Speak Out A 06/01/04

Private advertising

THERE ARE many billboards promoting Cape Girardeau businesses between Cape and St. Louis. They advertise private businesses that are doing the billboard promotion. What's wrong with that?

Redneck generalizations

BEING CONSERVATIVE doesn't make you a backward redneck. I consider myself pretty conservative along with being highly educated, well-rounded in current events and classy. Before pointing fingers at the mayor for making generalizations about the conservative populations in Cape, point the finger at yourself for making generalizations about all conservatives.

Admission of error

I AM willing to admit I was conned by a group of neoconservatives into supporting the war in Iraq for what turned out to be wrong and unachievable reasons. I ask the rest of you who were also tricked to follow my example.

Pay them more

WE SHOULD pay our police officers more money. The officers have a dangerous job. Let's face it, they don't know if they're going to return home or not every day when they go out. Why should they have so much responsibility for being paid so little? Either pay them or we're going to be a training ground for the automobile or aircraft industries.

Grads go to military

THE JACKSON High School graduation was a beautiful ceremony where they announced the top 10 percent of the class, scholarships and the school board and faculty members who are retiring. But they didn't take five minutes to announce the names of the young men and women who had joined the armed services. These young men and women are making a big sacrifice. They are going off, leaving their homes and families, to protect our country and our way of life. I want to say thank you, I'm proud of you and Godspeed.

Proud redneck

IF A belief in God, private property rights, marriage between a man and a woman, politeness, respect for women and a clean mind and mouth make me a redneck conservative, then I am a redneck conservative and proud of it.

Exploit U.S. corn

IF THE Saudis want to exploit our oil, we should exploit our corn. Oil prices rise. We fight to free a country that doesn't want to be freed. Why don't we come home and let them eat their oil while we eat or corn?

Lanes need attention

WHILE HEADING south in the Mount Auburn Road-Independence Street intersection the other day, there was a large dump truck in the inner lane. I noticed the truck came two feet over into the right lane ahead of me because there is a dangerous shift to the narrow lanes. When is the city going to correct this mistake before someone is killed or maimed?