Speak Out A 01/24/02

Breaking up the parties

THE ENRON scandal does not transcend political parties. It permeates the two major ones through and through and will provide the basis for the transformation from a predominately two-party to a multi-party system.

Measuring legislators

I HAVE long felt that most people who take the time to read the newspaper also take the time to get involved in civic affairs, especially when the time to vote arrives. Therefore, most of the time when I read Jack Stapleton's column, I feel like he is preaching to the choir. The people who ought to be reading his admonitions are not reading them. However, his recent column, "$40 million for what?" was tailor-made for the civic-minded reader. Stapleton is well-qualified to point out the errors and nuances of our elected officials and the bureaucracy in Jefferson City. He listed five issues by which we can judge our local legislators, but it is up to us to hold the politicians accountable and elect only those who will do the job properly.

It's not the money ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU school superintendent Dr. Dan Steska said if it wasn't for his ability to receive full retirement benefits from the Missouri Public School Retirement System while at the same time getting compensated for taking a position in another state, then he would have been happy to stay in Cape. How politically incorrect of him. He knows better than that. He is supposed to say education is a calling and that no one is in it for the money.

Exercise vs. pollution

TO A recent contributor to Speak Out who complained about having to commute 30 minutes to the university, then walk for another 10 minutes to get to a class: Surely you are not complaining about walking. Walking is good for you. It is great cardiovascular exercise. Walking for 10 minutes won't kill you. In fact, it could actually prolong your life. However, that 30-minute commute is a problem. Every vehicle on the road means more pollution, depletion of non-renewable fossil fuels, and an increased likelihood of traffic accidents.

Thank you, teachers

I AM a student at Notre Dame Regional High School. I just wanted to say thank you to all the wonderful teachers here. We should all say thank you to our teachers once in a while.

Time for answers

NOW IS the time to hear the outcry about the Enron scandal. We had to listen for years about the so-called immorality of President Clinton for his encounter with Monica Lewinsky. Now it is time to hear about the evil behind Enron and its ties to the highest offices of the country. It is obvious that Enron received special treatment and favors from the president and vice president, and this affected more Americans than the Clinton sex scandal ever could have. The Lewinsky incident affected only Clinton and his family. The Enron scandal, which benefited from its ties in our own government, affected thousands upon thousands of average Americans. Now is the time to join together, working families, and bring the outcry forth. Now is the time for answers to the atrocity.

Student finances

A RECENT comment suggested recent college graduates are unwilling to delay gratification. Unfortunately, the comment oversimplifies the underlying problem and misses the point. College costs have skyrocketed and far outpaced inflation and salaries without any reasonable or rational explanation from the schools. Students are forced to incur enormous debt simply to attend college. As a recent graduate, I can assure you that most of us are more concerned with paying our current expenses like groceries, rent and student loans rather than driving a luxury car or taking overseas vacations. Many of us were dissuaded from public-service professions such as teaching because it is simply not an economically rational option anymore.