OpinionMarch 29, 2000
SPEAKOUT
I'D LIKE To say I'm a stay-at-home mom, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Sure, if I went back to work I'd be able to buy that expensive house or car, but it's not worth it. They grow up so fast. I admit money gets tight some months, but we budget, and this way we get to watch our kids grow up. It's great. I realize some people can't afford to do this. There are single parents out there who can't. But I watch around me and see a lot of people who could...
Stay-at-home mom by choice
I'D LIKE To say I'm a stay-at-home mom, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Sure, if I went back to work I'd be able to buy that expensive house or car, but it's not worth it. They grow up so fast. I admit money gets tight some months, but we budget, and this way we get to watch our kids grow up. It's great. I realize some people can't afford to do this. There are single parents out there who can't. But I watch around me and see a lot of people who could.
Jackson tax would go up
I'D LIKE to relate to the voting citizens of the Jackson School District some truths of the coming election that are not readily available without searching for it. The proposed school levy will total $3.76 per $100 of evaluation as compared to the past year's $3.21, which is an increase of 55 cents. Did you know this?
Need more Jackson schools
I'M RESPONDING to the Jackson taxpayer who complained about the new school and property purchase. As a parent, I can tell you that our Jackson grade schools cannot stand anymore traffic around them. The school board is wise to spread out our schools to reduce the amount of congestion around them. The new school property is closer to houses and apartments on Shawnee and Main than to Bent Creek. Jackson people need to get behind our kids and support the bond issue. Take a look around and educate yourself.
Support for Riverfest board
I'M DISAPPOINTED we're not going to have a Riverfest, but I agree with the board members that they probably need a breather. Perhaps when the next one arrives, it will be better. These people work hard, and I know they want it to be as perfect as possible. I want to thank them for making the decision to cancel, and we shall look forward to the next one.
Raise the BAC limit
I'M CALLING in response to a senator who's going to vote against raising the legal blood alcohol limit. I appreciate people like him. He's right. It's not the drivers with 0.10 percent blood-alcohol content who are causing the problems. I've been drinking and driving for years and I've never hurt anybody. I think they ought to raise the legal limit. After all, so many of the people who enforce the laws and make the laws drink and drive themselves, so why can't we?
Need Fruitland schools
I DON'T understand why Jackson is wanting more money to build more schools when Fruitland is overrun with kids and we need schools over here to keep our kids from having to travel so far to go to school. The kids don't get home until after 4 o'clock in the afternoon. We need schools in Fruitland first.
Too much basketball
REGARDING THE call about too much basketball on television: I want to chime in with a similar opinion. I totally agree.
Those darn truthmongers
THOSE DARN Republicans, always spreading the truth about Clinton and Gore. Why can't they lie like we do? We just hold our nose and close our eyes and vote. What's the matter with these hatemongers spreading the truth? What kind of values do they have anyway? They must be hypocrites. Yeah, that's what they are, hypocrites.
Don't use the technology
I WOULD Like to make a comment on President Clinton asking Pakistan to quit making nuclear weapons. Mr. Clinton, wasn't it you who sold them the technology?
Don't vote us into a hole
I'M JUST calling in to remind people how good the economy, inflation and unemployment are. They better not vote for Bush or we'll be back where we were when Bush and Reagan were in office: down in the hole again. Albert Gore's the man for the office.
That's our money, folks
I'M READING where the women have won $508 million from the government in a sex discrimination case. I didn't know the government had $508 million. I thought it was the people's money. Boy, I sure hope they have a good time on my money.
Riverfest and fireworks
EACH YEAR I read about Riverfest struggling with workers, and each year I read about the Fourth of July festival struggling with workers. Why don't the two work together and make something work? I'd much rather see the fireworks on the Fourth of July anyway and a lot bigger show.
Don't defend them
UNITED STATES taxpayers' money goes to militarily defend OPEC countries, and then they show their gratitude by gouging the United States taxpayers in high gasoline prices. Congress, bring our servicemen home. Why should they defend the very people who are stabbing their loved ones in the back in America? Let these OPEC countries defend themselves. America can develop its own oil resources to take this oil dependence away from these OPEC countries.
