SPEAKOUT

Doctors are trying to keep cost down

I'D LIKE to make a couple of points about the proposed surgery center here in Cape Girardeau. First of all, I'd like point out that the physicians are trying to do a service to the area. The hospitals charge enormous balloon fees, and the physicians are trying to keep the cost within the reach of the general population. Secondly, people need to remember that St. Louis physicians are teaching physicians, that those hospitals up there are teaching hospitals, and that's why they can charge less to provide the care they deliver.

Charge less for soft drinks?

MY DAUGHTER recently had surgery at Southeast Missouri Hospital and was charged $6.75 for a Coke. If I can get a Coke at the new proposed surgery center for 50 cents, it has my vote.

St. Louis doctor was more considerate

THIS IS why I took my husband to St. Louis when he had surgery done. It was originally done in Cape Girardeau, and this wasn't even orthopedic surgery. He had the surgery done, and when there was a problem in the middle of the night, the nurses were afraid to call the doctor and tell him about it. They were afraid he would get mad and yell at them for waking him up. On the day of discharge, the doctor made my husband sit there and wait on him for eight hours after he said he would be there. Of course, the nurses again were afraid to call him because they were afraid they were going to get yelled at. When he finally did come, he spent 30 seconds at the chart while the nurses told him everything about the patient that he should have looked up himself. On top of that, it was bad work. Well, he went to St. Louis, and none of that happened. The doctor spent a lot of time with my husband when something went wrong. Even for a minor thing, they called the doctor right away, and she responded. They had a good relationship. She spent the time with my husband and my husband's chart where she knew what was going on. This is why we went to St. Louis.

Don't judge doctors so quickly

I'M TIRED of reading all the doctor-bashing in Speak Out. If people out there think they can do a better job, why don't they devote to all the years of schooling and become a doctor? Why don't they absorb the huge amount of college education and all the other sacrifices the profession demands? Believe it or not, there are doctors out there who are in it because they care about patients. I'm sure it won't bother you either that someone, no matter what you do, will always attempt to sue you. And as far as the high prices of office visits, do people realize that there are published fee schedules, Medicare as an example, that are handed to the physician's office? It is not always the doctor who decides to pick a random charge. I appreciate that there are men and women out there who still pick this profession, especially when society is so quick to judge them.

Tax would hit working visitors

ANOTHER TAX on the working-class people? No way. That is what a motel-restaurant tax would be: a tax on traveling salesman and the like. Why would the residents of Cape want to finance a state college venture? Tax the out-of-state students.

Some Farm Bureau members disagree

I NOTICED where the Farm Bureau has endorsed Jo Ann Emerson. I'm a member of the Farm Bureau, and I've got a lot of neighbors who are, and they definitely are not going to vote for Emerson. I don't see where the Farm Bureau has the right to use our money to support a candidate we don't like.

A convoluted way of looking at things

IT LOOKS like another boondoggle is under way at SEMO University. Do we really need this $30,000 fountain with money left by our former university president, Kala Stroup? How about using this money for scholarships for the students? How about having it go towards really needed ones except some other building project? And now the university's trying to cram the cost of the performing arts center down the throats of taxpayers. They have a convoluted way of looking at who is really paying for this. Do they always feel it is someone else paying and nobody locally will be affected by the cost? The Show Me Center can't even attract good performers and stay booked year round. And yet they expect another venue to attract tons of people who will pay tons of taxes. They need to get off that campus and get a life and see what real life is and what real business is and how it works.

Officers ignore speed limits

LAST WEEK I received a speeding ticket. I was guilty, I was going over the speed limit, I deserved it. But it's funny. I noticed traveling to St. Louis one day on Interstate 55, three or four police cars from a southern county in Missouri. They were undoubtedly going to a meeting or some kind of convention because it was all police officers in the cars. No lights or sirens were on, but they were cruising up the interstate. They must have been going 80 to 85 mph because they were sure passed everybody else like they were sitting still. And then the other evening I was going home and a state patrolman passed me. We were driving in a 45 mph zone. He passed everybody. He must have doing 20 miles over that, so he must have been doing 65 mph. He ran up behind people and got on their rear bumpers until they pulled over. I thought I recognized that car in the neighborhood that I drive through on the way home. I checked when I got home, and that was exactly where the trooper was going. He was just on his way home and wanted to get there as fast as possible, I guess. No emergency at all. Makes you wonder, are there two different sides of the law? If you're in uniform in a car, you can drive as fast as you want regardless. If you're not, you are a lawbreaker.

