Speak Out 7/2/13

Polish crime?

To the parents of the teenage girls who white-shoe-polished our daughter's car windows: Be advised that we have photos and are aggressively pursing charges with the police for trespassing and destruction of property. This is a crime and will be prosecuted. We have leads and will determine who your daughter is. Kids are already talking. This is not a simple high-school prank, but one that destroys property and costs parents hundreds in the cost of the attempt to remove this substance.

Constitution

Both parties have abandoned the Constitution of the United States and a USA Today/Pew Research Center poll found that 54 percent of those surveyed said [National Security Agency leaker Edward] Snowden should be prosecuted for telling us what the government is doing. Make no mistake, the Fourth Amendment is very clear on this subject: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." Here is what James Madison had to say about freedom and security: "If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

City council

You can tell by the way they spend the city's money. They waste the money on frills like Broadway, so-called walking trails along Route K. But when it comes to helping its citizens, they don't find it hard to raise the rates of trash pickups and other things that the senior citizens on fixed income are struggling to pay. They only do things that they think will make them look like they have accomplished something, but really haven't helped Cape's living conditions. Years ago, they closed a ditch by Hopper Road and installed a too-small drain pipe to carry stormwater. It always floods everything from Hopper Road to Dorothy Street. That is no concern now to them as they will have to spend lots of money to maintain Broadway.

Vacations

Congress doesn't know any more than we do about the NSA program as they haven't been in session long enough to know anything. They are always out vacationing or campaigning at our expense. The only thing they know is the lies that Rush Limbaugh tells. That is what is important to them.

Paula and Jesse

I heard how Jesse Jackson wants Paula Deen to be investigated. Jackson needs to be investigating himself for all of his illegitimate children.

Obama, Democrats

Stock Market: Yes, George Bush had the economy and stock market in great shape until 2008 when the Democrats took over Congress. Barney Frank, [Nancy] Pelosi and [Harry] Reid said they would raise everyone's taxes, get gas to $5 a gallon -- which everyone can afford -- and double your health care. Coal mining would be stopped and power plants shut down. Obama is the worst president this country has ever had and will ever have. If Obama was a Republican, he would have been impeached the first year.

Paula's tears

Paula Deen was crying because her business is going down the tubes, not for the racial word she used.

God and government

I just read where the federal government cut off funding for Young Marines, an organization that helps troubled young men. The reason why they did it is because they had the word "God" in their pledge. This is just terrible. They keep taking God out of everything and pretty soon God is going to take himself out of this country.

Marriage, economy

Now that marriage has been redefined, hopefully the Democrats who created that mess can now fix the real issue, which is the economy.

Gay marriage

I think if gay couples want to get married in a state where it's legalized, they should live there instead of getting married in a legalized state and moving back to Missouri.

Teachers, technology

Have I become too cynical? I really, really, really want to, but simply can't believe an uppermost consideration of the Cape public schools board of education is to bring salaries up to par with comparable school districts. I mean, how could it be a top priority when so much money is going to be invested in technology not proven to in any way enhance student performance?

Dr. Fisher

Congratulations to Dr Rita Fisher for accepting a new position with the education center at Southeast Missouri State University. During her tenure with the Jackson public schools, it is a widely held view that Dr. Fisher virtually single-handedly transformed the Jackson public schools into the area's premiere school system.

Casino events

What happened to the fantastic events that were going to come to the casino? Wasn't the Events Center supposed to bring in events this spring? Is this another bill of goods we've been sold but not delivered?

Double down?

The patronizing, shameful and sycophantic Speak Out apology to David Limbaugh for criticizing the venomous views expressed in his columns means that I will have to double down on mine.

Voting Rights Act

The U.S. Supreme Court decision decimating the Voting Rights Act of 1965 will have the effect of making ethnic and racial minorities once protected by the law more determined than ever to exercise their right to vote and erode the Republican Party to the point that we will sooner rather than later have a permanent Democratic majority.

Smoking, phones

While on vacation, I noticed that Cape Girardeau is still behind on two very important regulations. Smoking in public places, everywhere we went out to eat was nonsmoking. It was great going out to dinning establishments and bars and not smelling like smoke when we left. The other is cellphones and driving. I realized how dangerous Cape Girardeau streets are after I was back in town for five minutes and a Honda Element almost sideswiped me while the elder man was texting. Come on Cape, it's time for change.

Teacher salaries

I may be off a year or two, but to the best of my recollection, the Cape public schools board of education has been publicly proclaiming a desire to raise teacher salaries so as to be on a par with comparable school districts since 1921.

Air show

I want to thank the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport for putting on the air show. It was fantastic. My family enjoyed it very much. I hope they do it again next year.

Time to pull together

We have a lot of serious problems in our country. People should pull together instead of fighting.