SPEAKOUT

speakout 3-29

Cut treasurer too

IF COUNTY commissioners in Cape Girardeau are serious about saving Cape Girardeau County money by having Sen. Peter Kinder introduce a bill keeping the status of the coroner instead of going to medical examiner when Cape Girardeau County goes to first-class county, they can really get serious. Why don't they abolish the office of treasurer? There would be two full-time positions eliminated and thus money saved. Come on, Cape County commissioners, let's get serious.

Juvenile involvement

I THINK Klaus Park would make a ideal locale for juvenile delinquents. Without getting personal, I'd like to know where those who are protesting so loudly were sent as juvenile delinquents themselves. Where did you get help to get on the right track, buddy? Did the neighbors squawk about you? We were all kids at one time and quite a handful, whether or not we got caught at it. We've all had kids, and most of them will do just whatever they're able to get by with. Anyone who disagrees must have an angel. We should embrace all children, whether they're ours or not. That's what's wrong with this old world: Nobody wants to get involved. Well, we'd better get involved and help instead of hindering. And I tell you right now, I'd much rather have a juvenile detention center next door than some of my neighbor's kids who are free to roam at will, out messing with alcohol and drugs, etc., etc. Think about it. Children are our future, and we can make a difference. Quit squawking about a ruining a beautiful park. What is more important, grass or human beings?

Murder connection

THE TRAGIC murder of the troubled youth at the academy in Wayne County should make everybody here realize that the juvenile detention center does not belong in Klaus Park.

Buying votes

GOV. CARNAHAN raised our taxes a great amount without allowing the people to vote on it. Now he's giving back a little of it, in essence buying our vote with our own money. To me it's like being robbed of all your money and having the thief give you money back for cab fare to get home on. I'm sure you'd feel he was a real nice thief.

Good column, Marc

I REALLY enjoy reading Marc Powers column. Keep up the great work, Marc. I agree with all your statements 100 percent.

Visitors welcome

THIS IS in regard to Diana Steele's letter to the Missourian about watching the sun rise over the Mississippi at the Old St. Vincent's Seminary. I have a question. Can anybody go there and watch the sunrise in the morning? I've been by there many times and would have like to walk on the grounds, but there's a no-trespassing sign posted. Can anybody go there and walk on the grounds and look around like she did or is it only reserved for certain people?

REPLY: Diana Steele is an officer of the Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation, which now owns the property. Her invitation is sincere, and visitors who would like to take a look around are welcome.

Affordable building?

I'D JUST like to say that if we have a deficit and they're out there trying to cut Social Security and everything else to balance the budget, why are we building a federal building here in Cape Girardeau? It doesn't make sense. I say it's time to show those people in Washington that we don't need this. If we're going to balance the budget, let's balance the budget. Cape Girardeau does not need a federal building. If they're going to build a federal building, it needs to go where the H&H Building and the old hotel is so they can use the adjoining federal building where it's at. Why put it over there at the old St. Francis hospital place when they've got this old building that Cape used also? So I say I am against putting a federal building here in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and I intend to write my congressman.

Education's meaning

I WOULD like to comment on the issue of education. I attended a university to acquire an education, not to get a job. If you look up the meaning of "acquire" in Webster's dictionary, it will tell you something is obtained by earning that something. I've met people who got through the system with straight A's who don't know the difference between a $1 and $5 bill. They have some professional service write a cover letter for them and a pre-program to say all the right things in an interview. I emerged from a higher education with neither a brown nose or a high brow. I will continue to wear hair on my face and welcome any gold that rolls off of my tongue.

Litter, not accents

I CAN'T believe the many responses to Speak Out about the Missouri bullfrog accent. I think it's great to have different accents from all over the U.S.A. Wouldn't it be boring if we all talked alike, no one to kid about? I'm from Rhode Island, and I sound totally different and am kidded all the time. My real reason to call Speak Out again is I wrote about two-legged pigs littering the beautiful countryside here, and no one ever responded with a yeah-yeah. Keeping America beautiful is more important than how our accents sound.

Private payments

IN REGARDS to the pilot voucher plan. They want vouchers for private schools so they won't go broke and they want uniforms for public schools. Are these orders coming from Rome? Our country's Constitution does not provide for public subsidy for private school. If you want to belong to a private school or a country club, you pay extra for that. The public should not pay for private tutoring or golfing. Education is available for all children. Those who do not want to take advantage of it and want private tutoring should pay for that extra expense and not expect the public to pay for their private interests. Anytime you join anything private, you pay for it.