Speak Out 8/30/08

Violation of privacy

I WOULD like to ask people about this: I had to take my mother to family services/ welfare department in Cape Girardeau. They have a form where they're asking people to register to vote but if the person doesn't want to register to vote, then they want them to sign a form stating they're not going to be a registered voter. Isn't that a violation of people's right to voter privacy? And why does the state need to know if a person is a registered voter or not? Something is just strange about that and she was very upset about it. I'd like to hear other people's opinions on it.

Lemonade packets

IN RESPONSE to the Speak Out about people who go to restaurants and just order water and use their own lemonade packets: I am diabetic and not able to have sugar. The lemonade packets contain lemon and a sugar substitute, so I do not use the restaurant's lemon and sugar packets. I would be happy to order a sugar-free drink, but most restaurants do not have these and I do not like tea. As far as tipping, I always tip more than the price of the meals with regards to the service I receive. I do not know of any restaurants that do not serve ice water, which the caller complained about having to carry to the patron. Many people just order water. Not serving a cola or tea beverage should save the restaurant money.

Keep writing

I'M CALLING in regards to Bob and Callie Miller's column. I disagree with the caller that doesn't like them. I really enjoy reading them, and when they weren't in the paper, I really missed them. So keep on writing.

TV coverage

I AGREE with the caller about channel 12. We don't have a local TV station in this area that will give local news. I know there's enough news between Perryville and Sikeston to last a 30-minute news. Instead we have to hear what's going on overseas, in the nation and then we have to hear what's going on in Kentucky and Illinois.

An angry parent

WHY SHOULD our children have to sit in class and sweat because they're hot, not to mention the teachers? With the amount of school taxes we pay, I think it would be the taxpayers who control the thermostats. So, come on Jackson parents, call the board office, let them know how you feel. I just wonder what their thermostat's set on.

A dot-com locator

THE SOUTHEAST Missourian needs more advertising. More advertising brings in more cash that then could be used for news, which sadly has been missing lately. I find the paper has become a dot-com locator for the computer crowd and less news for the paying public.

Unwanted animals

COME ON, Cape Girardeau. We have got to quit dropping off these unwanted animals. I am sick and tired of you dropping your animals out around my house. I have taken in five of your dogs this year and about 20 cats. Why don't you do the humane thing and take them to the Humane Society, drop them off there, let them euthanize them instead of me having it on my conscience to take them there?

More unwanted animals

I WAS at a local shelter today when I heard a phone call come in about a lady needing to get rid of a mother and 13 puppies. Come on, people. We have got to wake up and get the word out. You have got to spay and neuter your pets. This lady should have thought of 13 puppies and where they were going to go. She would have had the mother spayed and wouldn't have this problem.

Super delivery man

WITH REGARDS to County Road 458 in Bollinger County, it is 3 a.m. and my newspaper man has just delivered right on time. He is a super trooper, and I hope he doesn't quit. Thank you so much, whoever you are.

Tough choice

IT IS embarrassing to hear Harry Smith of CBS News say that it would be interesting to see what Michelle Obama would wear at the convention. And this morning, Maggie Rodriguez of CBS News called the convention participants "screaming fans." It's true, Obama has earned celebrity status. I wanted a candidate to believe in, but since I'm not a celebrity buff and am a middle-class American disgusted by eight years of Bush, I guess my vote in November will take very careful thought after much time studying the new celebrity and the old fart.

Fair opportunities

I JUST wanted to make a comment about the comment in the paper today, this is Thursday, regarding the SEMO District Fair. Somebody was commenting about the fact that they were charging $4 to get in, it was expensive and also about the parking. Whoever made that comment obviously hasn't been to the fair because they've had free parking for several years and there are also times when there is free gate admission. If they wanted to get into the fair during a different time then they can volunteer because they arrange for volunteers to get in for free admission too.

Lighten up, y'all!

I can't believe all this stink about Bob and Callie Miller's latest article. Jeez people, c'mon! They always write about things in their everyday lives; sure, I won't deny that it was a sensitive subject, but if a lot of men had read this I am sure they could relate in some small way. Lighten up, y'all! I for one look forward to their columns, never know what those two are going to get themselves into. Just the other day I saw them in traffic and started to wave; their stories make you feel like they're friends of yours. Keep up the good work you two.

Tissue boxes not a perk

This is to the person who saw a teacher carrying out boxes of tissue to her car at the end of the year. As a teacher we are expected to pack up our rooms at the end of the year. It is possible that she didn't have adequate storage in the room so she was storing them at home. I can assure you that I did not become a teacher for the huge salary or the opportunity to swipe school supplies from your child.

Nell Holcomb taxes

I would like to know why all of a sudden that Nell Holcomb School needs more money from property tax revenue. They have one of the highest incomes per student ratio so why do they need more money. If they would quit wasting money on stupid things maybe they wouldn't need more. The school board and school officials need a reality check. People can't afford to pay more in taxes.

