OpinionMarch 24, 1998
SPEAKOUT
THANK GOD the council voted to amend the road assessment policy. The original proposal from the city staff to make property owners repay the city for land acquisition did in fact violate the federal and state constitutions and would have confiscated people's property without the right of compensation. ...
Good change on road assessments
THANK GOD the council voted to amend the road assessment policy. The original proposal from the city staff to make property owners repay the city for land acquisition did in fact violate the federal and state constitutions and would have confiscated people's property without the right of compensation. In addition, the new amended policy would assess property owners at $25 per frontage foot just like Lexington and Sprigg, not $42 as had been proposed. The city manager made a comment that the city could have not proceeded with acquiring land if he didn't have concrete guidelines. Would someone remind him that it was the proposal presented by his staff that held things up until the council could vote to do the right thing?
Hospital merger would be a mistake
TO MY knowledge no one at either St. Francis or Southeast has bothered to ask the community they serve its opinion on the merger. Merging these two relative large businesses a bad idea. I've seen the inside of both places way more than my share, so that qualifies me an expert, in my opinion. Bureaucracy is the order of the day already, and I can't imagine how much red tape and communication breakdowns will ensue if this deal goes through. The quality of care at affordable prices in a convenient, central location should be top priority. This will prove to be a colossal mistake, and we'll all suffer for it. My advice is don't do anything you'll regret later. This area should not put up with a monopoly of this type. Competition is healthy. Doctors regularly go between hospitals anyway, so what exactly is the point of merging? As far as the sterilization issue goes, if this were a state- or federal-run operation, it would smack of unconstitutionality, in my opinion. I have freedom of choice. I have freedom of religion. So do Catholics. They can run their businesses any way they want to. But when you start stepping on my freedom from religion as a non-Catholic and when you start stepping on the legalities of tubal ligation -- which, by the way, prevents abortion because you won't be having any unwanted children you want to abort -- that really irritates.
A question of sanitation
I READ the article on waging a war on germs. As for state health regulations in a restaurant, I have often wondered if they notice some waitresses will wipe the tables, then the chairs, go on to another table, then the chairs, all with the same cloth. Is that sanitary?
Media need to be more careful
I WAS listening to an interview of Paula Jones' sister. She doesn't believe any of the story that Paula tells. She said that Paula and she were very close. She saw Paula shortly after the incident with President Clinton was supposed to have happened, and she didn't mention it at all. You people should be very careful how you act. You made a real ass out of yourself with the Richard Jewel thing. You all ran around making him guilty until you found you were wrong, and then you didn't have enough guts to stand and say, "We have made a big mistake." You'd better careful this time.
What do you expect him to say?
REPUBLICANS KEEP asking the president if he had all those so-called affairs. He keeps answering by saying he didn't have any affairs. What do they want him to say? That he did when he didn't? Just take a good look at the women who are accusing him. They are even having to make them over. That should be your answer right there.
Why Democrats like dumb students
RECENT STUDIES have shown that American students rank toward the bottom when their academic skills are compared to those of other countries. Yet every time Republicans attempt to change the way our children are taught, they are met with extreme opposition by Democrats who want to maintain the status quo. I could never understand why Democrats did this until I saw a recent poll that showed over 60 percent of the respondents still approved of Bill Clinton despite his lack of character. I thought, how dumb can these people be? Then it struck me, Democrats don't want to improve kids' education, because dumb kids grow into dumb adults, which means more Democratic votes.
Donate shower chairs
I'M WITH SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence. We are an independent living center in Cape Girardeau. Our purpose is to help people with disabilities. In doing this, we have given away all our shower chairs. Medicaid and Medicare do not pay for them. So we're asking the folks of the area to please donate unused shower chairs to our consumers. They have a need. Our phone number is 573-651-6464, or you can drop by our offices at 121 S. Broadview, Suite 12, Cape Girardeau. We thank you.
City should raise 5 percent a year
ALL CITIZENS of Cape Girardeau should vote no on this city fee increase. If they need an increase, let them take the 5 percent and then next year take the 5 percent again. It's ridiculous. It's just the same as stealing. The city council and the city as a whole is stealing from the people if it passes. This is terrible.
City shouldn't finance nonresident water
THIS IS in response to the caller who said Cape Girardeau is using water as a blackmail. Why should I as a city resident finance sending a water line out to a home outside the city limits that doesn't have to pay taxes? We city residents don't want to finance nonresident water service.
