Speak Out A 05/25/03

A reason to laugh

PLEASE, HEIDI, keep on telling your jokes. I wouldn't have anything to talk about with my hair stylist if you didn't write your column. We just laugh and laugh and laugh at your life. Not that your life is funny. It's the way you talk about your life. Your life is really inspirational. Well, maybe not inspirational. But it's a good read. You are fantastic. Keep it up.

Ashamed of the governor

I AM ashamed to have a governor of Missouri like the one we have now. All he can do is use our tax dollars to fly around to veto everything he can. I think he needs to park it for a while and do what he was elected to do: Get money flowing through the state. I sure am glad I didn't vote for him.

Parking in Chaffee

LET'S CLEAR Elliott Street in Chaffee of parked cars and trucks for safety reasons. Please, residents, make arrangements to park your cars and trucks in the back yards via the alley.

Selective history

TO THE person who so objected to the Hitler film on CBS. Let me then suggest that all World War II efforts of Americans be banned because of the pain Hiroshima may cause our Asian citizens. And no more tapings of our current conflict with Iraq, because it may offend our Middle Eastern citizens. That's a funny thing about faux equality and selective history: Everybody is included, or no one is included.

Falling on deaf ears

WHY IS it every time I contact my U.S. representative or senators with my concerns it seems to fall on deaf ears? Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get my elected representatives to listen to my concerns?

Teachers need prep time

THIS IS in reply to the complaint of Jackson Middle School's eight-period day. I am a senior at SEMO majoring in education. The complaint was that classes are being shortened to 45 minutes. The classes are only 50 minutes to begin with. The writer complained that teachers are more concerned about getting two prep periods than educating our students. Most states require that teachers get 150 minutes of prep time every day. This is extremely valuable time. Anyone against this has obviously never taught school. Most teachers teach a variety of different classes in their subject emphasis. This time is needed to prepare for those classes. I'm not saying that I am for the eight-period day, but people need to do their research and educate themselves before voicing their complaints.

Still spending money

I SAW that Cape Girardeau is getting land to expand the police station and buying new vehicles for the fire department. How is it doing this if it doesn't have any money? This just shows the city is lying to the voters and taxpayers.

Get a price list

DO YOU realize that when you sign a consent form at your doctor's office or hospital you are basically handing the doctor or hospital a blank check, and they fill in the amount? The health-care industry is the only industry in America that is allowed to keep prices hidden until after the consumer purchases the product. Doctors and hospitals should be required to have a master list of what they charge for procedures, medicines and supplies that is available upon request by the patient. In a free-market society, the consumer sets the price, not the provider. A pay-as-you-go system is the best solution for the health-care crisis in this country. A doctor can only charge what the consumer is willing to pay.

Movies teach history

I AM proud of what CBS did in making a movie about Hitler. In today's world, making a movie seems to be the only way to get people to learn stuff. Remember, the only greater crime than what Hitler did is to forget it.

Friend of the privileged

THANK GOODNESS more and more Americans are beginning to see the Bush administration for what it really is: a friend of the corporate wealthy and the privileged few.

Abuse of center lane

THERE ARE a lot of people who believe the center lane on Kingshighway is an entry lane for people making a left turn onto Kingshighway. This is very dangerous. There is going to be a very bad wreck caused from this practice. Please stop doing this. I have almost been forced to run into the person next to me so many times.

Safety before luxury

THIS TOWN can't afford warning sirens that will save lives. Our fire department is trying to raise $15,000 to buy an infrared camera to save lives in a fire. We can't afford another police officer to help reduce crime, but we can spend $9 million in taxes to support an arts campus. How about putting the safety of the people here before luxury items?

Thanks for cleanup

ROUTE K looks terrific. Thanks to those who cleaned it up. Maybe we can keep it that way. We do have a beautiful city.

A wonderful job

I WANT to thank all of the people in Jackson's sanitation department for the wonderful job they did. We had normal trash pickup, cleanup materials, tornado debris and spring cleanup and fix-up week. It looked like an insurmountable task to me. With the way people have come forth to help during this disaster, it proves what wonderful people we have. Thanks to everyone.

Disgraceful actions

WE WILL not have a healthy economy as long as those radical leftist U.S. Senate Democrats keep blocking and stalling President Bush and impeding progress and recovery of our nation after the Sept. 11 attacks. They are not doing the country's business. They are only interested in countering President Bush. They are using spite because they are still enraged that they lost power. So they will obstruct the nation's progress in every way they can. They are a disgrace to America.

Other uses for money

I WONDER how long SEMO is going to continue to pay Dale Nitzschke. His salary could be spread around some of these unemployed who need money so bad.