SPEAKOUT

Get gasoline information

I'M A lifelong reader of the Southeast Missourian and generally have no complaints about its news coverage. However, the coverage the Missourian gives to Cape's exorbitant gas prices is practically non-existent. ON the rare occasions that the subject is covered, the Missourian usually interviews representatives from local oil companies and accepts their explanations without investigating any further. It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to find out the markup on a gallon of gasoline in our area and then compare that markup with other areas. I thought newspapers were supposed to be protectors of the public trust.

REPLY: There is a difference between what private businesses do and what public government agencies do. The first involves business decisions that affect customers who have a choice about where to shop, what to purchase and how much to spend. The second involves government operations that rely on tax dollars. Service stations and others that sell gasoline have the right to set prices in a free market that are competitive. While some readers may complain about gasoline prices, they have the same options for making purchasing decisions as they have for any other product. Gasoline consumers who believe pricing reflects deception, fraud or misrepresentation are encouraged to call the Missouri attorney general's consumer protection division. The hotline toll-free number is 1-800-392-8222.

Outraged over sentencing

I AM calling in regard to the Scott City man accused of molesting a 7 year old girl. This man was released on his own recognizance because he was threatened by other inmates. Then the state dropped a charge of statutory sodomy in exchange for a lesser plea. If he had gone to trial and would have been convicted, he could have been sentenced to life. Instead, the judge gave him 120 days shock incarceration and a sex offender evaluation. Give me a break. I guess you would call this the deal of the century. As a taxpaying, voting citizen, I feel betrayed and outraged at our system. Our children deserve better. Seems to me that someone is not doing their job, either the prosecutor or the judge.

Environmentalist bashing

I NOTICED that Congresswoman Emerson couldn't miss a little environmentalist bashing this week's rural restoration conference. Mrs. Emerson might be surprised, perhaps disappointed, to learn that environmental groups recently have been working with family farmers here in the Midwest including Missouri on a variety of issues. Admittedly, though, she'd never know that from reading this newspaper.

Support for the newspaper

I'M TIRED of reading in Speak Out about people bad-mouthing our paper. It's a very good paper, and it presents an unbiased view. There was a comment a couple of weeks ago about never winning a Pulitzer prize. To win a Pulitzer, you have to have something bad happen in the area, and I'd just soon it not happen. We don't need it. I think the paper's a very good paper for training for young journalists, and I personally miss Heidi's column.

Ready to move away

I WOULD just like to say if anyone has noticed how rude and obnoxious some people in this town have become? Total strangers will walk up to you in a store and insult you for no particular reason. Some people will go out of their way to try and run into your car with theirs. Shopping carts will be run into in the parking lots or they will bang their car doors into yours. Why do you people bother go to church? It's beyond me because obviously you're not getting anything out of it. Crime has gone steadily up. Robbing old people that have nothing but Social Security to live on is just as low as you can get. I, for one, cannot wait until I can move.

Appalled by proposition

RECENTLY, WHILE quietly sitting in my car enjoying my lunch in Capaha Park, I was approached by a man who propositioned me for sex. I found this event to be quite appalling. I'm not a homophobic, but this type of behavior should not be condoned in a civilized society. As a taxpayer, I have the right to sit in the park without being harassed by such filth. My tax dollars were meant to fund the meat market for homosexuals.

Result of closed meeting

I'M CALLING about the closed meeting that the city council and the mayor and the city manager had with TCI. I can understand now why they had it behind closed doors. It was so the city could raise the franchise tax to over $2. It didn't help us out one bit. We didn't get any changes in stations or anything else but they got their extra money.

Support for Jackson union

THUMBS UP to the Jackson employees who want a union. It's long overdue. I think to deny anybody for job security for bargaining for their family's welfare is criminal. I think everybody is entitled to job security. If the city of Jackson has nothing to hide, then they won't object to the employees belonging to a union. But if they want to be unhanded, naturally they're going to oppose the union.

Real world knows better

ALAN JOURNET needs to understand that the current debate concerning the EPA isn't about the greenhouse effect or the ozone hole or soil contaminants or water pollution. I know of no one including Pete Kinder who doesn't want these problems addressed. The EPA's method of operation is what concerns most people. I wonder if Dr. Journet's opinions would have been the same had he chosen to go into business instead of teaching. How would he feel if the EPA were demanding thousands and thousands of dollars simply because he did business with Missouri Electric Works years ago? Or how would he like to be in the shoes of the late owners of Missouri Electric Works who were charged with breaking laws that didn't exist at the time of the alleged offenses occurred? Being a biology professor, Dr. Journet undoubtedly used formaldehyde in years past without wearing protective clothing, which is required today. How would he like to be fined by OSHA for something he did 20 years ago when no protective clothing rules existed? It's easy for a university professor drawing a nice check from the Missouri taxpayers to be in blind support of the EPA. People who live in the real world know better.

Flood area cleanup

I WAS wondering when they plan to tear the old Fairway Market down and also sell the houses down that have been bought out for the flood control in the Red Star area. We sure need this area cleaned up and we appreciate anybody who could move it a little ahead.

Jackson union would cost taxpayers

THIS IS in reference to the statement that city employees in Jackson have requested a vote for a union. I really hope these individuals think long and hard before they ever vote yes for a union. A union is just a business. It doesn't really care for the people anymore than the city administrators or anyone else, and they definitely cannot take care of an individual any better than an individual can take care of himself. All it is a money-making business. It would cause taxes to go up, the productivity level would go down, negotiations for city employee benefits would have to be totally renegotiated from ground zero. Right now, city employees in Jackson receive 100 percent medical insurance for them and their family at no cost to them with no deductible. That's better than anybody can get in a current situation in probably the rest of Jackson and Cape. I think that's an outstanding benefit. They're off most holidays and several weekends unless they are water folks and possibly some sewer workers where they have to care of leaks or opportunities. But it will be a sad day for Jackson whenever the city employees, whatever departments, vote to go union. It will cost the average taxpayer more money or it would result in less city services.

Put police on buses

IF YOU want to know where a policeman needs to be, try riding a school bus in the evening. I know firsthand there is sexual activity and language so bad it would make a sailor blush. They are smoking pot and they're doing crack. Moms, do you really want your child around this low-life atmosphere?

Against trading with China

I SUPPOSE that these comment would be directed to all of the politicians. I noticed in the paper that the trade deficit has been widened with China again. Of course, it's in China's favor, not the United States. I would like to ask any and all politicians, why is the United States government trading with a communist country at the same time it is taking Americans' jobs away and going to China? What has China ever done for this United States of America and the men and women who have went and fought in the wars of this country in order to come back home, the ones who were lucky enough and be able to find a job and here we are importing all this junk from China, a communist country. And we preach that we are for human rights and then turn right around and let China flood our markets with their imports. Something has to be done, and I don't know where the politicians think their priorities are, but I believe under the Constitution that it would help the people of the American economy by keeping their jobs in this country and doing no trading with communist countries.