Speak Out A 06/20/02

Ashamed of bishops

THE BISHOPS and cardinals voted not to defrock the sex-perverted priests. There was no mention of the bishops who assigned these predators to other parishes to prey on our children. The Catholic church with such gutless leadership has nailed another coffin in the decent and faithful Catholic religion, citing compassion for whom? The victims? No. For the sick predators of our children. What a disgrace. As a Catholic, I am embarrassed and ashamed.

Gouging drug prices

I JUST saw on TV that the drug companies have been increasing the price of drugs used by senior citizens by about six times the rate they increase the price of the drugs used by the general population. The price increase on senior citizens' drugs was thought to be done by the drug companies in anticipation that there would be a drug benefit added to Medicare and the drug companies would benefit. It is a well-known fact that the price of drugs is much cheaper in Canada and many other countries. It is enough cheaper in Canada that many citizens in areas close enough to the border make a trip to Canada to get their drugs. Why should Congress allow these companies to gouge the U.S. citizens and sell at a much lower price in the rest of the world? The only true answer is that they are lackeys of the drug companies and don't have any guts or fairness.

Tribute to Andy Pratt

IN THE brief span of a week, Dr. Andrew Pratt will be drifting out of our lives to begin a new life of ministry. This community will barely notice his leaving, yet those who do will do so with sadness as he has enriched the lives of many through his 14 years of teaching. This is a debt that is difficult to repay and of which he expects nothing in return. He was just doing the job he was ordained to do. Pratt has made our world a much better place to live in.

Outright lies

I AM disappointed to read in Sunday's Missourian the outright lies that the paper is willing to engage in an attempt to unjustly smear Sen. Jean Carnahan. The Missourian writes that the death tax shouldn't be a taxable event for small businesses and family farms. The Democrats offered an amendment whereby they were willing to make small businesses and family farms exempt from the death tax. They also included in the amendment the capping of the death tax at $10 million for individual personal accounts. The Republican refused to allow even a vote on these two amendments knowing this would destroy the issue that they wanted to use as a weapon. In other words, all this really is unscrupulous Republicans looking for an issue to run on but are unwilling to tell the truth about the way the voting actually transpired.

Make it a priority

Our high school students and teachers need good streets when school opens, not later.