OpinionApril 12, 1996
SPEAKOUT
RECENTLY I had a flat on a very busy street. Being a widow, I locked my door and turned my flashers on. It was not very long until a nice man stopped. I told him my problem. He said he would try to find someone to fix it. If not, he would come back and do it himself. ...
Plenty of assistance
RECENTLY I had a flat on a very busy street. Being a widow, I locked my door and turned my flashers on. It was not very long until a nice man stopped. I told him my problem. He said he would try to find someone to fix it. If not, he would come back and do it himself. He left, and very soon a young woman with her child stopped and offered to help me. I told her someone was doing it. Then two teen-agers stopped and offered to help. By that time, the man was back, and the wrecker came. It made me glad that I live in Cape Girardeau, and I thank those people who helped me even though I do not know their names.
The message of Easter
SINCERE COMPLIMENTS to the Southeast Missourian for the editorial in Sunday's paper. A reprint of the Easter gospel according to Matthew 28:1-10. One word appeared on the last line: "Amen." Appropriate and beautiful. On the following page, Cal Thomas puts these pipsqueak theologians who try to deny history's greatest fact in their corner. In a day when we have decaffeinated coffee, decaffeinated Coca-Cola, decaffeinated Pepsi and so forth, these smart alecks want to de-fact Easter. Thomas echoes the words of Paul: "Now if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?" 1 Corinthians 15:12. He concludes the article "If a man is basically good, Jesus died for nothing." The trumpet gives a clear sound.
Vote against DST
I WOULD like to tell any politician out there, especially one running against an incumbent, that he has a sure-fire vote getter if he would come out against daylight-saving time. Perhaps Thad Bullock would like to make that his platform. Come on, Thad, repeal daylight-saving time. We'll all vote for you.
Railroad-crossing safety
THIS IS to the person who called in about my previous call about railroad crossing safety at Oran. When one is stopped at the stop sign, one has good visibility for approximately a half-mile or more to the north. I have lived in Oran for 36 years, and I've crossed this crossing numerous times, and I always come to a complete stop, look both ways and listen.
Charging for records
I RECENTLY found out that my OB/GYN was changing his practice to another location, so I called to have his old office transfer my files and was informed it would cost me $15 handling charge plus 35 cents a page to copy my file and send it to its new location. I'm guessing this is legal, but it's totally unethical in my opinion. I have transferred from doctor to doctor in the past and have never been charged a fee. I know my file is quite lengthy and has information that I want transferred, but it would cost too much. I feel like my file is being held hostage by a greedy doctor.
A matter of greed
I CAN tell you why we have such high gasoline prices. One word: greed.
Sorry for the wealthy
I HAVE not seen an area like this, more so than any of the metropolitan areas or even downstate where the people are poor. They call in and really and speak out for the wealthy. They really feel sorry for the poor rich man. Every time a business executive complains about having to pay out wages and about workers' comp insurance or has to pay out taxes, he gets their sympathy, even with the clergymen.
Pricing at the gas pumps
FOR THOSE who are fed up with the exorbitant gas prices in this area, it should be obvious by now that we are being unfairly gouged for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The prices in Cape, Jackson and Sikeston are held artificially high. All prices go up a tenth of a cent in the same hour. The only exceptions are the stations off the beaten path where they are allowed to charge one cent less. Now everyone's overhead and delivery costs are not exactly the same. It seems clear that some kind of a cartel exists, thus eliminating all competition. Might be a good suggestion maybe the Attorney General should kind of look at this.
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
Detention economics 101
WOULD SOMEBODY inform this old geezer just why it would be economical to have 23 people to supervise 20 juvenile delinquents in a holding cell? Boy, oh, boy, if that isn't Democratic economy.
Lack of competition
THIS IS to the citizens of Cape. Basically gas prices are higher in Cape and always have been. This is no big surprise. In an article in the Southeast Missourian approximately six months to a year ago, one of the suppliers basically said that due to the lack of competition, gas is higher in Cape. I submit the following recommendation to alleviate that problem: I will boycott any purchase of lottery tickets, cigarettes, milk, that type thing from any gas station.
Shopping-cart hazards
IS IT true that there is a business in the area that has shopping carts but there are no shopping carts floating around the parking lot causing damage to vehicles? If there is one, could you please put that in the paper? I'd sure like to go to that place and patronize them.
Commerce buyout concerns
I'M CALLING about the Commerce buyout that FEMA has going on. When they originally started the buyout, they said anyone out of the 500-year flood plain would not be bought out. Now they have changed their minds, and they are adding properties that are above the 500-year flood plain. Are they trying to help the people, or are they trying to destroy Commerce altogether? They have also paid individuals over $10,000 to move into homes that they are building to move into anyway. They are not low-income people. They have paid one couple for two low-income qualification homes for separate properties, which looks like double-dipping. How legal is all of this activity? And it's no wonder the government is in the mess it is if they go around doing stuff like that.
No rights for illegal immigrants
IT AMUSES me to see the concern shown by the ACLU and other groups for the rights of the illegal Mexican immigrants in the United States. When I was with the military at Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas, it was emphasized to us by our officers that if we went into Juarez on the Mexican side of the border, we had no rights at all. We were on our own. We were not in our country, and we had no rights. I believe the Mexican citizens should be treated the same way in this country.
Flag not at half mast
I AM a concerned citizen and a veteran, and I think it is very wrong for a certain private club here in town that's supposed to be a veterans organization not to display the flag at half mast when a government official was killed in this plane crash. I think it is very wrong for them not to do that. I have never been a member of this organization even though I am a Vietnam veteran. I will never be a member of this organization, especially the one here in Cape. It is a political outfit that thinks only of themselves.
Early teacher retirements
ONCE AGAIN, the integrity or lack of integrity of the Cape public schools administration and board of education is painfully obvious. Four years ago, when the first early-retirement incentive was offered, it was stated time and time again that it was a one-time offer only. Several teachers retired earlier than they had planned so they would not lose the incentive. The past two years, when teachers asked about the possibility of a early retirement incentive, they were told that it would be illegal to offer another one since it was stated that the previous one was a one-time offer only. Now we hear a retirement incentive may be offered this year. Once again, we learn that Cape's administration and board seemingly act according to what is expedient or to their advantage with little thought to the individuals involved or what is right.
Enforce tobacco laws
WHO'S ADDICTING our children? I see kids all the time outside every school, Jackson, Cape Central, everywhere, standing there smoking cigarettes. The drug pushers who are selling these things to our children should be stopped. Enforce the tobacco laws.
Story Tags
Advertisement
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
Related
Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
