Speak Out A 09/06/01

Clearheaded analysis

AL SPRADLING is arguably the best mayor Cape Girardeau has ever had. One of his many strengths is his level-headed and even-tempered approach to any and all problems facing our proud community. Though his guest column criticizing the Southeast Missourian generally and editor Joe Sullivan specifically concerning their ongoing criticism of the process of street repairs may have at first glance seemed an uncharacteristic verbal temper tantrum on his behalf, upon further reflection it becomes apparent that it was not. Indeed, it was an objective, clearheaded analysis of the interaction between the community and the community newspaper and came to the correct implicit conclusion that any and all complaints about things in Cape Girardeau, petty or otherwise, are directly the result of continual agitation by local columnists, editorialists and opinion shapers at the Southeast Missourian, excluding only the honorable forum known as Speak Out.

Gump was right

WALTER WILLIAMS' column on silly environmentalism was great. It's about time we hear from someone giving us the truth on those subjects instead of hot air. They ought to make Forrest Gump the symbol of those wacky environmental groups. Stupid is as stupid does.

Buy frivolously

PLEASE USE your tax rebate to buy something frivolous and not pay off existing debt. That wasn't the idea.

Less jet, more car

I'M GLAD to see that Gov. Bob Holden has promised to cut back on his use of the state's jet and that he will be riding in a car more often. It's about time he faced up to this misuse of state funds.

May get worse

GOVERNMENT MUST tap Social Security for $9 billion. What do you old people think now about voting for Bush? And it may get worse.

Tinted windows

YES, I'D like to speak out about car inspections. When I got my car inspected and failed because of my tinted windows, I told them I had a special form. The inspector told me that as of Aug. 28 that form was no longer in effect and that my car was illegal. I spoke to the representative who sponsored the bill, state Rep. Carson Ross of Blue Springs, Mo. Ross stated that the bill was supposed to grandfather in vehicles that already had tinted windows. He would like to put this on the special session agenda and fix the problem. He asked Gov. Bob Holden to put this issue on the agenda, and Holden has refused. If you have tinted windows, call Holden's office at 573-751-3222 and ask him to put this issue on the special session's agenda.

More on tipping

I'VE BEEN a waitress for 20 years in Cape. Yes, we do have the lowest tippers. Tips are 75 percent of our wages. What's more frustrating is watching someone you work with get bad service and leave the same tip they leave you. If you get bad service or something is wrong, you should tell a manager. Don't tip people who give you bad service the same as those who give good service.

Volunteer firefighters

TO CALLER complaining about the Scott City Fire Department: I would like to remind the caller that the fire department and those who fight fires are volunteers and give their free time and risk their lives keeping the people of Scott City safe. Maybe the caller should think about that the next time before making a comment.

Too much sports

I HOPE you can take some criticism, but did you realize that old people are not sports nuts? Thursday's paper had four pages of nothing but sports. Even on the front page you mention sports. The schools have good students and there are a lot of good and wonderful things that could be published. Please consider making a change.

Covering the story

THIS IS to the Speak Out caller who attacked the news media for what he considers excessive coverage of the Chandra Levy case. I hope that if anyone in his family appears to meet with foul play that the media respects his wishes and doesn't give it any coverage.

20% is too much

When tips reach 20 percent, that's bamboozling the public. It's almost like our government demanding high taxes. Sometimes people have to say no. I can see 10 to 15 percent, but please don't con me out of my money that I work to get.

Tipping for service

WE USUALLY tip except when we have been ignored until we are about finished with our meal and we have to try to get refills on drinks by hunting down someone other than the person supposed to wait on us. Then we don't tip.

Straw-man technique

"FUTURE EFFORTS to aid those in need should never succumb to the idea that unlimited federal and state aid is better than education, training and employment." Since we as a nation never have and never would support that idea, a Southeast Missourian editorialist stands convicted of crass, cynical and shameless usage of the straw-man technique.

Stirring up sales

DON'T TAKE this unjustified verbal abuse lying down, Mayor Spradling. Write another fire-and-brimstone broadside pointing out that Southeast Missourian hype about street conditions has everything to do with stirring up controversy and selling newspapers and nothing to do with constructively serving community interests.

History lesson

REGARDING THE comment about reparations for families of Union soldiers: While slavery was a component of the Civil War, it was not the cause of the war. The war was fought over political disagreements and states' rights. The slavery issue was used to rally the troops. To ask for blacks to pay reparations for their freedom is quite pretentious.