Speak Out A 06/05/02

Moral, legal instruction

TO THE people who think it is better to let their minor kids drink under supervision: Does that mean they should also be allowed to use illegal drugs as long as they are in a supervised situation? Or how about when they want to experiment with sex? Underage drinking is still underage drinking and against the law. Maybe parents should put more emphasis on morals and legalities as well as the potential consequences for making certain decisions.

Still a conservative

PETER KINDER is a fiscal conservative. He is also a cultural conservative dedicated to preserving positive manifestations of Missouri's past. He had the foresight to recognize that keeping the Show Me state's St. Louis Cardinals was and is a culturally conservative imperative. In his effort, he abandoned neither of the twin pillars of fiscal and cultural conservatism, as a close examination of his proposal shows. He is consistent in his ongoing effort to put fiscal and cultural conservatism into practice, thus putting what is in the best interest of Missouri first.

Project similarities

IT AMAZES me, the similarities between the would-be TIF developers and the Cardinals ballpark project. In both cases, the developers have said, "Either give us the tax money we want, or we're not going to do the project." Borrowing a cliche, anytime somebody gives you the choice between do this or else, always choose else.

Jackson's trash bags

I DON'T know of any other town besides Jackson that has banned trash receptacles in favor of trash bags. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've never heard of it. Are other cities doing this? Please call in and let us know. Every Jackson resident who's unhappy about this should call city hall and let them know.

Accept responsibility

IN ORDER to appease a Speak Out caller who said Samuel F. Farrow was in need of psychological counseling rather than imprisonment for conviction of child molestation: Perhaps, while Farrow is in prison he could receive counseling from psychologists to help him realize that he must accept responsibility for his actions and see the justice inherent in societal retribution for his horrific crime.

Comparing columnists

WHEN DAVID Limbaugh recently criticized the public for being diverted into a discussion of who lost the World Trade Center and questioned the need to impanel a blue-ribbon commission to look into the matter, he might also have mentioned conservative columnist Mona Charen's concern that President Bush seems to be currently deviating from the dictum of Teddy Roosevelt by "speaking loudly and carrying a small stick."

Criticizing themselves

IT IS the Jason Crowells of the legislative crowd who forced the adoption of gambling as a means of raising revenue and now have the temerity to criticize what they have wrought.

Taking responsibility

I'D LIKE to comment on the "Trusting teen-agers" Speak Out comment. Being a teen-ager and knowing many kids whose parents buy them alcohol, I can just say this comment made me laugh. Promoting alcohol doesn't do a bit of good. Teens insist the only way to have fun is drink, and alcohol is readily available. Drinking leads to other drugs as well. So if I were a parent, I'd warn my kids and let them decide, promoting the right decision.

Let more seniors apply

UPON WHAT new Missouri program did the window for applying open and close faster than the proverbial speeding bullet, thus leaving only 15 percent of eligible seniors enrolled? The SenioRX Program was designed to give eligible seniors a break on obscenely priced prescription drugs. Lawmakers should reopen this window pronto or be prepared to have their political careers short circuited.

Change of heart

IT'S AMAZING how time heals all wounds. A year ago I loathed but now love the roundabout.

Hollow horse

CITY COUNCILMAN Matt Hopkins has apparently taken on the role of a Trojan horse for well-heeled land developers who want to fatten their already bulging coffers using tax bucks from the barely-getting-by.

He's been taken over

THE CONTENT of his letter to the editor seems to reveal that usually capable and competent Cape Councilman Matt Hopkins has been co-opted by upper-class, conspicuous consumers who are hoping Hopkins will help drown us in misleading details so we'll get on board for a tax perk for aspiring trillionaires.

Do it yourself

WHY IS the county commission wasting tax dollars? All it would have to do is spend the day at the juvenile center and actually look at the facilities to know the building is outdated. The commissioners have spent money on the new locking door system that helps somewhat, but if they had just started construction as proposed, they would not have had to use those funds. Now they are hiring an un-needed consultant to tell them what they could see for themselves if they would just open their eyes. It's a shame.

Consider the alternative

WE'D BETTER go along with the wealthy who want to use some of our tax money to build an elite enclave for area aristocrats. In my way of thinking, if we don't give them some of our tax money, they'll take it all.

Cut River Campus

One way SEMO could eliminate a lot of finance problems is to get rid of the River Campus. Who in the devil wants it, and who in the devil needs it?

Time for leadership

CAPE CITY Council, we did not elect you to follow us. We elected you to lead us. It is in that vein that I urge you to educate us and raise our taxes.