Speak Out 8/23/09

Trash fees

I read the article about the city considering privatizing trash collection. If city gets a private contractor, we'll lose a lot of the service as far as special pickups. Private contractors can raise fees, and the city can't do anything about it. When we went commercial, the hauler within six months was raising our trash fee.

More tickets

I read the article that said the Cape Girardeau police were writing fewer citations over that last few years. I am confused by the way it was stated. It sounded as if the police were proud of some sort of progress they had made. I can't speak for other area drivers, but I think the streets are far more dangerous now. I have witnessed many times cars passing by a police officer while speeding, and the officer ignored it. It's not only civilians breaking the laws and getting away with it. I almost hit a police car a couple of months ago because out of nowhere he made a U-turn on Kingshighway. At first I thought it was an emergency, but he didn't turn on sirens or warning lights. At the next light I saw him talking on his cell phone. When the light turned green he was doing 45 mph in a 35 mph zone. And he switched lanes without signaling. Come on, police. Do what our tax dollars pay you to do. There are plenty of bad drivers who could use a few tickets.

Internet payback

I am also a Southeast Missouri State University grad and spent about $25,000 there. The fact that I can't use the university's Internet is downright ridiculous. I spent last summer in Portland, Ore., and was amazed to find that the city's entire downtown has Wi-Fi provided free by the city. Sometimes it's not all about making a buck. Sometimes it's about giving back to those who helped pay for those fountains, salaries, dorms and books.

Laptop connection

MOST of the buildings on the Southeast Missouri State University campus have wireless access, but nine times out of 10 students with laptops can't get a signal. The usual response from the university: Open labs are available for student use. Sometimes students just want to use their laptop.

Church issue

HEALTH care is a moral issue that all churches should address. Why? Because of the hidden agenda that our tax dollars may be used to pay for abortion if health care reform is approved. Do you really want God to bless this land of ours? We all must turn from our sins, confess our sins, humble ourselves and seek his face for him to once again bless our nation. That's the bottom line.

Need regulations

IN the not-too-distant past it was virtually impossible for banks to make the types of bad loans that led to the recession. Unscrupulous corporate executives had a problem stealing huge, undeserved bonuses. And insurance companies couldn't charge exorbitant premiums for health coverage. That was because of government regulations. Ronald Reagan was a nice person but ideologically misguided. He deregulated everything and left the crooks to rape the public. It is well-known that a democracy cannot long survive with the types of wealth discrepancies that these policies have allowed. Government of the people will have to restore regulations if this problem is ever to be rectified.

A good plan

EVERYBODY is so worried about having a government-run health care plan. My husband and I were military for 20 years and had a government health care plan. We couldn't have asked for anything better. We never had to wait too long to get an appointment or to see a specialist. I really miss that convenience. What I hear from everybody is complaints, but nobody has any other suggestions. It should be a given right to have medical insurance, not a privilege. You should not have to choose between seeing a doctor or having something to eat. President Obama is trying to do something that needs to be done: give everyone some kind of medical insurance.

Spending spree

IT would be humorous if it wasn't so serious to see all of the Republicans rising in righteous indignation over deficit spending after the unprecedented borrow-and-spend spree of the Bush years. Spending by the government is necessary during a recession since consumers aren't spending.

Widen the road

WAS the main goal for Mount Auburn Road to add sidewalks or to widen the road for safety? It appears the new work on Mount Auburn Road is widening some areas and only adding sidewalks in others. That is a lot of money spent for foot traffic. If the road is not wider, then it has not been improved.