Speak Out 7/27/11

Read Constitution

LATELY conservative politicians have tripped over each other to sign pledges. They pledge to balance the budget, not raise taxes, tout family values and yes, even discriminate against groups they consider immoral. Frankly, politicians of any philosophy should make only one pledge and that is to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States. They might also consider reading it. By the behavior of many, it is assumed they have not. They might also study how the Founders used the art of compromise to create one of the most important documents in the history of mankind.

Entertain, don't irritate

DOES anyone besides me hate those obnoxious fast-talking commercials. They started out on radio; now they've moved to TV. I don't see what the purpose is when they talk so fast you can't understand them. All they do is irritate me so that I quickly reach for the mute button on my remote. If you want to sell me something, entertain me, don't irritate me.

Central vandalism

THE vandalism of Central High School's turf for the new football stadium highlights a reason public schools often come in for unfair criticism. Just for the sake of argument, let's assume that the vandals were high school students who lived in the Cape Girardeau School District but attended a private or parochial school. They would be summarily expelled for their actions. But guess who the law requires would have to take them? Why, none other than Central.

Norquist view

CUT, Cap and Balance is the most radical piece of budget legislation to be introduced in Congress in decades. Of course, it will go nowhere but will give the few sensible Republicans left in the House the opportunity to tell their constituents that they voted for it. As someone said, if it would by some quirk pass both houses and be signed into law it would forever enshrine the nutty Grover Norquist view of America. Who is Grover Norquist? He is not a member of Congress, but his scheme for cutting taxes far beyond the bare bones to the point that it would destroy entitlements and defense has made many Republican members shake and quiver to the point that they have become his lackeys.

Wild game

I would assume all storage facilities and all facilities for processing wild game have been checked out.

Hospital economics

TO the Speak Out caller complaining that the hospitals make too much money and shouldn't be considered not-for-profit, you need to research what not-for-profit status actually means. It does not mean that they cannot make a profit, only that the majority of the profit is returned into the business and not used for individual gain. As such, both facilities are well within their rights to build additions if they choose. The high prices of health care have nothing to do with the hospitals wanting to make more money. You pay higher prices to offset the people who treat the ER like it is a free clinic. I've actually had mothers tell me that they'll take their child to the ER with a cold because the doctor cannot refuse to see them for no insurance. Who pays for this child's health care? Everyone else.

Knee-jerk reaction

IT seems to me that the push to annex Fruitland is the residents' knee-jerk way of saying "no" to the quarry companies. However, saying "no" to them will mean saying "yes" to the city of Jackson. As for me and my house, I prefer the quarries as the lesser of two evils.

Rude drivers response

IN response to the person questioning the right-of-way drivers in Gordonville and the "tailgating jerks," most knowledgeable people who live and drive in Gordonville every day know that it is far more practical to allow a few cars to cross the bridge at a time rather than playing "red rover, red rover, send one right over." It keeps the traffic moving faster and more smoothly, and thanks to all of the extra traffic coming from Hwy 34, we need all of the help we can get. If you don't like the way we drive in Gordonville then maybe it's time you find an alternate route to take.

Jensen column

MIKE Jensen recently wondered out loud what part of spending cuts Democrats don't understand. Space prohibits me from listing them all, so two will have to suffice. Democrats do not understand why hardworking members of the middle class should have to have their Social Security cut. Democrats don't understand why House Republicans want to save money by ending Medicare either. I hope these examples are sufficient to make Mr. Jensen see the light and issue a public apology for failing to understand the concerns of average people.

Truck problem

THE new traffic plan for Jackson is going to be a fiasco. If the city would simply reroute all the eighteen-wheelers to Interstate 55, the problem would be solved. I watch those trucks roll through town. They never stop. They never make deliveries, but they never buy anything. But they sure tie up traffic around those corners. You think a new traffic plan is going to solve this problem? Hardly. Save the money and ban the big trucks.

System example

HERE is an example of how our tax system currently works. Ten people are eating at a restaurant. After everyone has finished eating, they leave by income level. The poorest two leave first. They do not pay for the meal and on the way out take the tip jar to help pay for the ride home. The next three then leave. They also do not pay for the meal. The next three that leave pay their share of the meal but do not leave a tip. The next person to leave pays his portion and leaves a tip. Finally the last person leaves. He pays for the first five meals plus his own, leaves a large tip and refills the tip jar. Then the Democrats stand up, point at him and say he is not paying his fair share.