole Opry open.