Monday, Nov. 09, 2009

Sound-off 11/9

A waste of a bridge

The decision by the Illinois Department of Transportation to spend $2 million to convert the MLK Bridge into a two-lane eastbound and one-lane westbound bridge has to be one of the biggest wastes of tax dollars ever. For the last two weeks I've sat in traffic backed up past Third Street in East St. Louis with hundreds of other cars, watching a handful of cars traveling eastbound while it takes an additional 10 to 15 minutes to go westbound into St. Louis.

The right response

I believe our local law enforcement agencies, especially the Belleville Police Department and St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, deserve huge praise for their quick response to recent burglaries in the Belleville area. I am pro law enforcement, and I believe this sends a clear message to all the "gangsta" wannabes that crime will not be tolerated in Belleville.

Who's in charge?

Who is the road crew working on Ames Road near Red Bud? The bridge was flooded out, but you drove five miles down the road before you found out it was closed. Why didn't they put the "road closed" sign at the beginning rather than halfway down? Whoever is in charge needs to get this right. Gas is too expensive to waste.

Just like Illinois

Missouri voters usually elect Republicans. They elected a Democratic governor, Jay Nixon, and guess what, corruption returned. Their driver's license stations are private, and it looks like favorites are getting the contracts. Who knows why? I would say Missouri's step backward allows it to join Illinois in slime.

Decentralize control

If Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signs the recent campaign funding bill, he'll have handed the election over to Comptroller Dan Hynes, also in the governor's race. Illinois voters are fed up with four people running the state's business. The other senators and representatives are getting tired of playing golf on the taxpayers' dime.

Agreed at last

I normally do not agree with Glenn McCoy's political cartoons, but there's a first time for everything. The cartoon Thursday on abortion finally hit the nail on the head. For the first time in my life, I can say "God bless Glenn McCoy."

The ideal president

It would be great if the American people could elect a black president who is not a racist, has served in the military faithfully and honorably and represents the United States with patriotism instead of belittling our country as the current president continues to do.

Stop the burning

Thank you, Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert, for allowing the city to continue its leaf-burning practice. I'm a prisoner in my own home because my neighbor is burning wet leaves. If I had gone outside to work in my yard on a recent beautiful day, I would have ended up in the hospital. I've commented to the mayor about changing this policy, and he told me it was state mandated and that another burn policy would have to be put into place. I think he's afraid to upset his campaign buddies.

Puzzled by mistakes

Once again on Nov. 1, the crossword puzzle in the News-Democrat was not solvable because about 20 percent of the clues were omitted. This is an ongoing problem. Could you please publish them correctly?

State of emergency

I'm glad someone had the guts to call out the 911 St. Clair County dispatch system. The cities that went with this system are not getting their money's worth, and the safety of officers and citizens is at risk. The cities need to go back to hiring their own dispatchers.

Traffic ahead

Does anyone in Swansea remember that the fire chief and elected officials promised no improvements were needed to Huntwood Road when voters were asked to approve a tax increase for a new firehouse? Halfway through a $3 million road improvement, officials are planning for the extension of Huntwood west to Frank Scott Parkway and east to Old Collinsville Road, creating a new road that will increase traffic drastically.

Vote out the bums

We teach our kids to be honest and fair, then we elect politicians and send them to Washington to sell us to the highest bidder. They should be held accountable. In every election, there is voter fraud and politicians do nothing to correct the problem. During the next election, I think we should send these politicians packing.

Blame it on Obama

Before President Barack Obama, my credit card interest rate was 5.99 percent. After Obama's socialist agenda mess with the credit card companies, my interest rate has now gone up to 15.99 percent. Thanks, comrade.

Signs of the times

Way to go, fellow Americans, for responsible parenting. On Halloween many of the girls were dressed like hookers in training, and most of the boys' costumes seemed to deal with violence. No wonder our society is in ruins. All we're doing is bringing up a future generation of reality-show contestants or prisoners.

Officer had his time

Out of 30-plus years of black rule in East St. Louis, Carl Officer was mayor for 16 years. The city should have either progressed or failed. We're looking more at failure, and Officer was the catalyst behind this failure. I'd suggest to all the people of East St. Louis not to support him for any other office, not even dog catcher.

