Speak Out 9/24/09

Trash suggestions

I was at the senior center last week and saw the new garbage truck. Several questions came to mind. It would work well on level ground and calm days. Since Cape Girardeau has numerous hills, I wonder what will happen to the garbage cans on a windy day. Will the cans fall over and roll down the street? Instead of buying new trucks at an enormous price, I suggest the city buy special plastic bags and sell them to the public. The more bags you use, the more you pay. The less you use, the less you pay. This system worked well where I lived before I moved to Cape Girardeau and would be a lot less money to do the job.

Poor decision

REGARDING the city's plans for trash collection: Using large bins is a poor decision. I am a widow living alone. I usually take my 35-gallon container to the curb every other week. I am avid recycler and have no problem with separate containers. Even though they have wheels and I am not incapacitated, I can't imagine wrestling those large containers down a long driveway to the curb. I have no room for them in my garage. Where are those who have no garage supposed to keep them? If they are kept outside, they will collect water, debris and heaven knows what else. It's time the city discards this idea and comes up with a better one or leave things as they are.

Foolish spending

REGARDING the Mount Auburn Road project: I want to voice my disbelief that the city engineering staff would recommend spending money on new sidewalks and curbing on each side of Mount Auburn when it needs a turn lane. Why in the world are we spending taxpayer money so foolishly to put in sidewalks nobody will ever use? And if they do use them, they have to dodge mailboxes. The city ought to have its head examined for spending the taxpayers' money this way.

More regulation

I understand that the GOP is concerned about big-government regulation of industrial practices. Do you not want to pay a few more dollars in taxes to assure your food is safe to eat? We need the FDA. Pharmaceutical companies could police themselves. What about your workplace? Do you want to be exposed to harmful chemicals or unsafe procedures? We need OSHA. We all want a strong military. I abhor polluting the environment. I would like to see the EPA strengthened. What about the management of our land and waters and natural resources as well as parks and soil? Do you really want anything goes? Educated forethought and deliberate, precise intervention is absolutely essential to lubricate the economic engine provided by these.

No green light

I sure wish the Jackson street department would change the light at the intersection of the Branding Iron and Jackson Tire. I sat there Sunday afternoon and watched the light change five times in every direction, and I never got a green left-turn light. This encourages motorists to run stop lights. This has been an ongoing problem. I can't believe the city hasn't dealt with it before.

Presidential thanks

I go to bed every night thanking God that we have a president in the White House who is smart, well-liked and engaged with the issues.

Free resources

I can go to the library and use its books to learn, read its newspapers and use its computers to air my views for free. I may be poor, but I'm far from stupid.

Not a word

GARY Rust has a reputation for keeping an eye on the federal government for the purpose of encouraging cost containment. For example, Mr. Rust is openly but mistakenly railing about the cost of much-needed health care reform. However, when the trillions were piling up for the needless war in Iraq, the critical words emanating from the published rhetoric of Mr. Rust are best described by reference to a Simon and Garfunkel classic: "Sounds of Silence."

Fair carnival

I enjoyed the SEMO District Fair this year. I loved the juggler. I liked everything about the fair except the carnival, which was disappointing. I hope the fair people will get a better carnival next year.

Bin is too big

I'M calling pertaining the proposed garbage trucks with automatic arms. I'm 84 years old, I live on a steep hill. There's no way I could get that big trash bin down to the blacktop for pickup.

Animal care

PLEASE do not get a dog if you have to keep it chained or keep it in a pen and have no time to spend with it. Owning a dog comes with many responsibilities like providing food, water, shelter, exercise, affection, trips to the vet for shots to keep it healthy and to be spayed or neutered. If you don't intend to do these basic things, don't get a dog, even if your child is begging for one. In the end, it's always the animal that suffers.