Speak Out 9/13/08

No place to park

I LIVE on the west side of Cape Girardeau in the heart of the SEMO District Fair. This part of town is easily recognizable. Look for "no parking" signs every 10 feet. I have a small driveway, and with three vehicles I have always parked one along the side of my house with no problem, as do my neighbors. This weekend I came home from work to find $25 tickets on every vehicle on my side of the street. My neighbors are having to ruin their grass by parking in their front yard. I assumed this was an oversight, appreciating the fact that these signs keep fairgoers from parking in my yard. I called the police department to inform them that they are ticketing cars that have no place to park at the addresses they are registered to. The dispatcher said a "No Parking" sign meant no exceptions. Is this the shape our city is in? Have we forgotten who serves whom and that we are all supposed to work together to better our city?

Count your blessings

WE APPRECIATE all the people that thank our brother for fighting in Iraq. They understand that he's over there risking his life. To all the people who complain about the war and what it's costing them, we don't want to hear it. Our soldiers do their jobs better than anyone I know. If you look at your lives here in the United States and count your blessings, you'll appreciate life and be happier.

Answering to the people

I CAN'T believe Gerald Jones says he'll leave Jay Purcell out of open meetings if he records them. Mr. Jones, you didn't elect him. The people of Cape Girardeau County did. You and Morley Swingle do not run Cape Girardeau County.

Right person, right time

SARAH PALIN is exactly what the U.S. needs at this crucial time. We need somebody who is no longer a Washington insider. We need somebody who knows exactly what it means to raise children and make difficult decisions. We need somebody who knows how much it costs to fill up the gas tank. We need somebody who knows how much it costs to buy groceries. We need somebody who will stand up for the common person. There has been a lot of hype over inexperience and her lack of foreign-policy experience. Since when was that a criteria to be president? If that was the case, then George Washington or Abraham Lincoln would have never been elected president. They turned out to be the greatest presidents our country has ever seen. We need somebody from the outside who will stand up for the common man. I believe Sarah Palin is that individual.