SPEAKOUT

Friday, August 31, 2001

There is a disabled veteran who lives on School Street who had to pay a fine of $120 (which he did not have) because he had too much in his yard. He had been given the washer and dryer and had just brought it home and did not have a chance to install it. He also had a commode to put in his bathroom. He couldn't get this done because of his health so they were hauled away. His lot is only 80x50 feet and he has a riding lawn mower, boat trailer and saw horse and scaffold boards which he uses when he is able to work. While trying to get all this done, he had a heat stroke and he explained this to Mr. Burns, who told him it would be OK. When he was able to get it all cleaned up, he gets a summons to court and had to pay a $225 fine. He is not a drug dealer or a wealthy Section 8 landlord. He lives on $700 a month. He has never been in any trouble, doesn't drink or smoke. Yet another man was in court who had no driver's license nor insurance. He was fined $55. Who was a greater risk? Justice? Not so.

In response to Michael Jensen's editorial on Aug. 23 about "Welfare reform does not need reforming," he said there's been a 53 percent drop in welfare. A few may have gotten off of getting a check, but Mr. Jensen, you need to check the programs these people are getting. Since they don't get a check in the form of possibly of living with their parents and the parents getting $300 to $500 a month for watching their children, the food stamps they may be getting and for the insurance coverage they get that they can get almost anything with; they'll help them buy automobiles and what have you. I'm for helping people. But you're right. This welfare system does need to be checked into. There aren't 53 percent who have been taken off. They may not be getting a check but you need to check and see what they're getting in replacement of that check.

I read in the paper on Aug. 23 about someone giving a dog problem in the neighborhood. I just wonder if those were the neighbors who let their dog out at night to poop in the yard next door. Then when the neighbor comes out, they have a big pile to step around, step in or scoop up and put in the trash because the neighbors don't clean up after their dog. Or is it the neighbors who walk their dog and let the dog go in the neighbor's yard off the sidewalk. It's really disgusting when you have to go outside to mow and have to walk in this dog mess where people have let their dogs go. I know it wasn't my dogs, but this is my opinion.

To the sore loser who put an article in the Aug. 23 paper how some Republicans had referred to President Clinton as "Slick Willie" and said President Bush had already recanted on a portion of stem cell research, you need to buy another newspaper. Apparently he missed the news report and speech President Bush gave. He did not say he was for stem cell research. He only stated, as a scientist had said, there wasn't any proof that stem cell research was a sure thing but he would consider limited research on dead cells. Nor did he say he was for abortion. So as the Texans say, "Don't mess with Texas."

Hey Mike. Peter Myers is absolutely right about promoting soybean and ethanol. When we buy petroleum from Saudi Arabia, we get the energy but they get our money. If we grow energy here in the United States, we get the money and we get the ethanol. It's a much better deal. Besides that, soybean and ethanol are both better at reducing pollution and keeping our money here at home.

I read JoAnn Emerson's Aug. 22 soapbox and said she was struck by the beauty of her Eighth District. "I have spent the better portion of the last 20 years traveling through our district...." I'd just love to know how many days she lived here in our district, in Cape Girardeau as she calls her home. I would sure appreciate an answer.