Speak Out 8/31/09

Tax increase

WE need to do something about the growing national debt. A health care reform bill would cut into it somewhat, but much more is needed. I would like to get the ball rolling by saying, "Mr. President and Congress, raise my taxes."

Uniting the GOP

SOME aspiring Republican gubernatorial candidate said on TV the other night that President Obama had managed to unite the Republican Party. Is that right? Behind whom? Sarah Palin? Newt Gingrich? Dick Cheney? Rush Limbaugh? If that's the case then, in the words of George W. Bush, "Bring 'em on."

Bush blocks view

I was driving on Whitener Street going toward Pind Wood Lane. There is a bush there that blocks the view. I pulled forward to see if there were any cars coming. A car almost hit my car. Something should be done about the bush before someone gets hurt.

Fighting for little guy

I am confident that one result of Sen. Edward Kennedy's death will be to unite this nation around the principle for which he fought for so long and so hard: quality and accessible health care for all Americans. Like all of us, Kennedy was flawed, but his passion for fighting for the little guy was unsurpassed in the history of the U.S. Senate. God rest his soul.

Student copies

LET me get this straight. Jackson School District has spent roughly $23 million on updating the high school and roughly $12,000 on a new website (with little difference from the old one), yet my daughter is required to go home, get online and print out 10 pages of notes for one class? With all the money running through the Jackson district, I think it should be able to afford some copies.

Half a law

IT is unbelievable that Missouri lawmakers passed a bill that forbids anyone under 21 to drive and send text messages at the same time. How many drivers at any age can keep their eyes on the road and type on a mini-keyboard at the same time? I pray that those who voted for this bill will revise it in the near future to forbid all to drive while texting, like other states have done.

Add it up

THANKS to Michael Jensen for telling us to get out our calculators before reading his recent column on health care reform. I certainly needed one to figure out the total number of Jensen's misstatements, deceptions, inaccuracies and falsehoods.

Unfortunate comments

AT Tuesday night's transitional housing public hearing, the director of the local United Way made several unfortunate and inappropriate comments about church leaders in Cape Girardeau. Her derisive words were disappointing, coming as they did from such a person of achievement whose contributions to our community are usually so positive and praiseworthy. Anyone can have a bad night, and here's hoping Nancy Jernigan just wasn't feeling well.

Mean-spirited

READING comments on the death of Senator Kennedy on semissourian.com reaffirms my belief that Cape Girardeau has the most mean-spirited people I have ever known.

Good-looking

Say what you want about concrete, but the new university parking lots on Broadway look great.

Not a choice

A sinister Speak Out caller claimed that those who have little or lack health care coverage are in such a state as a result of a free choice. I didn't know that there were so many people who freely chose to be terminated from their job or acquire a catastrophic illness.