Speak Out 8/20/10

Fun evening

WE went to see Mike Dumey's "Sing, America, Sing" with stars-on-the-rise local talent. We sure enjoyed seeing a Broadway and country musical without driving to St. Louis or Branson. Thanks, Mike and rising stars, for a wonderful, fun evening.

Jackson taxes

DOES Jackson need a new east area fire station? Yes. Do we need a new tax in these tough economic times to pay for it? No. Jackson has saved around $6 million in an electric surplus fund over the last 20 years. Some of it should be used when needed. It is needed now. No new taxes.

Teachers in flip-flops

NURSES, housekeepers, kitchen personnel, store clerks to name a few all have to wear a uniform. It makes me sick to see teachers and principals wear flip-flops and sunglasses on their head to school. No wonder Cape Girardeau's public schools are failing. There are few role models there.

Cooling schools

WHEN you start school in the middle of August and let out in the middle of May, you have to pay high utility bills to cool the schools. When I went to school, classes ended around Memorial Day and started after Labor Day.

Paying teachers

I don't agree with the comment regarding underpaid teachers. I'm 63 years old, and I've yet to see an underpaid teacher. Teachers make more money than a lot of people working to make ends meet. Teachers ought to take pay cuts like normal people in the real world and see how they like it.

Pay for grades

GIVING money for improving grades would be a fantastic idea. Things are so expensive, and only the well-to-do can get money from their parents. Most have to go without. If students had a goal to reach and were compensated, a sense of pride to set more goals would ensue. Everyone, even adults, expect bonuses now and then. Our students need a chance to reach a goal and feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Too close

PRESIDENT Obama supports the mosque being built at ground zero although national polls show that 94 percent of the people disagree. I'd like to know why our president isn't agreeing with the majority of our country and following their wishes. I am appalled that our government would let something like this be built so close to ground zero.

Keep it separate

REGARDING the federal building on Broadway that is surplus property: I don't want my tax dollars, which paid for that building, to go to any religious organization. There should be separation of church and state.

Too many vacations

IT doesn't matter whether our presidents are Republican or Democrat, but I get tired of seeing how many vacations they take, especially when our economy is so bad. It's a slap in the face to Americans, and I'm really upset about it.

Seat belts on buses

WHEN it comes to seat belts on buses and the safety of our children, money should not be an issue. School districts seem to find funding for other things far less important.

Senior floater

I am a senior citizen. I want to go to Cape Girardeau's water park, but I'm afraid people would laugh at me. I've always been afraid of the water. However, I know it would probably be good for me to go and splash around a little bit. I was wondering if the Cape Splash's rules would allow me to wear floaties?

CTA shelters

THIS is a message to the Cape Transit Authority. Why build a bus shelter the CTA won't use? Many stops are now across the street from the shelters. This is hard on handicapped people as there's no place to sit. People not familiar with the CTA could miss the bus and miss appointments or be late for work. What can be done to address this? If you build shelters, why not use them?

Turn lanes

KINGSHIGHWAY is dangerous. When is the two-way left-turn lane in the middle of Kingshighway going to be restriped? It should be a minimum of 14 feet wide. Check the Missouri Department of Transportation's website.