Speak Out A 03/12/03

Restoring faith

MY FAITH in Missouri's government can be restored in one fell swoop if legislators have the courage to close tax loopholes for corporations.

The facts speak

THE PERSON who said the economy under President Clinton was not good must be living in a world of his own. I have apartments for rent. They were never as empty as long as they have been now because parents can't afford to pay for housing for their children while they're at school. They had no problem before. Unemployment seems to be much higher than under the Clinton administration. I think the facts speak for themselves. I think Clinton did a wonderful job on the economy, and I think that's why his ratings were way up. President Bush would be in trouble if not for the terrorist attacks.

Lifesaving event

BRAVO TO the fully clothed young man who jumped into Central Junior High School pool to save the little girl who was drowning during swim lessons.

Vote on the TIF plan

I AM with John Heckrotte. I want to vote on the TIF plan.

Weight of waiting

In response to the article "Area professionals forecast sunnier economic skies": Your economics experts talked about the war so much that a clarification is needed. Scott Moyers starts his story talking about a war with Iraq as a "jaguar ready to pounce." In fact, John Mehner and the rest of the experts are right. Unless the war goes horribly wrong and drags on interminably, the beginning of the war will more likely mark the start of a recovery. It's the uncertainty of what's going to happen next that's caused the economy to drag. Once the war begins, finally that uncertainty will be gone. It would have been more accurate to describe the uncertainty of war as a weight holding down the economy rather than as a jaguar preparing to devour it.

Change age limit

Look at underage drinking statistics. Does it ever occur to anyone that just maybe the law should be changed to either lower the drinking age or raise the age on some other things? Look at all the things the legal system allows: At age 17 adolescents can leave home, and parents are unable to use the legal system to force them to return. Eighteen is old enough to vote. Eighteen is old enough to marry without a parent's signature. Eighteen is old enough to join the armed forces. It seems to me that if people are old enough to be on their own, vote, marry and serve in the military by the age of 18, they should be able to drink by then too. This would eliminate many of the bonfire parties which have taken place for decades. Changing the law would also lighten the burden on our court system.

The same God

Contrary to a Speak Out commentator, those of us who are inclusive in our thinking see no distinction between Allah and Christianity's Supreme Being. We all pray to the same God.