Give us a head start
I WAS just wondering, in light of the fact that President Bill Clinton is clamoring for laws that require gun locks on homeowners' and others' guns: Would Clinton also legislate a sort of head start for homeowners in the event they are burglarized? For instance, it makes as much sense for gun locks on guns to be used for home protection as it would for President Clinton to require thieves to call my house in the dead of night to give me a five-minute head start to get the gun lock off my gun before they come over to burglarize my home, shoot my children or rape my wife. I think fair is fair, and if we really expect criminals and thieves to go out and apply for gun permits, then I think it's equally reasonable to expect them to give us a head start so we can get the gun locks off our guns and protect ourselves.
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Support for Jackson bonds
WE RESIDE in the Jackson area because of the schools, community reputation and quality of life it affords the residents. Guess what? We have children whom we are committed to providing for because we choose that responsibility. Notice the word afford. It relates to commitment. It's obvious to me and my neighbors and co-workers that there is a handful of people in this great community who do not have children and want to reap the benefits but do not want to pay the freight. Anyone with children wants to provide the best for them like we have found in Jackson. Looking to the future, who can predict it? But I can tell one thing: The Jackson system is trying as best it can, and evidently it has done an outstanding job so far. That can be proven. Of course, many of us are voting yes for the bond issue. It's our responsibility and commitment to our children and residents. If you do have children and choose to vote no, please explain your selfish reasons to your children.
CBS caters to the majority
THE MAN who said he's tired of watching basketball did the right thing. If you don't want to watch it, then don't. And, yes, you're just in the minority. If CBS thought the majority of the people did not want to basketball, the network would not spend $1 million to own the rights to broadcast the game
Good schools in Jackson
KEEP UP the good work, Jackson voters. Parents want the best for their children. Research tells us that the best learning environment is a bright, modern, safe facility with qualified staff in manageable-sized classrooms. Jackson schools and parents have provided this for our students. Due to growth, if we do not continue to support out schools now, the students will suffer. The community must support our schools if we want them to continue to function in the best interest for all students. Support our schools on April 4.
Jackson folks support schools
WE DON'T know who these people are who are so against educating their children. I wonder if they are even Jackson people. Jackson residents have pride and respect for each other. They speak directly when they have a problem and not behind backs. They are part of the solution, not the problem. They are educated and provide their community with quality of education for the next generation. This bizarre behavior is not characteristic of a Jacksonian.
Appointments are canceled
I'D LIKE to know what's wrong with these doctors in Cape. Don't they realize people have to work and they only go to the doctor after work hours? And they schedule these appointments weeks in advance in order to get these hours? A lot of times people even have to take off work for an hour or so to keep these appointments. You walk in and find out the doctor isn't there. It's ridiculous. It's happened to me three times in the last five weeks. One time I went to an appointment with my eye doctor, and I was told he had left for a meeting earlier in the day. Couldn't anybody have called me? Two weeks later my son showed up for his ear, nose and throat specialist appointment and was told the doctor had to leave town on an emergency. No one called to let us know. Then it happened again. I got 24 hours' notice that my doctor had to go out of town for her own appointments, and my appointment was canceled. I had this appointment for six weeks. I don't know if I'm the only person experiencing these difficulties, but I'm sure I'm not. The Cape Girardeau doctors need to wake up.
Face up to responsibility
I HAVE two opinions to express. First, I'd like to thank whoever turned in my wallet to Wal-Mart on March 23. I'm very proud that somebody's still honest enough to turn in lost items. The other thing is a complaint. My son was hit on a bicycle riding in Oran a week or so ago. The person who was driving did not even bother to stop and see if my son was injured or not. My son is mentally handicapped and didn't know what to do. I think that person should be honest and come and tell me he hit my son and take care of the damages.