Listen to the doctors

Letter writer Gene Robke accuses all conservatives and right-wingers of lying about health care information. A recent issue of this paper featured a full-page ad from doctors of the Illinois State Medical Society critical of direction health care reform is headed. Does Robke believe that all of the doctors in this organization are right-wingers? Go to www.isms.org, where there are more facts, not opinions, about the health care bill.

Advice to newspaper

I agree with the Sound-off last Monday that criticized the parenting advice of reporter Jennifer Bowen. Not only is she not informative, she's not even entertaining.

What bad sports

I was at the recent Althoff vs. Mater Dei regional volleyball game and witnessed one of the poorest displays of sportsmanship I've ever seen. When Mater Dei defeated Althoff in the second game, one, dropped to the floor and yelled out the F-bomb at the top of her lungs. What a classless act. What are those girls being taught at that school? This is probably a direct reflection of what she is hearing from her coach. What a great hire that was for Althoff.

A waste of paper

Why does Southwestern Illinois College mail class schedules to everyone on the post office mailing list? There are a lot of us retired people who have no good reason for them. In addition, it is coming now with color covers, which cost more. Look at what this is costing the taxpayers. Give us a break.

Give Aguirre a break

Don't judge St. Clair County Judge Richard Aguirre on the Gregory Bowman case. He followed the law when he threw out Bowman's previous murder conviction. Aguirre should be thanked because his decision made it possible to try Bowman in Missouri, where there is a death penalty. Illinois does not enforce its death penalty law. Just how much do you know about the law? Are you smarter than a judge?

Honor our veterans

Veteran's Day is an opportunity for us to consider what veterans have done for our country. Many have fought and died or been injured. This could be a good time to visit an area veteran's hospital to show thanks for what they've done for us.

Yes, Christmas

That round green decoration with the red bow and holly berries in Wednesday's color photo is not a holiday wreath. What holiday would it represent-- Thanksgiving, Arbor Day? The symbols for new year are Father Time and Baby New Year; the symbol for Hanukkah is the menorah. It offends Christians when you censor the name of our holy day. Yes, it does contain the name of Christ, the savior whose birth we celebrate. That decoration being hung by a city worker is a Christmas wreath. Say it loud, and say it proud: Merry Christmas.

What are the odds?

The recently released school test scores for our area show that two East St. Louis fourth grades received perfect scores of 100 in both reading and math. Based upon the overall performance of the East St. Louis schools and assuming the average class size is 24, the probability of two classes making perfect scores is one in 1,179,648. A retest should be administered, and if the first results prove bogus, the person or people responsible for contaminating the numbers should be prosecuted.

Silence on H1N1

It's strange that we haven't heard from the surgeon general or the president regarding the H1N1 flu vaccine shortage. Is President Barack Obama afraid he'll have to take some responsibility for this crisis? This problem occurred on his watch, just like Hurricane Katrina did on President Bush's watch. We never heard the end of that blame game. Come on, President Obama, reassure us that you're on top of this matter. How many young people will die from this dangerous flu virus because of our leader's inaction?

Punish to the max

I read the story about the dog from Cahokia that was tortured and left in a Dumpster. This woman and anyone like her should do some serious jail time. I hope this story is kept on the front burner. If convicted, she should go to jail. No more slaps on the hand for ignorant people.

Slow on the refund

I wanted to warn everyone how the St. Louis Cardinals treat their fans. I bought the playoff game tickets, and they immediately took my money. When Game Four wasn't played, it took five weeks to refund my money and they didn't refund the service fees. I thought that was a nice way to treat their fans.

Too many bailouts

I read that tax money will be allocated to clean up Gateway Regional Hospital, formerly Christian Welfare Hospital, in East St. Louis. That's upsetting because people in East St. Louis ransacked that hospital and ruined it. Now the taxpayers have to again clean up the mess. Quite frankly, we're tired of it.

Hard to believe

I'd like East St. Louis authorities to let the News-Democrat take a picture of 100 guns let alone the 1,000 guns that former Police Chief Michael Baxter supposedly took off the street. St. Louis is a bigger city, and the police there haven't taken 1,000 guns off the streets. I think East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks is overinflating things. How many convictions does East St. Louis have for murders, rapes and burglaries? I'll bet it's fewer than 50.