Speak Out A 09/14/03

Predictions come true

DAVID LIMBAUGH has done it again. He tries to discredit Democrats by saying they were wrong about everything regarding the war in Iraq. Democrats have been correct about everything. They predicted a quagmire. We have one. They predicted unstable foreign relations. We got it. As usual, Limbaugh cannot accept the fact that his president is failing miserably in the war, the economy and foreign relations.

Plenty for the rich

I JUST don't know if this country can take another four years of George Bush. What kind of deficits will we have? One thing is for sure: The rich people will always have plenty.

Distress signal

TO THE well-meaning individual who keeps turning my American flag magnet right side up: My American flag magnet flies upside down on purpose. Flying the flag upside down has long been viewed as a sign of distress. Our education system in this country is in shambles (just check the MAP scores), our politicians and judges are making a mockery of the Constitution and American citizens are apathetic and don't want to make waves even though taxes are higher than ever. I'd say we are in distress.

Parents: Get involved

I HAVE been reading about the recent MAP scores. All you seem to hear is negative comments about the teachers, administration and politicians. Maybe all these mad parents should focus some of this negative energy toward becoming more involved in what their child is and is not learning. Maybe then they wouldn't be so surprised when the overloaded teachers haven't raised the children to the expectations of these seemingly unaware parents.

Judging the judge

THIS IS to the person who is so concerned about Missouri Chief Justice Ronnie White being referred to as "Your Honor" because he had a child out of wedlock. Pat Robertson's first child was born out of wedlock. Do you have a hard time addressing him as "Reverend"? Judge not lest ye be judged.

University layoffs

I WONDER how many longtime, loyal employees of SEMO will be laid off because of the state budget crisis. President Ken Dobbins has said he will have to lay off tenured faculty members. These are the people who teach the students how to be successful in life. If Dobbins feels bad about laying people off, why did he accept such a huge contract this past summer? Why didn't he just accept the same raise he gave his employees? He obviously does not feel that bad about what he says he must do.

Too much generalization

REGARDING THE comments about MAP scores and the fact that low-income families are not supportive of schools: I take exception to that and am deeply offended. I am a single parent who is low-income. However, My child's education is the single most important thing in our home. You should never generalize about a group. Just because someone is poor does not mean education is not important.

Taxes won't be cut

RESIDENTS OF Jackson: Voting yes on the Proposition C rollback issue will not raise your taxes. However, it will prevent them from being lowered, as Proposition C intended.

Residency requirement

IT SEEMS to me the arguments in favor of a residency requirement for our municipal judge are good, sound arguments. The arguments would apply also to the residency requirement for our mayor. If Cape Girardeau were a very small town with a small number of qualified attorneys who could be a municipal judge, I could understand why a residency requirement would be a problem. Cape is not a small town, however, and it has many attorneys, as we all know. So, concern about not having enough qualified candidates can't be the reason the mayor and council are seeking to eliminate the residency requirement.