Speak Out 9/16/03

Support school tax

NOW IS the time to pass a tax increase for Jackson schools. Most people in the Jackson area can well afford it, and Bob Holden has let our school system down by taking away much-needed funding. Fairness in taxing means everyone pays and, as a result, you may very well benefit from it. Support your public schools and you'll have a healthier society.

Pull at City Hall

IT'S CERTAINLY amazing to me how the city got right on the intersection at Independence Street and Mount Auburn Road after the terrible mix-up over the new intersection. But I wonder why the mayor jumped on it. Is it because he has a business there? It's amazing how quickly it is getting taken care of.

Selfish motivation

THE MISSOURI Legislature voted to fund education for fiscal 2004 at the same levels as fiscal 2003. The governor cut $198 million from education, hoping to make the Republicans look bad and thus improving his dwindling re-election chances. I find it ironic that he cut only $9 million from his biggest vote-getting machine, the Department of Social Services, which already had a larger budget than education. Rather than doing what's best for Missouri, the governor is doing what's best for Bob Holden, and it will cost him his job.

But not at the fair

WINE TASTING is OK, but I don't think the fair is the place for it. Whoever approved the tasting is way out of line.

Not so down-home

I REMEMBER when these conglomerate multibank holding companies took over most of the local banks in Cape Girardeau and Jackson and advertised they would still be the same down-home bank. I went in one of the banks in Jackson. I had $100 in $1 bills from a yard sale and wanted larger money to make it easier to carry. The girl asked if I had an account. When I said no, she said she couldn't help me. I didn't think that was down-home treatment. Locally owned neighborhood banks never treated me that way.

Let parents choose

I THINK kids should have a right to go to whatever school want within their school district. Sometimes a school can't meet a child's needs for whatever reason. Parents should have that choice.

Disrespectful headdress

I WAS downhearted after watching the Jackson's Chiefs in the fair parade. They had two females with a headdress called a war bonnet, and they were carrying a war staff. This is a total disgrace to American Indians. I am an American Indian, and it slapped me in the face. This needs to be stopped. You don't put a female in feathers. That is not done. Schools don't even recognize what they're doing. They need to learn the history on both sides. The war bonnet is not something you should be wanting to display. The disrespect needs to stop.

ALL THE studies I've seen about the right to carry concealed weapons show crime has gone down. Paul Harvey says that when Texas passed its law, crime went down significantly. I'd like to see these studies published. People will be less inclined to commit a crime if they think they might have retaliation from the victim.

PERHAPS THE parade organizers should put trash cans in strategic spots if there's a problem with trash after a parade.

Tax them some more

WITH BUSINESSES leaving Missouri in search of a more friendly climate to do business, Gov. Bob Holden has come up with a wonderful idea to finance education: Crack down on the corporate loopholes. In other words, tax the corporations. What a wonderful, innovative idea.

More terrorists now

ACCORDING TO the news, they are more terrorists in Iraq now than before the war. The terrorists are responsible for the car bombings and the embassy bombing. They are killing American soldiers. Your editorial today says the war in Iraq removed a significant threat of world terror. We are told in the news the terrorists have moved back into Afghanistan. Presidents before George Bush knew from history we cannot conquer the Middle East. We may kill some, but others will take their places. Bush said on TV recently he'd rather have fighting over there than here in the United States. That does not sound like a peaceful Christian to me.

No wine at the fair

WHAT CONNECTION does the wine tasting have to do with the fair? I don't approve of it being held there at all. I hope it will never be held there again.