Motivation is someone else's success

AS A community we should be embarrassed by the negative stream of comments published almost daily in Speak Out regarding doctors. These callers should examine the true motivation for their negative feelings. It is rooted in envy -- envy for another person's success and general importance to the community. Doctors are an easily identifiable group of successful people. They exemplify success through sacrifice and hard work. I worry about the day when those who would become doctors decide it's not worth the sacrifice anymore. We should be careful what we wish for. It is a small person indeed who begrudges the success of another.

Schools should set example, follow rules

I JUST read the article, "Despite the law, schools will start early," in the newspaper, and I don't understand how the schools expect our children to follow the school rules when the schools can't follow the state rules. If they're supposed to start after Labor Day, why can't they? It makes sense. The hotter months would be over with. All schools are not air conditioned. Therefore, when the children are in the hot school classes, it makes it kind of hard to concentrate because they're doing things to try to stay cool. If the schools expect our children to follow rules, the school should do the same thing.

Keeping discourse rational, civil

PETER KINDER recently referred to Geraldo Rivera as a "flyweight little creep." One thing I have always admired about Senator Kinder is his commitment to keeping our public discourse rational and civil. When George Foreman gets elected vice president, I plan to write a profile piece on him for the Southeast Missourian and refer to him as our heavyweight big veep.

Maybe the pope wants McGwire's autograph

I SAW on televison that the pope is coming to St. Louis. They said it's the first time a pope ever come to St. Louis. Well, I think I know the real reason he is coming to St. Louis. It's to see Mark McGwire and get his autograph.

Best of care from orthopedic doctors

I JUST wanted to say that my family and I have gone to Orthopaedic Associates for so many things, and we have received nothing but the best of care there. The doctors are considerate and concerned about any problem that they have. I have taken my children there from the time they were little for sports injuries. My husband had four back surgeries, and we just feel like Dr. Ritter is the best around anywhere.

Community has responsibility for pets

JENNY STIGER'S letter to the editor is right. Pet owners should be responsible for finding a new home for any animal they can't keep. They have a moral obligation to that animal. Its life does have value. Additionally, it's a lot easier to find a home for an animal when you can answer questions about health and house training and if it gets along with kids and why it needs a new home. The humane society wants to help, but the community makes it impossible when it discards so many animals. Dropping off animals, especially when it's done anonymously, is a cowardly and inhumane act which shows no insight into the value of life. We should demand more of our community and support the humane society's principles of respect and compassion.

Shoulder surgery produced excellent results

EIGHT YEARS ago a local orthopedic surgeon performed a total reconstruction surgery on my shoulder. Six weeks later I began rehabilitation with 60 percent strength and 80 percent flexibility in that shoulder. Following my doctor's directions and going through physical therapy, my shoulder returned to normal. Why would I want to go out of town when I can get excellent care in Cape and keep my business in the area? My thanks to Dr. Lents at Orthopaedic Associates on a job well done.

One billy goat not indicted yet

TONY HECKEMEYER is upset that Starr is investigating Clinton. He said it's easy for a prosecutor to charge a person through the use of a grand jury. He said a prosecutor can indict a billy goat. Well, America's billy goat hasn't been indicted, but he is sure being investigated. He might be indicted eventually.

Not everyone likes rock 'n' roll

I WANT to thank the person's who got the rock 'n' roll music out at the Osage Centre. These people must be just thinking of themselves. Some people like rock and roll music but I don't think one or two people should rule on what kind of music is played at the Osage Centre.