Sickening topics

What happened to things that are personal? Does everything go? I am referring to the article that Bob and Callie Miller published in the Southeast Missourian on Aug. 17. Also the two before that on cow manure and baby poop was sickening. She then worries about her roast beef touching her mashed potatoes?

Keep columns coming

To the people who continue to complain about Bob and Callie Miller's weekly columns: I couldn't disagree with you more. The Millers' columns are never done in poor taste, but deal with real issues that young couples deal with daily. Their articles are always insightful and witty. If you find their articles too racy for your liking, perhaps you should stop reading them instead of trying to dictate what the Millers should write about.

Not disgusting

Bob and Callie's column a few weeks ago about feminine products was not "disgusting" as a few readers have complained. It's an insult to women to call a natural female bodily function like menstruation, and the products relating to it, as "disgusting." Women shouldn't have to feel ashamed or embarrassed about their bodies or silent on the topic. The column was humorous, well-written and something that every couple can identify with, and I applaud them for being so open and courageous to share it!

Locally owned

Downtown Cape Girardeau offers a terrific glimpse of what traditional American downtowns are all about. While the bulk of shopping (in bulk, no less) has moved to the highway fringes, downtown exemplifies the kind of commerce upon which the city was built: locally owned and operated. At a time when so many restaurants claim to be just like the mom-and-pop places of yesteryear, why not go downtown and get the real thing?

Casinos and crime

To the person who is insulted about casino comment. Do you feel guilty about something? Do you live downtown Cape Girardeau? I have a child to raise, and statistics show that when casinos were brought into neighborhoods the crime rates went up. Yeah, it may lower taxes or whatever, but I would much rather pay higher taxes and have less crime than pay lower taxes and have my child grow up in an unsafe environment. What exactly is this town coming to?

Gambling debate

First, it's silly to debate riverboat gambling in Speak Out, since that ship sailed years ago. The city had an opportunity with Boyd Gaming, which after constantly nickel and diming realized there would never be any peace or profit in establishing a presence here. Second, to the people who oppose it: I truly appreciate your opinion. If you are against gambling, you should not do it. But if I feel like going while you're at home watching reruns of "Hee-Haw" or sitting on the porch whittling, that's my business. I don't need you to save me from myself. Odd, how conservatives who decry government interference in their business are the first to get involved in mine.

Jensen may be surprised

Mike Jensen's subtle but still cynical and gutter-level implicit attacks on Barack Obama aside, he made one potentially viable point. The bitter and bombastic publisher of Sikeston's Standard Democrat recently wrote that Barack Obama won't win Missouri this November. Jensen may be correct, although Obama will make a sincere and all-out effort to win the Show Me State. However, in order to win this fall it may be that Obama won't have to win Missouri. Having said that, Jensen may be surprised at how relatively well Obama may do in outstate Missouri due to the all-out effort by the Obama camp to register voters.

We got you

To the gas thief who has been siphoning out of vehicles around Old Hopper Road. We have your license plate! Ha.

A casino splash

THe only way a Speak out caller would be "all wet" because he advocated a casino gambling boat for Cape would be if Cape got a gambling casino boat and the caller fell off it.

Great value in fair

The SEMO District Fair at $4 is a great entertainment value as always. Even with all the increased costs to put the fair on, admission has not increased for several years. And yes, it does cost money to produce the fair. There are several valued sponsors that help to keep admission and ticket prices low. You can be assured the fair board, the carnival, the food vendors, the livestock farmers, the entertainers, the motor sports participants, and everyone there are more than aware of the increased costs that affect us all. Those folks and the dedicated fair volunteers that work countless hours all year to keep the fair a good family entertainment value, without any assistance from local, state or federal government. They do it because they love it and get their enjoyment seeing all the smiles on children, young and old, that do come. The fair could be free, but it would be without most of the attractions we have come to enjoy. If you don't agree the SEMO Fair is a good value, we will have fun without you.

Bus stop explanation

To the person commenting about the bus stopping to pick up a handicap student on Williams St. This is my nephew and there is not a sidewalk or driveway that comes out on the side street. My sister tried pushing his wheelchair down to the side street and it is almost impossible. So she tried pushing him around the corner by going down William St., but twice a car almost hit them because they come over the hill not paying attention. If you know they pick up there everyday can't you take a different route or leave a few minutes earlier if this cause you to be late for work? Sometimes we forget how simply our lives are compared to someone else's life.

Too much money in schools

There is no correlation between the amount of money spent on schools and academic achievement of the students. Still, we want our schools to look nice, be filled with state-of-the-art technology, have athletic fields on a par with the pros, and auditoriums equivalent in size with the ancient Roman Colosseum. That is why we must ask for an ever increasing property tax and willing contribution from the taxpayers. Surely you understand.