Speak Out 7/17/12

Cape's parks

Thanks to Cape Girardeau's mayor for his wonderful and well-deserved tribute to our parks and recreation department. I am more than confident that if a national survey of outstanding parks, recreation facilities and staff was done for communities of our size, Cape Girardeau would rank, far and away, No. 1.

Missing package

I just want to thank the person who stole my package out of the mail. That was a gift from a friend in London. It wasn't the monetary value of the package that bothers me, it is the fact that it was a gift. Your callousness is disheartening. Even if it was delivered to your house in error -- yes, it shows delivered -- the fact that you kept it is just sad. My friend went to a lot of trouble picking out that pink yarn. She also spent quite a bit of money shipping it. If you wish to make this right -- no questions asked -- you have the correct recipient's address that was on the package. Just leave it in my mailbox, please.

Bowen column

Dr. Wayne Bowen makes a persuasive case about the limitations of the International Criminal Court. But I have a question, which I hope he can answer in a future piece. I understand the point that not allowing a cushy escape for dictators outside of legal penalty may lead to them fighting to hold their dictatorships longer, thereby pushing their countries into a potentially avoidable civil war. But could the unintended consequence of such protection be an encouragement of brutal dictatorship in the first place? After all, if the downside for brutally taking over a country and murdering your own citizens is simply to take millions of dollars and retire to a cushy life in a protected zone, might this not actually encourage such brutality and power grabbing in the first place? I don't know the answer. But I appreciate Dr. Bowen writing about such issues as his knowledge and perspective are impressive.

Entitlements

It was not George Bush who thought all should have a house. It was George Bush who went to Congress to ask them to look at the problem, but they decided they liked what they saw. George was wrong, though, on his Medicaid entitlement. Entitlements will be the downfall of our great country if they are not addressed.

Gas prices

If President Obama was blamed for the higher gasoline prices earlier this year, does he now get credit for lowering the fuel costs?

Texting fine

I really wish Cape Girardeau would implement a texting-while-driving fine just like San Diego. San Diego has a fine for first-time offenders of $159. Maybe people will understand how dangerous it is if they have to pay. Cape Girardeau, let's not be the last city to act on this.