OpinionJuly 29, 1997
SPEAKOUT
I MISSED Mr. Degenhardt's recent letter to the editor to the Southeast Missourian. However, based on the bashing Mr. Degenhardt has been taking in Speak Out, I can only assume he told unassailable truths. I'M CALLING about the recent article in the Southeast Missourian about the new seat belt law. ...
Response indicates a nerve was hit
I MISSED Mr. Degenhardt's recent letter to the editor to the Southeast Missourian. However, based on the bashing Mr. Degenhardt has been taking in Speak Out, I can only assume he told unassailable truths.
Seat belt law seems unreasonable
I'M CALLING about the recent article in the Southeast Missourian about the new seat belt law. As I understood it, and maybe I'm wrong, but all kids in the back seat must have a seat belt on. My question is to whoever is enacting this law, what do you do if you're driving down the road as one person in the front as a parent, you have three children in the back seat and one of those children takes their seat belt off and you don't know it? To me, you're in more of a danger in turning your head, yelling at kids and trying to make them put the seat belt on or constantly turning around to check and see if it's on than you are if they didn't have it on to begin with. I'd like to know, in that instance, if I'm understanding the law correctly, first of all, and if that is correct, how is a person reasonably expected to make sure that the kids keep their seat belts on? And if they expect that from a parent, then why don't they expect parents to make sure they're in after curfew or that kids never do anything wrong? I just can't understand the thinking behind it other than it would save lives for kids. But unfortunately all children do not listen to their parents all the time. They just let off a person who was convicted of drunk driving who pleaded guilty. Now he's going to be back on the road driving. If they would make the same laws fit the new laws that they're enacting, I just can't see where it's safe for that driver to be driving.
Shouldn't have to pay for uninsured drivers
I'M GOING to say this one more time and I hope somebody listens to me and does something about it. The law says every automobile has to have liability insurance. And yet, every month, I have to pay my insurance company for uninsured drivers, which is illegal. There's something a whole lot wrong in that. I believe in freedom, I believe in capitalism but I'm sick and tired of being screwed by capitalists.
Don't steal plants, just ask for them
TO THE person who's stealing the flowers on Bucher Street after dark and was not able to dig them up because of the gravel: We have been trying to give extra plants of these we have away free, so if you had just ask, we would have been glad to give you a plant or two with some dirt on it.
All the houses are neat
I WENT by the 1700 block of Bloomfield to see the neat house described by one Speak Out caller, and all the houses in the 1700 block of Bloomfield are very neat.
Save Social Security, remove Medicare
TAKE MEDICARE out of Social Security. That will save Medicare and Social Security too. Put Medicare under a separate program to be paid by a separate tax. There are too many young people who are disabled -- and they deserve it -- on Medicare from Social Security. They receive a lot of money which they do not want because of their age. They need help, but get them off Medicare. Take Medicare out of Social Security.
Early-morning speeding on Kingshighway
ONE OF the sources of aggressiveness on the highways is that very little is being done about it. When I'm on Kingshighway at 5:30 or 6 a.m., people sail by me at 50-55 mph in a 35-mph zone and glare at me like I'm the lawbreaker. I've observed cops sitting side by side at the Osage Center and various other locations and never bat an eye. I think if we hit a of these aggressors in the pocketbook, watch how quickly things will change.
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Interchange design is faulty
THE DESIGNERS and architects of interchange at Route K and Interstate 55 should be run out of town on a rail. This is the worst designed, worst thought out plan of any major interchange along Interstate 55 between St. Louis and New Orleans. I have never seen traffic that is as bad as this, and with the new movie theater opening, it's going to be wreck after wreck at this interchange. These guys should be fired.
All anti-smoking campaigns will fail
I DISAGREE with the Southeast Missourian's recently stated editorial view that a privately funded anti-smoking campaign would be more successful than a publicly funded one. I think both efforts will succeed to the same degree: zero.
Heidi will be back every week
HOORAY. HEIDI Nieland is coming back weekly. Heidi has a great talent and knows how to use it to its fullest.
Climate always changes and always will
BILL CLINTON recently proclaimed that global warming is a reality. Well, guess what. For once he is correct. But what our president fails to tell us is that the earth's climate is always changing. Millions of years ago, during the Ice Age, glaciers extended as far south as the Missouri River. That was a time of global cooling. It's global warming that caused the great glaciers to recede. This stuff about man destroying the ozone thus causing global warming is pure poppycock. It has been estimated that it would take the human race thousands of years to put as many ozone-depleted chemicals in the atmosphere as a single volcanic eruption can do in a few hours. The simple truth is this, global warming is an excuse for Bill Clinton and the Democrats to further try to control the way we live out lives. It means more government agencies and employees to enforce emission rules. It will mean more research grants for these so-called university scientists whose motto must be, "No crisis, no grants." Don't be fooled. The climate is changing. It always has and it always will.
Young girl stops to give assistance
THURSDAY NIGHT after supper, I went out in front of my house to sweep the walk and steps because the man had mowed. Somehow I turned and lost my balance and fell. I was no more than six feet from the curb. Five cars and a man on a motorcycle passed and completely ignored me lying there. A young girl come by in a car, wheeled to a stop, came over and said to me, "You look like you need help." I certainly did. She went next door and alerted the man to come out and help me get up. Then another man across the side street came over. I neglected getting the young girl's name but wanted her to know I really appreciate her help. Thank you so much, Love. Incidentally, I'm 80 years young. Some young people are really thoughtful, and I appreciated her so much.
Safety concerns are a sign of progress
JUST A comment on how much and how far we've progressed as human beings. I used to never lock anything up, and now I lock everything up. Geez, I'm so glad to a product of the 90s. What progress.
Everyone must observe alcohol rules
I'M CALLING in reference to the Southeast Missourian question in regards to the sale of alcohol to 18-20-year-olds. I work in a convenience store and am 19-years-old, and we all have rules to abide by. No matter if we're 18 or 47, we all have to follow the federal, state and local rules that are set forth for alcohol.
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