OpinionOctober 14, 1999
SPEAKOUT
IN RESPONSE to a Speak Out caller, you're the one who doesn't get it. Show us where in the U.S. Constitution it states there is to be a separation of church and state. This idea of separation came about when our nation's Supreme Court justices decided to add to our Constitution an ideal never intended by our Founding Fathers. ...
Trying to maintain religious freedoms
IN RESPONSE to a Speak Out caller, you're the one who doesn't get it. Show us where in the U.S. Constitution it states there is to be a separation of church and state. This idea of separation came about when our nation's Supreme Court justices decided to add to our Constitution an ideal never intended by our Founding Fathers. We right-wing criminals, as you have stereotyped us, are only trying to keep the religious freedoms our Founding Fathers originally gave us in the Constitution and to continue the Founding Fathers' -- and Mothers' -- traditional use of religious freedom. If prayer before graduation, congressional sessions and town meetings is unconstitutional, why did our Founding Fathers continue to practice criminal behavior? No, it's not traditional-minded religious citizens who are hateful, nor have these citizens committed crimes against our Constitution. It is people like you who have hatefully attacked our constitutionally given religious rights and still angrily try to take our freedom away. I hope Poplar Bluff will continue to work for our constitutionally given religious rights. Our prayers are with you.
Maybe recess situation will improve
I'D LIKE to respond to the recess situation at Blanchard School. I believe the principal's comments were misleading. Only kindergarten to second graders receive extra 20 minutes of mini-gym daily. The third and sixth graders still have only one recess a day. This means six classes competing for very little playground equipment at one time. Also, I don't think PE classes should be considered as recess time. They are scheduled, organized classes, hopefully teaching our children the importance of an active lifestyle. We used to have three PE classes weekly. Now we have only two. Our hope is that the situation will improve once we move to the new Blanchard building, though sometimes we do wonder, after waiting for over one year, if this will ever happen. Nobody really seems to care.
Too much emphasis on speeding tickets
I WANT to first thank the Southeast Missourian for letting the taxpayers state the facts. It appears that the Cape Girardeau Police Department should stick to their little revenue-getting radar gun on Kingshighway. They can't operate a police car on a 20-mph chase. They can't make an arrest down on Good Hope. But they can brag about their tickets with their radar gun. They are so good that a working person or one who is on retirement income will be just 2 mph over the speed limit so the fine will be $50 more. Mr. Nice Guy Police Chief, get your hand out of the working people's pockets and concentrate on the crime in Cape Girardeau.
Lots of mysteries are solved
I'M CALLING to say I found the Ronald McDonald. I saw him floating on a raft down the Mississippi River with the Esicar pigs and Jimmy Hoffa.
Make it short and sweet
I WAS scanning the Speak Out column and came across the item titled "Parents blamed for child thievery." It caught my attention. As I read it I realized I had no idea what point the parent was trying to make because of the ranting and raving and the overly verbose carrying on of the parent. I can only say one thing: If your child is that good, hats off to you. But next time make your comments short and sweet. Your entire point was lost in all of the words that you had to say.
Support the people who are trying
I OWN a campground in Thebes, Ill. I want to respond to the item in Speak Out, "Need more recreation in Thebes." I've spent the last three years of my life trying to develop a campground in Thebes. I've found some cooperation but not all I should have from Thebes in developing my campground. The people in Thebes should support those people who are trying to do anything. Only two or three people are trying to develop some recreation for the folks in that area. Four months ago or so, I read an article in the Missourian that we need more campgrounds around. But for those of us who are trying to do this, we can't get any support. Don't blame the sheriff's department. It's not up to them. It's up to the people.
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More comments on street workers
THIS IS in response to the city employees who repair our streets. I do appreciate the ones who actually do the work. You dig up the street, then you leave it for another week and let us damage our tires and cars. I live off Lexington, and I would have appreciated it if when you blocked the streets if there would have been a detour or a "Do not enter" sign. There was none, and I had to back up the street and go a different way. You must take different breaks than we do, because I've gone by a lot of times, going back and forth from school and to the store at all times of day, and I see two or three men standing out there watching one man work. I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way.
It's just a boon for the lawyers
DEMOCRATS ARE masters at attaching catchy phrases to their proposals. The health-care bill of rights is an excellent example of this type of deception. To the uninformed, which lately seems to be about 90 percent of the populace, a bill of rights for patients seems like a good idea. In reality, it's going to make Clinton's largest contributors, the trial lawyers, a lot of money and cause HMO premiums to skyrocket. Democrats want to give HMO patients the right to sue without limit. Republicans want to set a dollar limit on the amount of the suits. If the Democrats are successful in turning the ambulance chasers lose on the HMOs, we're going to see premiums become unaffordable and the cost of health care rise even more rapidly. Democrats are always spouting about making health care more accessible. However, this bill would have the opposite effect. They are simply repaying their largest contributors. This is not a health-care bill of rights. It is a lawyer's right to bill.
Try spending your own money
CONGRATULATIONS, KAYLA, on your fountain. Even in retirement you can waste our money. I'm surprised your fountain isn't surrounded by minor busts of the 100 administrators you helped to create. My child is in Dearmont dorm, and what we pay for a student's room in that condition is unconscionable. Too bad he at least doesn't have a nice view of your trophy fountain. Glad we paid overtime too. Now, university, tell us again why you ignored our vote on the River Campus. I wish it was your money that you were spending.
Give us real health-care relief
THE HEALTH-CARE bill that the House passed is nothing more than an aspirin tablet for cancer. They say affordable insurance. Let them put a chart up about the wages people make and how much money it would cost monthly for a family of four, or an elderly couple who isn't old enough for Medicare. What do they consider affordable insurance? Right now you can't get insurance for under $300 a month. A minimum-wage earner can only afford $25 to maybe $45 a month at most. It isn't going to take the place of the national health care that President Clinton wanted to put in place. These Republicans are in cahoots with the insurance companies and the wealthy executives of the insurance companies. They're a party without a heart for the people in need. We need a plan like Canada has.
Parents start kids on road to obesity
THERE'S A lot of publicity about obesity and the fact that it shortens your life expectancy. The thing that hasn't been publicized -- and should be by your paper, television and all other news media -- is that these parents who stuff their kids start obesity at a very young age. That is nothing but child abuse, and it should be promoted as such, instead of people admiring a cute little fat kid.
At least he tells the truth
LET'S FACE it. If you don't have money and you aren't a career politician, you are an outsider. Probably the last grass-roots person who received any kind of federal appointment or was elected to an office was Abraham Lincoln. The career politicians want to keep it a career politician, that's why they don't want Jesse Ventura talking. The reason people are so upset is that he speaks the truth. In some areas he might go overboard, but he speaks more truth than some people who call him "the mouth." I am not a wrestling fan, but the career politicians have taken over, and the common person couldn't get elected on a bet without money.
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