Speak Out 7/9/10

Thanks for help

TO the four men who helped my disabled brother after he fell in his yard: Thank you so much, and may God bless you for your kindness.

Highway work

I called the Missouri Department of Transportation and can't get an answer. Perhaps the Southeast Missourian has a reporter who would like to check into this. I live in Cape Girardeau and work in Perryville. MoDOT has had about 20 miles of Interstate 55 closed to one lane each way for over a month. Yet every day when I go by, either they're not working at all or they're working on a stretch roughly 150 feet long at a time. What is the need to tear up and close off 20 miles of highway at a time? Can't they do a section from one exit ramp to the next? In my travels, that's what I've seen in other states. If you're going to this kind of work, don't do it during travel season. Don't do such long stretches. Get some crews out to take care of it as quickly as possible.

Tough forecast

PEOPLE are complaining and worrying about the economy. There are so many people out of work. They haven't seen anything yet. Just wait until January when heavy taxes hit industry and companies will have to allow unions to be formed and all the rules and regulations for health care kick in. All kinds of jobs are going to continue to move to China. We may have a 25 percent unemployment rate. We've got an 18 percent rate if you count the people who have given up looking for jobs. This is what change has brought us.

Minimum wage

I was giving some people who work at a fast-food place a ride. One of them commented that they look forward to the minimum wage going up. I asked, "How do you look forward to maybe getting your hours cut or maybe even losing your job?" People don't realize that this increase in minimum wage will simply cause employers to cut down on their expenses.

Good job

I do not believe that President Obama's foreign policy is a joke. In fact, I think he's pretty much following President Bush's plan. I think he's continued the war on terrorism because we don't want terrorism at our back door. I think he will be a two-term president because the Democratic Party is more intelligent. The Republican Party just attacks and does not give good reasons. People voted for a change because it was time for a change. So far Obama's doing a good job.

Fourth thanks

THANKS to the U.S.A. Veterans for putting on the Fourth of July event.

Biking courtesy

IF there's not a law, then there should be. If four bikers are riding on Route W two in each row and going 10 mph and holding up traffic, the least they could do is get in single file and let the cars behind them pass. It's incredibly rude for four bikers to block traffic. My parents raised me to show common courtesy. I'd like bikers to consider the same.

Thanks for flags

THANKS to Cape Girardeau VFW Post 3838 for putting the flags up on the Fourth of July. They look so beautiful. A special thanks to Bill Humphrey, the man in charge. Thanks again.

Cutting taxes

A comment asked how cutting taxes would help get us out of our national deficit. If taxes are cut, you're going to have more money in your paycheck to spend. Cutting taxes is the way to go.

Garage sales

I wish Jackson would change its rules about garage sales. A lot of older people have garage sales to help with buying medicine and paying rent. If the people leave their signs up across from the post office, take them down on Saturday afternoon and remind the people to be sure and take them down. Don't leave them up to clutter up the street. Warn them, and the second time make them pay a fine.

Too much complaining

TWO things made me angry as I read Speak Out: the person who worried about a neighbor's lawn clippings getting into the street, and the person who complained that downtown looks like a nightmare. I guess you can look at the cup half-empty or half-full. Shame on these complainers. Perk up a little and have some fun in life.