SPEAKOUT

No need for handouts

A SPEAK Out reader says that basic health care is a right. What about the rights of responsible people? I guess this socialist Democrat forgot what John Kennedy, a decent Democrat, said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." He didn't say let someone else take care of you. You should read the Bill of Rights. Take responsibility for yourself and your family instead of looking for a government handout. A day will come, and it's not far away, that the takers will outnumber the givers. Our government wasn't founded to support a welfare state on the backs of decent, overtaxed citizens. The caller says "we're the richest country in the world." Right. And it's not because of the people wanting something from their fellow citizens.

Someone has to pay

THIS IN response to the person who claims that government paid health care is a right. Poppycock. These free health services that you want might be free to you, but someone else is paying for it. Every dollar that you receive in government services is a dollar out of someone else's pocket. The next time you call Speak Out demanding free government services, try substituting the word "government" with the words "friends and neighbors." That way your phrase might sound something like this: "It's my right to have my friends and neighbors pay for my health care." In reality, that's what you're demanding.

Who's in charge now.

WE NEED the Ten Commandments because of the loss of moral character in our country. You have students being taught more about the environment and animals' feelings instead of how America was founded and what it went through and God's laws. They teach more about people's ancestral countries than their own country. With the liberal line nothing's wrong with having an abortion, living together, having a relationship, out-of-wedlock children or sexual preference. We need this because most children these days get no morals or values taught in their homes. So where do they get their guidance? Mr. Clinton's lifestyle? MTV? Hollywood? I think not. This country was not founded by atheists, homos, perverts, ACLU, NAACP or any whining liberals. But that's who's in charge now.

Is an oath swearing.

I HAVE recently been reading a book by Max Lecado called "No Wonder They Call Him the Savior." This book is really good, and it led me to James 5:12 in my Bible. And I have a question about our judicial system. James 5:12 reads: Above all, my brothers, do not swear. Not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your yes be yes and your no, no, or you will be condemned." Now my question is this: It explicitly states in black and white that it is wrong to swear by heaven, by earth, most definitely by God. So when you're in a court of law, and you have to take your oath that says "I do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God," does that mean that you're condemned? Maybe our judicial system should take another look at that and change it to "I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." I'd love to get some feedback on this.

Return to our principles

THERE WERE many people who lost their lives in the senseless slaughter of World War I. Others lost their faith in man and in God. The Great Depression of the 1930s followed it and brought about more tragedy as millions lost their livelihoods. Meanwhile, socialism was giving birth to Russian communism, Italian fascism and Germany's Nazism, which set the stage for the carnage of World War II. We in the United States at that time a republic still founded on principles of freedom, limited government and state's rights, a concept behind federalism had to pull Europe out of both world wars. Now we are falling victim to the same democratic socialistic regulations, bureaucracy, excessive taxation, centralization of government power, which will lead to our destruction in the early 21st century. There won't be any country left to pull us out of such darkness and failure unless we return to the founding principles of our forefathers' wisdom and the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and refute socialism, which is gradually coming into our country, and secularism, which is gradually destroying our faith.

No charter schools wanted

THIS IS a reply to the parent who is concerned about spending at SEMO. I want to direct my comment to the charter-school proposal. If this person had read the story in the newspaper, he or she would know that it wasn't a SEMO official or teacher who came up with the idea for charter schools. This was the brainchild of Peter Kinder, our senator. Not one single administrator at SEMO wants it. Not one teacher wants it. No student wants it. So my advice: Read the paper, and try to read it with some understanding.

Slow-down signs.

APPARENTLY IT'S time for the police to make it official. To go around and take down all the stop signs in Cape Girardeau and replace them with "Slow down if you feel like it" signs. It's gotten to the point where that's what the appropriate thing seems to be.

Thanks to animal control

I'D LIKE to say thank you to the animal-control officers, especially officer Baughn. They go out of their way to catch animals so that they won't get killed on the roadways. I really appreciate the speedy way they respond to phone calls. Thank you again to all the animal-control officers for all their hard work.

Thanks for all the flags

A SPECIAL thank you to the people who helped put out the flags at county park. With the flags being alternated, it happened that my father's flag was there on Veterans Day, and that meant a lot since he's no longer with us. Thank you again for your efforts.

No health obligation

THIS IS in response to the Speak Out item about people's right to health care. This person quoted percentages of money spent in the last three weeks of life and all this stuff. I have never, ever read anything that would support that, and I have an idea that the caller has an arm about three miles long to pull something like that out of the air. People need health care, but no one else is entitled or obligated to give it to them. They can do the same thing others do: spend their money carefully and provide for themselves. People who sit around and think someone else owes you a living is ridiculous. If you're so inclined, you can provide for yourself most of the time. There are a few handicapped people who can't, but intelligent, able-bodied people can and should. Don't feel guilty because someone you know didn't provide for themselves and blew their money and wasted it.

Proud of Jess Crawford

I THINK that one of the people who needs to be noted whenever sports heroes or figures in the area are mentioned is Jess Crawford. He played on Central's team that was undefeated, untied and unscored-on. Then he went on to be second-team All American at Cape State. Coach Brinkopf said he probably should have been first team. He then was a coach of Mayfield's high school team and led them to a state title when there was only one title. And also was general manager of a minor -league baseball team in Mayfield. I'm very proud that Jess Crawford is my uncle.

Not enough to pay taxes

IN REGARD to the articles in Speak Out about farmers and their plight: How come a farmer with a million-dollar operation interest that it takes to farm.

Stretch students' minds

THIS IS a comment on the person who said he didn't think his children were getting value for their money at SEMO. I have a daughter at SEMO, and in one of the hard science classes she took the students were told at the beginning of the class that if they attended every class they were automatically guaranteed a C no matter their performance on the tests or actual knowledge of the subject. On the other hand, I also know from personal experience that the students and the parents get extremely upset when they get anything less than an A or a B if they do any work at all. The grade inflation is unbelievable. I resent it as a parent of a child whose mind should really be encouraged to stretch. Instead, they have plenty of time every night to watch TV and hang out with her friends.