Speak Out 7/02/08

Filthy language

A SAD fact about George Carlin, the comedian who died recently, was he was a great talent who used filthy language. He didn't have to use his potty mouth for a laugh. He was gifted. Comedians and stand-up comics think when they use filthy, sex-degrading language, it helps their performance. In most cases, it degrades them and their performance. Sadly, it's the norm in our entertainment world.

Gasoline solution

THE REASON for high gas prices is you, me, the Chinese and the Indians. We cannot drill our way to cheap gas. Reality is that oil is a finite resource, and oil companies are making huge profits because we will not reduce our use of their product. It's finite supply versus your demand, stupid. All the oil in ANWR and off-shore would be a drop in the global bucket. Drilling, even in your back yard, will only result in profits to multinational oil corporations. When the world uses 118 million barrels a day, the million or so that drilling might optimistically produce would make barely a dent. Fight back by reducing your gas consumption. You are the problem. Be part of the solution. our Forefathers ever imagined that freedom of speech would include such poor taste in our culture.

On the line

I SINCERELY hope Jay Purcell, 2nd District Cape Girardeau County commissioner, is completely vindicated. I would like to thank him for putting himself on the line and bringing all of these activities to light at the county commission. I sincerely hope that this does something to squelch the commissioners' elitist attitude.

Cleanup responsibility

I WALK to work. I live in Jackson. On the sidewalk there are people jogging and walking their dogs. I think that's great, but then I noticed the other day that there was dog mess on the sidewalk. If these dog owners are going to walk their dogs, they can at least clean up their poop. That's their responsibility.

Then and now

THIS IS 2008. Here I sit listening to the rumble of thunder and watching the flicker of lightning as my candles are burning low. I think of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s when you could drink Coke or Pepsi from a bottle. On weekends, you could gather the bottles, take them to nearest corner store and get a deposit of more $2. You could grab your family or gang of friends, buy $1 worth of gas and ride all over town all day and spend Saturday night at the drive-in. They say we were not as educated in those days. What was wrong with us?