Speak Out B 01/18/02

Thanks for snow day

I WOULD like to commend the Cape Girardeau School District for canceling school Thursday when the snow started. It takes a lot to make that decision when the snow starts so late in the morning. Again, thanks for considering the welfare of our children. I appreciate the effort.

Overstepped authority

I COMMEND former Illinois Gov. George Ryan for pardoning the truly innocent defendants on death row. However, he should not be hailed as hero for his cowardly 11th-hour commutation of all of the capital sentences in Illinois. Police collected the evidence. Prosecutors analyzed the evidence. Judges and juries heard the evidence and imposed the sentence of death. Undoubtedly, appellate courts carefully reviewed the capital cases. Yet in one sweeping act he disregarded the hard work and good judgment of all of the above-mentioned people. Regardless of your view of the death penalty, he overstepped his bounds by completely ignoring the other two branches of government and the will of the people of Illinois. Ryan took a solemn oath to uphold the laws of Illinois, which included capital punishment. Regardless of his personal feelings, he was duty-bound to uphold his oath of office.

When to choose

CONTRARY TO the opinions of a previous Speak Out caller, abortion is never the best choice for the child. A woman has the right to choose what she does with her body. She should do so before she has sex.

Two-trick pony

PRESIDENT BUSH is a real two-trick pony. For foreign relations problems, the answer is always threaten military action. For every domestic problem, there's only one answer: lower taxes for the wealthy.

More drug treatment

IN RESPONSE to the caller who suggested that we bring down the drug dealers: Since all of our efforts before have failed, how about using some of those billions for drug treatment and education instead of sending minor offenders to prison, where they become products of the system?

Health care for all

I HAVE a suggestion for a new constitutional amendment. How about a guaranteed health-care plan to cover all Americans, even the unborn? After all, no one should have to suffer or die needlessly.

Lack of school support

THE REPORT on schools was illuminating. It's pretty clear that a big problem in this area is a lack of public support for schools. Schools in the area are way below Missouri in terms of both teacher salaries and expenses per student. Local citizens and political leaders should be ashamed of the low value this area places on education.

Surplus is gone

TAX REFUNDS yesterday and higher taxes today. Am I missing something here? It did not take long to take care of that national surplus, did it? This administration is without doubt the very worst.

Wagging the dog

GOV. GEORGE Ryan did not clear death row because he is pro-life or against the death penalty. He did this to avert attention from his own problems and to create something positive out of a tarnished political career. This is another example of a politician wagging the dog.

A real mystery

SOMEONE PLEASE tell me why the Republicans have all the answers to every problem when they are out of office but have no answers to any problem when they are in office. This is the mystery of mysteries to me.

Dangerous driving

SENIOR CITIZENS may not be in many accidents, but perhaps they should look in the rearview mirror and see the ones they cause. I almost rear-ended a car driven by an elderly woman today. I was obeying the law, passing in the left lane on Interstate 55 at 70 mph. I was not expecting anyone to be in the left lane doing 40 mph, but there she was. After passing her, I kept watch, and she never moved. This type of driving is far more dangerous than someone going over the speed limit on the interstate.

Price of freedom

THE ONE sure way to stop a lot of the discipline problems, low test scores, dropout rate and other not-so-nice things that are going on in our schools: start the draft. During the Vietnam War college attendance went up, students stayed in school and grades had to be maintained. Many of our teachers are from that period. And they are probably the same parents who are trying to find ways out of military service for their children. They are teaching them that only the poor, uneducated and socially handicapped people need to risk their lives, not the so-called educated elite. If you don't want to make the sacrifice, don't expect to stay free very long. Freedom is not free.

Jackson's needs

I READ your editorial about Jackson being on the move. Jackson is standing still on two or three things that are badly needed. We need a sewer system that really works, and quit raising our sewer every month. We need more policemen. Look at vandalism and destruction going on in Jackson and people who don't even call. There's loads of malicious vandalism going on in Jackson. The police don't have enough men to take care of it.

Inconsistent positions

AMERICA'S MILITARY is an enlisted voluntary force. A New York Democratic congressman who is opposed to military action in Iraq wants to reinstate the military draft, claiming the blacks and poor Americans bear the burden in the military. How contradictory can a Democrat get? He's opposed to action in Iraq but wants a military draft. Then his claims about an unfair burden in the military, which is enlisted and volunteer men. This makes no sense whatsoever. These Democrats are still playing the class and race cards, which is typical Democratic tactics. What does this congressman want to accomplish? Does he want the military recruiters to refuse all black and poor volunteers from being able to enlist in the military?

All gifts come from God

I really do believe there are degrees of sinfulness. I think a murderer will be held to a different standard than a petty thief in God's eyes. I also believe that if you are on the game show and win something, you can consider it a gift from God. I know I would. I consider everything as being from God, and the lottery would be no different.

Higher bracket

I'LL SETTLE the complaining about the tax problem right now. Would you rather be in the high tax bracket or the low tax bracket? I'd rather be in the high tax bracket and be paying a lot of taxes.

Take action on starlings

WHEN ARE we going to do something about these disgusting starlings? Chasing them from one neighborhood to another is certainly not the answer. Just because some numbskull brought them here many years ago does not mean we should have to tolerate them now. If we don't do something, in a few years they're the only birds we'll have as they will starve the rest out. They have no natural predators in this country, so they multiply at an alarming rate. Let's do something before it's too late.

Irrational voters

YOU CONSISTENTLY place way too much faith in the voters. Writing that "most voters want to make informed decisions" is just plain wrong. Most voters go to the polls with preconceived notions, their gut instincts, the mood they're in when they vote and so forth. Please get off this kick that voters are any different from nonvoters in their inherent irrationality.

Things for kids to do

TAKE A look around an see what Cape Girardeau has to offer. There is nowhere for kids to play. The parks are all in the wrong places where kids can't go without an adult. Who wants to see their kids hanging out at the mall every day? You wonder why our kids end up on drugs. Most of them are looking for a little fun. Who has the answer? No one, and most don't care unless it happens to them.