Speak out 9/19/08

Plan for change

I SEE that Southeast Missouri State University is having a lecture to make the case for climate change. That makes as much sense as my making a case for the sun rising and setting. The issue never has been whether the climate is changing or whether we are in a cycle of warming climate change. The issue is whether or not man is causing it and has the ability to control the climate. I have yet to see a five-day weather forecast that was accurate. I doubt we can predict the next 30 years accurately. Given that there is plenty of evidence that the climate has changed many times in history, even before our current oil-fueled technologies existed, it isn't plausible that man can effect a tremendous degree of change in the climate. Yes, we must be good stewards of our environment. We should plan for adaptation to climate change. And we should explore alternative energies for the future. But if we tank our economy and expose ourselves to our enemies in the world in the near future, climate change will be meaningless to us as a nation. Wake up and be reasonable.

Tree problems

THIS IS to Cape Girardeau's tree board. I see the south side has been hit again with high winds. Trees are down everywhere. If the tree board would do something about the dead trees down through here, it would save the city's taxpayers a lot of money. The trees are rotten. Half the trees are dead.

Exceptional neighbors

WE HAVE heard so much about young people who don't care. Sunday our young neighbors, Will and Beth, came to the rescue of their elderly neighbors, sawing and stacking trees and debris that had fallen in their yard and crashed on the fence. They are exceptional young people who need to be commended. Our heartfelt thanks to you.

Storm cleanup

THE CITY needs a foreman to go around with the crews picking up limbs. The crew that came to our neighborhood didn't even have a rake. The workers were kicking the small stuff around. All of my neighbors and I had to rake up the small limbs again and get rid of them ourselves. That is for the birds.

Still waiting

THE STORM moved through 30 hours ago. We are still without power. Most power in our neighborhood was restored after 12 hours. The utility crews could not figure out the problem for a small pocket of six houses on our street. So the crew moved on. Now we are the lowest priority. We are frustrated and helpless. While our neighbors enjoy the comfort of electricity, we are at the mercy of incompetence. Nobody cares or wants to take responsibility. We would understand if this would have been a major disaster, but it was not.