OpinionAugust 30, 2007
Speak Out 8/30/07
Doomed to failure; School safety; Using food stamps; Do the right thing; Dogs in need; Armadillo invasion; One year is enough; Impressive performance; Religious upset; Exhausted athletes
Doomed to failure
ACCORDING TO Foreign Policy magazine, there is a specter haunting the world. It is not the specter of communism or fascism. It is that of what is called developmentalism. In essence, developmentalism refers to a top-down attempt by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and others to impose free markets on countries not yet historically ready for them. This Leninesque, top-down approach is doomed to failure and must be radically modified or abandoned.
School safety
THE SECURITY guard at Central High School is a Cape Girardeau police officer stationed in that building. I'm proud of him for stopping and asking you who you were and what you were doing. I think you are the one in the wrong, and I think you probably owe several people an apology. It seems from your own description that you were the only one being rude and obnoxious. Maybe you need to check your attitude before you go back in. Keep up the good work, CHS and staff. Make that school as safe as possible.
Using food stamps
HAVING WORKED for a home-health service, one duty was going to the store for clients, using their food stamps to purchase groceries. Most of the recipients could have, with a little common sense and planning, eaten all month on those stamps. Some years ago, the government gave stamp recipients handouts with sample menus, lists of what to buy that would feed them and/or their families for the month. Most, though, buy the extras, and the groceries only last two weeks or so. Most cannot adjust to facts like one pound of ground beef is at least four servings, but one small steak or chop at a higher price will be one serving. Now, being disabled, I receive food stamps. On less than $100 a month, I have just barely enough basic food, and I am grateful for that. However, I find it laughable when politicians do the "food stamp shopping," knowing that they will not have to eat for the month on just what those stamps purchase.
Do the right thing
THE BUSH administration told us years ago that there were no parallels between Iraq and Vietnam, and we have now discovered that there are. What are we to make of it? No precipitous withdrawal, I suppose. But are the people and their congressional pols listening? I don't know but I hope Congress has the courage to do the right thing, regardless of the political consequences, a request that, if taken to heart, would be unprecedented in American history.
Dogs in need
I THINK it is wonderful that a local artist who is selling chewed-on Michael Vick cards is willing to donate some of the proceeds to our local shelters. Safe Harbor recently had a mother pit bull and her puppies dumped on their doorstep when no one was there to tend to them. Maybe the artist could arrange for the mother dog and her puppies to chew on some of the Michael Vick cards. Safe Harbor could really benefit from people like this artist.
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Armadillo invasion
WHAT'S WITH all the armadillos? I have never seen an armadillo walking around in the woods. But there are a lot of them dead on the side of the road. Where are they coming from?
One year is enough
I DON'T think Michael Vick should get five years in prison. Maybe he should get one year in jail at the most. I think he's suffered enough. He was a foolish man, and I don't think he realized how big a fool he was. Now he's grasping the situation.
Impressive performance
WHAT A wonderful performance Mike Dumey's "Sing, America, Sing" was. We were impressed with everyone's performance, especially his daughter, Lauren, and Broadrick Twiggs, who did "Phantom of the Opera." There were others who were so good. The show was like something you would go to St. Louis or Memphis to see.
Religious upset
THE RESEARCHERS in England who are studying out-of-body experiences need to be careful. They could stumble onto something that would set the religious world on its ear.
Exhausted athletes
JACKSON COACHES say academics come first. How can kids do homework when they have to be at school at 6 a.m. for weight lifting, have practice after school for two to three hours and come home exhausted? Coaches, enough is enough.
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