Tribute in column is a treasure
I ALWAYS enjoy Sam Blackwell's column and his articles in the paper, but his tribute to Judy Crow was just outstanding. Judy was a very special person. All of us who knew her admired her bright mind and her brave spirit. Thanks, Sam, for putting just the right finishing touch to Judy's life in your great tribute. All her friends will treasure your column.
Tiger photo causes sadness
I WAS very sad to see the picture of the tiger in a cage on the front page of your paper. She should be what she was born to be: a wild, free animal, not entertainment for humans.
Vote to help the students
REGARDING THE Jackson bond issue: Yes, there are some things that could have been done differently in this election, but the simple fact remains that as long as people keep moving into town as fast as they have, schools are going to fill up faster than planned for. That is what has happened now, as overcrowding again has taken over. Help is needed now. All I'm asking is that when you get in the booth to cast your ballot, please remember your children and grandchildren and vote yes on this issue. The other problems are not their fault, and these problems can be addressed later. If the issue doesn't pass, the children will suffer, not us.
SEMO wastes too much money
SEMO's COST is already far too high. And to raise it further is ridiculous. When I was a student it cost me less for two full years than they now charge for one three-hour course. This administration and most of the board of regents need to be replaced. They should not waste so much money, such as creating a job for Dale Nitzschke, building a $3 million softball field, the fountain and the proposed River Campus which the people have already voted down. To pile this cost onto the students who only make minimum wage and already have excessive education loans is totally absurd. It's gotten totally out of hand. We have had enough of this mismanagement and their buddy system. It is time to clean up this mess.
Higher-ups get the money
THERE IS something really bothering me. The state colleges are supposed to be cheaper so that the poorer kids can go to college and get a college degree. Why is it they keep raising the rates on the students for both housing and credit hours, and then they keep raising the pay for Nitzschke and all these other people? Why is it all the higher-up officials get all the money, and the poor kids just trying to get an education have to foot this bill? It's ridiculous. I wouldn't blame any of the kids if they wanted to quit going to SEMO.
Part of an elitist clique
THIS IS in response to caller who wondered what rock David Limbaugh climbed out from under. That's easy. The rock is the one called Cape Rock. I knew David 30 years ago when he was a student Cape Central High, and it's sad to say that his views have not changed iota since that time. He is the same knee-jerk redneck right-wing radical that he was then when his heroes were Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew and William Calley. He has the same pious manner toward the Constitution, the document he claims to be a scholar of, but judging from his latest screed in the Southeast Missourian his understanding of it leaves out its rape and violation by Mr. Nixon and his ilk. David and his pandering brother both come from the same bolt of cloth, a royal Republican blue that they deem to be their birthright. They and their friends from those early days understood that they were born to be above the common folk. In that respect, they are truly indigenous to Cape Girardeau. It is a closed society that profits obscenely from the labor of others and keeps the doors closed to advancement. Between the Limbaughs, the Zimmers, Peter Kinder, Gary Rust, and all the fat cat doctors here on the Gold Coast, they are managing to line their pockets and those of their little fraternity. The best way to handle them? Don't read their elitist musings. Turn Rush off permanently. Vote against their puppets Kinder and Emerson, and hope like hell people will finally wise up to them for what they are: fascists in waiting.
How things have changed
THIS IS to the two callers in Speak Out knocking George Bush and the Republicans. There happens to be a column by Paul Greenberg on the same page as Speak Out that you need to go back and read. That tells what we've had in the White House for the last seven years, and why it's imperative that we get him and Al Gore both out of office. Isn't it amazing and ironic that Clinton and his friends, the same people who protested big government back in the 1960s, are now the ones running this country? And isn't it ironic that Clinton is Big Daddy, and Clinton is breathing down the throats of American people in a so-called free society. I think this election is really important, and you really need to think about who you're going to vote for in November. May God bless our country. We sure do need it.
Glad to see Ten Commandments
I THINK it is wonderful to see the residents of Cape Girardeau with the Ten Commandment signs in their yards. That's what we need more of in the world.
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