Speak Out A 01/31/03

Pay fair share

I AM not against paying taxes. I just think everyone should pay their fair share.

Marijuana proposal

THE MARIJUANA question on the ballot in Columbia, Mo., was proposed by students from the law school in conjunction with local lawyers and does not represent the legalization of marijuana. In addition to protecting those who use marijuana medicinally, the proposal's main goal is keeping students out of state court (and freeing up court time and money for serious offenders) and subsequently keeping those in possession of 30 grams or less from losing their federal financial aid. Currently, students arrested for a DWI or even assault could keep receiving federal aid towards higher education, but those in possession of small amounts of marijuana will forfeit their aid. It will still be illegal to sell marijuana, as well as possession without a medical reason, and most likely "medical reasons" will be determined case-by-case in court. Your editorial comments on marijuana as a gateway drug, but please set the record straight that this proposal means to lessen the punishment given to adults in possession of very small amounts of the drug or those using the drug to benefit their living condition.

Dirty inspiration

I THINK they were the inspiration for the international best selling song, "Dirty Old Town." Thus, I beg you not to clean the streets of Cape.

Absentee illnesses

TO THE parent who says the reason the kids are getting so sick is because they're going back to school sick and not staying home: In some cases, there's a reason for that. Both of my kids had the flu and missed several days. I sent them back as soon as they had been fever free for 24 hours. The Cape Girardeau School District, especially the high school, is so absolutely ridiculous about the attendance policy. Students are allowed to miss five days a semester. After that they don't get credit unless you go to an appeals committee. Besides that, students are not excused for illness unless you have taken them to the doctor. It's a vicious circle. We've got a school district that has created this problem and continues to blame it on everyone else.

Voting for tax relief

PRESIDENT BUSH wants to give everyone tax relief, but governors want to raise our taxes. The only way the voters can keep their tax relief is to vote no at the ballot box to any tax increases.

Opposition faction

THERE'S A faction in our country and in Congress that contradicts and opposes everything our president says or does. If President Bush hadn't responded to the Sept. 11 attacks, this faction would be screaming for action. President Bush has taken action and they, and this faction is screaming that we are being led like lambs.

Not like MAP tests

WE WHO have kids at Central High School recently got a letter from the principal, Dr. Mike Cowan, explaining the new CAP exams that the students are going to be taking. This is Central's version of MAP exams. My daughter took her language arts CAP exams, and I was amazed to find out that her test consisted of multiple-choice and short-answer questions and an essay about the short stories and students have read all semester, some as long ago as August. This is not what the MAP tests are supposed to test. MAP tests measure competency and skills. If the school is going to stress these exams, the tests need to, in fact, mirror MAP exams.

Nation of minorities

A SPEAK Out caller remarked Hispanics are the largest minority in America, but where are their leaders? Maybe they are in Washington, having been elected by all races and all cultures. We're a country of minorities. The ballot box should be the law and conscience of our country, not a few self-appointed hypocrites bleeding their race for their own advantage under the guise of civil rights.

Time for judgment

REGARDING Jack Stapleton's column: It's about time our government had a transformation after the largest spending spree in history. It's the politicians' job to use discretion and good judgment to balance the budget, not go hog wild and then moan that the state's budget is $1 billion short.

Hispanic work ethic

REGARDING THE comment about the lack of Hispanic leaders: I think that can be explained very simply. Hispanics have chosen to work instead of complaining. They go out and earn their living.

Wrong person?

BONFIRES HAVE been going on since the days of our parents and their parents. Does the person who caused the explosion care that friends were put in the position of telling or that the wrong person might be blamed?

Florida recount

SPEAKING OF Florida, I was surprised that someone in the home state of the Super Bowl winner -- even though it appeared to be a blowout -- hasn't called for the score to be recounted.