Speak Out A 07/01/02

Patches are in vain

SOMETIMES I have to wonder what the MoDOT crews think they are accomplishing by throwing some asphalt into the cracks on I-55. It does nothing more than come out the instant someone drives over it as well as throwing asphalt all over the vehicle. It is a very vain attempt to make it look like MoDOT is trying to fix the roads. I really hope that Proposition B has funding in it to resurface all the interstates in this state, because they are awful.

Don't forget source

THIS COUNTRY was founded on "in God we trust." God is the one who gives all of us the air we breath. Do not take this for granted.

New construction taxed

CAPE HAS $40 million to $80 million of new residential and commercial construction every year. The city taxes all that new construction in addition to the increased valuations that result from reassessment. Now the city wants a tax increase. Do you realize what the sales tax will be when you buy your next car?

Fee for grad students

THIS IS in response to the angry mother who was concerned about the added $250-a-semester charge for being in the nursing program. The $250 is for graduate students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Those who are beginning in nursing at the bachelor's level will not have to pay that fee.

No to Jackson taxes

I READ the article about Jackson needing a new high school. No more tax increase. They hit us every other year.

Paying for drugs

I WANT to tell the person who called Speak Out and gave the drug company line to please be truthful and quit changing the facts. We are paying for almost all of the drug research in this country. The companies turn around and sell the drugs in countries like Canada at a much lower price. We pay for the research, and the Canadians get the benefits. Over 85 percent of the Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the United States, and they pay 45 percent less of the Canada's GNP for medical care and live over a year longer than we do. Everybody should pay the same price for drugs. If anybody should get a lower price, it should be Americans because, as the old saying goes, "charity begins at home."

Playing in the street

ABOUT THE basketball on the streets: That's public property. It is off limits to even step in the middle of the street. It should be against the law to play basketball there.

Trying to pass

DRIVING THE interstate in the daytime, I blinked my lights at a motorists who was traveling slowly in the left lane. When I passed, he let me know that I was impolite. This is a polite way to let someone know that you want to pass. Blinking your headlights is a perfectly acceptable and courteous gesture. It should be recognized as such.

It's not a business

THE LATE U.S. senator, Barry Goldwater, said he originally went to Washington to run government like a business because he was a successful businessman. But he said it didn't take him long to figure out you can't run government like a business. Now, the question is, when are these other politicians going to figure out you can't run government like a business?

Room for arts and sports

I SUSPECT it's the art people who criticize the sports at SEMO. I think there's room for arts and sports. I don't think you have to win the football games to have a football team. And certainly if you can afford the money to fix up the River Campus and make it useful as an arts center, then surely there's enough money to build a new baseball diamond for the baseball team. In fact, it would seem to me that would cost a whole lot less money. There's room for all at SEMO so stop bickering about what's important, the arts or sports.

Keeping our word

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS ago, I joined the Army. I volunteered. We had a war going on in Vietnam and a few other places in the world. I was promised that I would always be able to have medical attention when I needed it. If there was anything wrong, I would be able to draw on veterans' benefits and things like that. If I was lied to then, how are our boys being lied to now who are fighting in this war in Afghanistan? What are we going to do when they come home? Are we going to say we don't want them and we can't afford their benefits anymore? Some of them will come home disabled. We're going to deny them the right to treatment because whoever is responsible has decided we can't afford to take care of our own. Yet we send millions of dollars overseas.

Bring some jobs

I'M CALLING about Cape's new mayor. I wish he'd get some business in here so the common person would have a factory to go to and make a living.

Firefighting advice

ALL THIS talk about the fires out West is enough to infuriate an intelligent person. They're worried whether the fire might jump a highway. If they think it's going to, why in the world don't they start a backfire at the highway and burn backwards so they'll prevent it jumping the highway? That doesn't take a genius to figure out.

Huge utility bill

I WAS just wondering how a two-room apartment could have higher utilities than a two-story house and if anybody else has gotten a huge utility bill?

A campaign ploy

The letters TO THE EDITOR AND SPEAK OUT COMMENTS ABOUT SEN. JEAN CARNAHAN'S POSITION ON THE ESTATE TAX MISSED THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE DEBATE. THE DEMOCRATS OFFERED TO ELIMINATE THE ESTATE TAX FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FARMERS AND INDIVIDUALS UP TO AN ESTATE OF $10 MILLION. THE READERS OF THE MISSOURIAN NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THIS ENTIRE ISSUE IS NOTHING BUT A CAMPAIGN WEDGE EVENT.

Firing sick workers

Missouri wants ITS VETERANS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. GREAT. BUT WHAT ABOUT STATE EMPLOYEES? THE STATE IS TERMINATING WORKERS' JOBS WHILE THE WORKERS ARE UNDER DOCTORS' CARE. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO COMPASSION FOR THE INJURED OR THE ILL? LET'S GIVE THE INJURED AND THE ILL EMPLOYEES ONE MORE THING TO WORRY ABOUT: THEIR JOBS. NO ONE HAS CONTROL OVER SICKNESS OR INJURY.

Partisan politics

I WANT to comment about the recent ruling of the 9th District Appeals Court in San Francisco that you can't say the Pledge of Allegiance because it says "under God." These guys are very liberal. They're Democrats and they're Clinton appointees. Could you imagine if Gore had got in the White House? Every Supreme Court justice he appointed would be one of these types, and they would throw God out of the United States. That's why in the next election we need to put a solid Republican Senate and House in. If you're Christian, you better think about that, because it does make a difference who you vote for.

Clean up the mess

I LIVE in Jackson where people come along with their dogs and leave a mess behind. Why can't they take a bag and scoop it up and take it home with them? Other places make dog owners do that. Why can't we do it?

Lots of aid available

THIS IS in reply to the parent who was complaining about the SEMO tuition increases and said her daughter didn't know how she was going to be able to afford the nursing program. If your daughter or any student studies hard and does what she's supposed to do, there are all kinds of scholarships in nursing that you can get. Some are national. Some are local. Some are tuition reimbursement offered through the local hospitals. You can go through nursing school after the first year or so without paying a dime out of pocket or at least getting reimbursement back. I know because I did it several years ago.