Speak Out 9/9/08

Getting addicted

WE DO not need more social and educational programs, or any programs for that matter. When this stuff is handed out like Kool-Aid from Jim Jones, people become dependent on the government to take care of every aspect of their lives. This leads to irresponsibility and lack of drive. This is exactly what the Democrats want: people to get so dependent on them and their programs that they will have no choice but to vote for them. Success lies with those who earn it, not those who drink the Kool-Aid.

County roads

FOR TWO years we have heard about the inadequacies of the Cape Girardeau County road-improvement projects. Many of us hoped that the new sales tax and the road advisory committee would be stepping stones to better roads, even though the county commission decides whether they will or won't follow the committee's recommendations. Now the advisory commission is expressing its disappointment as once again the county highway department shows it is not up to the job at hand. By now I am sure that a million dollars or more has been raised by taxes to fund these improvements that continue at an ever slower pace. It is time for people to realize that the one thing that has not changed is management. Until there is a management change, there will be no improvement. The only other choice is to do like the guy on County Road 316 and do most of the prep work yourself. If you want it bad enough, you will do it. One's own resolve is the only thing you can depend on. If you don't have the resolve to make the changes or do the work, you need to quit complaining about the roads.

Childish behavior

MAYOR JAY Knudtson is showing how childish and petty he can be. An adult elected and hired by the taxpayers to represent the people of Cape Girardeau would put aside his petty childish feelings and work with the elected commissioner for the good of his constituents. "I won't speak to you because I don't like you" is the action of a 2-year-old. I have out-of-town relatives who read the Missourian and e-mail me how funny, pathetic and entertaining these elected children are.

Exposing the network

I CAN'T figure out who Commissioner Jay Purcell's opponent is. One week I thought it was Morley Swingle. Another week I thought it was Gerald Jones. Now I think Mayor Jay Knudtson is running against him. It really doesn't matter. Purcell won my vote once he started exposing the good-old-boy network.

Fun with politics

IT SEEMS that Republicans are signing on to this theme of change. But wait a second. Why would we need to change anything? The Republicans have had our presidency for eight years now, and until the last election they even had a majority of Congress. So why would we possibly need to change anything? Oh, perhaps they are now willing to accept that perhaps the Republican government has done something wrong. And how about taxes? Who out there believes that your taxes are too low or just right? Everyone, every day, everywhere complains about taxes. But wait, theoretically they should be low, since we have had a Republican president for eight years. Has President Bush lowered our taxes down to where everyone wants them? Of course not. Did he promise to? Of course he did. Politics, what fun.

Digging up dirt

REPUBLICANS accurately legitimized the National Enquirer when the scandal sheet uncovered the truth about John Edwards' sordid affair. However, now that the magazine has dug up substantial dirt on Sarah Palin the silence of the GOP is either deafening or the party hypocritically dismisses the National Enquirer as of no substantive value.

Reason for support

GERALD JONES admitted that he likes to have one-on-one meetings without public scrutiny. Now the mayor of Cape Girardeau admitted that he likes to meet with Jones privately. I can't vote for the mayor of Cape Girardeau, but I can vote for Jay Purcell. As the popular saying goes, "Have you had enough?" We need real change that breaks up the good-old-boy network.

Point well taken

THANK YOU, David Limbaugh. We get it. Democratic women's-rights advocates ordinarily say women can do it all but oppose Sarah Palin. Conservative Republican women claim it is best to have stay-at-home moms but support Sarah Palin. As you said, Mr. Limbaugh, it is rank hypocrisy. Your even-handed point is well taken.

Crony capitalism

THE FEDERAL government takeover of Fannie May and Freddie Mac illustrates again the abject failure of the Bush administration. Will taxpayers end up subsidizing speculators who invested in these mortgage giants, deregulated by the Republicans? Of course they will. This is crony capitalism at its worst. Can our economy stand four more years of government by Republican lobbyists? No way.

More unemployment

BASED ON an anecdotal comment by a Speak Out caller, I am somewhat reluctant to believe in his proposition that times are good. I base that observation in large part on the fact that, according to the latest report, thousands of more jobs have been lost and the unemployment rate is at an all-time high.

Sex education

ANOTHER THING that vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is against, besides abortion, is teaching of any kind of sex education in schools, including abstinence. Now her own unmarried, 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. But I am sure the two are not related.

Greatest country

IT'S FUN to read the comments about politics. The vast majority of American citizens are middle-of-the-road, hard-working, ordinary people who want to better their lives. They want nothing more than the opportunity for their children to have a better life. We live in the greatest country in the world where living conditions have never been better, but the radical extremists in both major parties want you to believe that the sky is falling and the country is going to hell in a handbasket. Nothing could be further from the truth.