Speak Out A 03/24/02

Will of the elected

WHEN IT comes to the campaign-finance reform bill President Bush will sign into law, do not expect the Southeast Missourian to say that, if this issue ends up before the Supreme Court, that body should in good conservative fashion defer to the will of the people as expressed in the legislative and executive branches.

Biting the wallet

I DO believe that the Cape Girardeau Police Department is more interested in taking a bite out of my hard-earned money than actually taking a bite of crime. Shame on the department. It doesn't look good for them, and it doesn't look good for the city.

Courting Arabs

I INTERPRETED David Limbaugh's recent diatribe as a call for a virtual sellout of Israel in order to gain more support from Arab nations and, therefore, considered the content both despicable and realistic.

Power versus power

ALL POWER to the nurses for considering unionizing at a local hospital. Talk about a group of overworked, underpaid and understaffed professional group disrespected by some docs with a god complex. As the hospital bulls ahead with a seemingly endless building boom, these beleaguered caregivers realize the only way to battle for their basic rights is to fight power with power.

Less tax, more money

DID YOU know that people move to states with low taxes? Nine states do not have a general income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. The combined population in these states grew from 43.7 million in 1990 to 53.5 million in 2000, or a 22 percent increase. The other 41 states grew by 11 percent in the same period. These states have more to spend because people move to low tax rates and then end up paying other taxes like sales tax. Missouri could collect more taxes in the long run by lowering tax rates.

Union expense

HERE'S A tidbit on the union. When I was a member, all they did was take my hard-earned money. I didn't get the backing they said they would give.