Speak Out 7/27/05

Fiscal responsibility

IF THE Cape Girardeau School Board has a reserve it can dip into to balance the budget, why did it have to beg the public for more money for desks and books when students moved into the new high school? The board could have saved lots of money by not building a new gym. The old Tiger Field House is nicer than a lot of college facilities. Now it is a ridiculously large junior-high gym. And now the board wants us to cough up even more money for a football stadium? I will oppose this new tax with all my might and urge everyone who wants fiscal responsibility to do the same.

Going too far

I THINK the hoops sex offenders must go through after their release from prison are beginning to border on the ridiculous. These people have committed a crime, but many are simply sick and need help. They are not all evil people. Many are trying to lead a normal life after doing their time. Forcing them to tell their neighbors what they've done or wear tracking devices and plastering their names, addresses and pictures on Web sites all goes beyond anything we force murderers to do.

Blame the feds

PLEASE DON'T blame the clerks at your local driver's license office for denying your driver's license. Thank your federal government, which is asking these license clerks to act as INS, CIA and FBI agents in addition to registering vehicles, all in the name of homeland security. Is it ridiculous? Of course. But make sure you let those who voted on the REAL ID Act know how you feel.

Band for younger fans

THE SEMO District Fair is always an event that teens and younger children look forward to every year. I'm disappointed that none of the bands selected to play this year are for the younger crowds. Randy Travis is a great singer, but I think it would be a good suggestion to try to get a younger band that is more directed at the younger crowds at the fair.

Rifles were common

I WISH someone would explain how an assault rifle firing the same caliber of ammunition as a deer rifle that most everyone around here has can be so much more dangerous. I grew up with deer rifles in the corner behind a door in our dining room, as did all our friends and neighbors. The rifles were used for hunting when we had the time.

Follow good examples

FUNDAMENTALIST Republicans are whining about the nomination of Judge John Roberts to the Supreme Court claiming that because they voted for President Bush, he owes them someone who will "return us to God and country." They forget that most independents disappointed in the Democratic candidate grudgingly voted for Bush also, hoping he would demonstrate some common sense in his second term. We are still waiting for a flicker of that illusive common sense. Moderates fervently hope Judge Roberts is not a follower of the fundamentalist voodoo Republicanism of Limbaugh and Hannity but will follow the examples of Madison and Jefferson, who understood the importance of individual rights, civil liberties, religious neutrality and the all-too-illusive common sense.

Call legislators

BOO-HOO. Legislators want caseworkers to discourage Medicaid recipients from calling them to complain about their lost benefits. I think every person in the state who lost Medicaid benefits under the recent cuts should make it his duty to call these legislators, starting with Gov. Matt Blunt. I think these cuts were very unfair.

Worse than roundabouts

I RECENTLY encountered a series of what are called rotaries in another part of our nation. These labyrinths and mazes were so intimidating and scary that we all should apologize for having ever criticized what are known in Cape Girardeau as roundabouts.

Abusing our roads

THERE ARE some people who drive through farmers' fields and destroy their crops. Because of them, a section of levee in Southern Illinois has been closed to the public. I am an outdoorsman and enjoy driving the levees watching all the wildlife. I use the dirt roads off of the levees to get to fishing holes and hunting spots, but some use them as mudholes to play in with their big four-wheel-drive trucks, which destroys those roads for everyone else. They should stay off of our public and private land.

Just wait for fallout

I THINK your editorial was wrong. Much to the dismay of the special interests who make a living off stirring up controversy, the Senate Democrats will not put Judge Roberts through the wringer. In fact, they'll generally be quite polite and ask nothing but legitimate questions. Then most of them will vote their approval. After that, they'll sit back and watch the Supreme Court start handing down decisions so out of the mainstream with the American public that the Democrats will in the near future recapture both houses of Congress and the executive branch without even having to do more than imply "We told you so."

Info is there

IT SEEMS to me that if Missouri would get its act together, we would not have to show any ID at all for a driver's license renewal. The state already has our Social Security numbers and all other information about us on file in Jefferson City. Mo. If the state would get its computers to work or, better yet, hire someone who knows how to work the computer system, things would be there right in front of the clerk's eyes on the license office computer screen.