Speak Out 9/23/09

Billions, trillions

MOST people are missing the real reason for the march on Washington by Middle America. It's our $12 trillion national debt, the future costs of health care and the trillions already committed in stimulus and TARP money. Democrats screamed daily about the spending of $2 billion a week during the height of the Iraq war. However, they had no problem presenting a $1 trillion stimulus bill to Congress. Our country once complained about spending in the millions, but we gradually began accepting the words "billion" and "trillion." Put it in perspective. If you had to wait a million seconds to see a medical specialist, you would wait 12 days. If it took a trillion seconds, you wouldn't see the doctor for 31,688 years. Now you can see what our children and grandchildren are facing.

Political reading

IF you really want to understand what's going on in American politics today, I recommend you read an Internet-posted essay by long-deceased historian Richard Hofstadter. The title is "The Paranoid Style in American Politics."

Money found at fair

I hope the person who lost some money at the fair Friday night got it back. It was turned in to four women the security guard pointed me to after I told him I found the money on the ground.

Smooth asphalt

THE city got it right on Mount Auburn Road. The new asphalt is smooth and quiet. The Missouri Department of Transportation got it all wrong on William Street. The asphalt is loud and rough. Good job, city. MoDOT, you wasted my tax dollars.

Taxpayer subsidies

I favor a taxpayer subsidy for the Tour of Missouri just as I favor taxpayer subsidies for all kinds of things that are needed in this country, including the federal government's bailout programs.

Fair crowing

TO everyone who participated in the rooster-crowing contest at the SEMO District Fair on Saturday: Good job.

Constitutional right

I'M starting a national petition drive to put the right to health care in our U.S. Constitution. Will you sign?

Good column

REGARDING "Appreciating God's garden," by Paul Schnare: He writes a good column. I want to say thank you, Paul. Keep it up.

No drop in fat

GUESS how many states had obesity rates that declined last year? Zero.

Public option

IN a recent column, Michael Jensen wrote, "As of today, there is not strong support" for a massive overhaul of health care. I'd like to know who his sources are. The majority of people not only want the public option, but they would also like a single-care health system like the other top world powers. His sources must be the same out-of-touch pundits like George Will and others on the extreme right.

Wasting water

AT 1:33 a.m. I am going home from work on Broadway. Once again the university is watering the road. It's been like this the past three years. I am from Dallas, and I don't understand. Watering the road is a gross waste of water.

Parade bands

I attended the SEMO District Fair parade. It was wonderful. All the bands were so good. I applaud the smaller bands that were proud to be in the parade.

Write it down

IF the president has a health care plan that's not going to cost any more money, is not going to increase the deficit and will insure everybody, it's time he wrote it down and showed it to us. Let's see the plan.

Not better

I hate to see Cape Girardeau go the garbage system that uses robotics. If you stuff your can full, the robotic arm can't shake everything free. If you want to put out a few extra boxes, the robotic arm isn't going to be able to pick it up. This is the end of customer service as we know it. Any time a machine takes over for two or three good men, it's not a better system.

Special column

PAUL Schnare's columns are always informative and interesting to read, but the most recent was absolutely special. I hope everyone reads it. It was truly my message for the day. Thanks, Paul.

Let's move on

It's time to move on from Sept. 11. We all know what happened. It was a dark page in our history. I don't find it necessary for businesses to put their flags at half staff. There's a point when you get on with things, and the time is now. There has been time for healing and moving forward.

Health fraud

WITH all the uproar about the government health program we should have, everybody should read the article "Bad medicine" in this month's Reader's Digest. It tells how patients and these doctors and clinics scam the government out of millions and millions of dollars in Medicare fraud. If the government would clean up Medicare, and if it had done it earlier, we would have one of the best plans there is. I have had Medicare for a long time, and I'll always appreciate it so much.