Say no to annexation
I WAS reading the paper about annexation. Cape is planning to do a friendly annexation along Route W. What Cape did not tell us is that if Cape decides to put new roads through or water or sewer Cape would not have to pay for it. The people who are annexed into the city would have to pay for it, just like Hopper Road had to do, Twin Lakes people had to do. I built my house on Route W to get out of the city. Please, help me by calling in and saying no to annexation.
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Don't single out responsible pet owners
THE MAN who addressed the council and suggested that adoption fees be decreased to encourage the adoption of unwanted animals made a lot of sense. My heart went out to those ladies from the Humane Society who must euthanatize all those unwanted pets. But increase the fees as they suggest, and the problem will get worse. Those of us who are responsible pet owners and who have adopted a few extra pets to help ease the crisis will be penalized, while irresponsible pet owners will have even more of an incentive to dump their pregnant pets on the other side of town or at the Humane Society. I am voting against all those fee increases. If the Southeast Missourian's contention that it is better for users to pay the cost of nonessential services is correct, then why not charge admission to the Municipal Band concerts, the public tennis courts or for the use of the public library? Why single out pet owners to finance the excesses of our city government?
Gambling boat would solve problems
WELL, I read in the paper this morning about all the public schools' woes here in Cape Girardeau. I tell you what, if they would let a gambling boat in here, then the schools would have the money to do with what they need and it would also clean up downtown Cape Girardeau and get rid of a lot of the bad in that area. So I say it's time people get behind this and tell the city of Cape that that's what we want.
Agreement isn't respect
IT SOUNDS like the Pentecostal pastor who felt betrayed by Billy Graham only respected Billy Graham when Billy Graham's opinions were the same as the Pentecostal preachers. That's not respect.
Must reading for school officials
THE ARTICLE headlined "Simple lesson: Don't outspend income" written by Tamara Zellars Buck should be required reading for our school board members as well as the school administrators. Not only that, it should be followed by a pop quiz at least once a week. Those people don't know how to spend money. It is not theirs to waste, but they do it.
Cut administrators first
I TOO think in 99 percent of the cases administrators are way overpaid, including our representatives and senators and all these people who are getting two or three pensions. I think the administrators should take a pay cut rather than freezing the teachers' salaries.
A reminder of the religious seasons
TO THE business on Kingshighway, I want to say thank you for the cross with the purple cloth. It reminds us of Lent. Also with the white cloth for Easter.
Advice for working women and their husbands
HUSBAND ABUSE. A lot of women I know should have read Abby in Wednesday's March 18 Missourian. It was so true of what so many men live in now. These women are so self-centered they have to have flowers for every occasion whether they can afford them or not, and everything new in the cosmetics line even if there isn't proper food in the house. Their job, TV and games are all they care about. They sit all day at work, come home, fall in the recliner and every other sentence is, "I'm so tired." Husband even brings remote if it isn't by her chair and takes care of the kids. Well, if she would activate herself a little, she would generate some energy instead of running to the doctor every time she gets a pain and thinking that there is a magic pill that will make her feel good. Ninety-nine percent of them wouldn't have to work in the first place if they and their husbands would use their money wisely. They want all the pampering and attention of having a baby, but they want someone else to raise the baby. After they have spent 1 1/2 hours on their hair and makeup, they grab the kids on the way out the door if they just happen to be awake, kiss them and say I love you, which salves their conscience for leaving them and that is supposed to take care of all the hurts and needs they have all day while someone else is raising them. Then she comes home at night, falls in the recliner. Wise up, men. Forget about her sweet line that can build up your ego. Sit down and have a talk with her. If that doesn't help, set your foot down. Tell her that she has to keep house and cook, that you will help but not be her slave. By the way I am a woman and have been married to the same man for 47 years and am proud that he was a man that set his foot down.
Graham did the right thing
I JUST want to make a comment to the Pentecostal pastor about feeling betrayed by Billy Graham. I think Billy Graham was more of a Christian man than he would be, because Billy Graham was only doing what God said. We're supposed to pray for our leaders, lift them up, not tear them down. And then also we're not to judge.
An award-winning story
I JUST called to say that I just finished reading Tamara Zellars Buck's story "Simple lesson: Don't outspend income." I just want you to know, that is award winning stuff. I love that girl.
Appreciates tax help by phone
THE MISSOURI tax office here in Cape is to be commended for its service. When I needed information about filling in my state income tax form, it was only a phone call away. The phone was answered at the first ring, and the gentleman who answered very politely answered my question. In less than a minute, I was able to continue and finish the form. His courtesy was appreciated.
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