Sikeston Standard Democrat: Columns: Michael Jensen

It's time to ditch same old pitch (09/08/10)
To cap off the highly successfully Recovery Summer, the president this week embarks on yet another tour to help jumpstart our faltering economy. His first shot - let's spend more money (which we clearly don't actually have)...

Parties need to give in on tax increase (09/01/10)
How about a compromise? The Republican leadership needs to come out in favor of a tax increase for all Americans if the Democrats will agree to halt any spending increases. Every single dime of the new taxes generated would be directed to deficit reduction. When the deficit becomes a surplus, then the arguments over high taxes can resume at the same time that runaway spending returns...

U.S. border needs greater control (08/29/10)
If we all generally agree that one strength of this great nation is that we accept with open arms those who seek the freedom afforded here, then it's important to examine the ingredients in this "melting pot" that we call America...

Republican party looks for leadership (08/25/10)
With the mid-term elections closing quickly, there's ample room for optimism among conservatives and Republicans. Unless something drastic and positive happens soon, the likelihood of a strong GOP showing is growing stronger each day. But the reality is that a change in power in the House or more remotely in the House and Senate can only slow the administration's push toward a growing central government...

Good education begins at home (08/15/10)
If it's Rodeo week in Sikeston, the start of school must be right around the corner. My oldest daughter reminded me this week of a letter I had written to her on her first day of school. So I glanced back at that long-ago message and was struck by the similarities after 30 years...

Pairing political polar opposites (08/11/10)
As a self-confessed, dyed-in-the-wool conservative, I'm always exploring ways for our government to spend less and save more. Given the current political climate, I fear I may be in the extreme minority. But the "spend like there's no tomorrow" political approach does not deter me from trying to chisel a few bucks off the deficit - or at least so in my mind...

The Rodeo is big part of our town (08/08/10)
Once again, Rodeo Week has arrived in Sikeston. The annual event is as much a part of the fabric of our community as anything you can mention. Like it or not, when most people from outside this immediate region think of Sikeston, they mention Lambert's Cafe and the Bootheel Rodeo as our calling cards...

Race card fails to trump facts (08/04/10)
When all else fails, there's always the race card. With ethics probes under way on Charles Rangle and Maxine Waters, some members of the Congressional Black Caucus floated the notion over the weekend that the investigations were race-based. Unfortunately for the anonymous members of the CBC, the facts simply don't support the charge. But since playing the race card is the bastard child of hypocrisy and arrogance, facts matter little...

Not all deserve our assistance (07/28/10)
The Obama administration's relentless pursuit of bigger government, higher taxes and the now-famous "redistribution of wealth" is the most divisive approach to governing in my memory. Those in power want to turn the focus to race or partisan politics or whatever excuse du jour. But the reality is that a growing segment of Americans - some would argue a clear majority - simply resent and oppose the expansion of Mother Government on the backs of working Americans...

Debate could bring changes (07/25/10)
The political discussion -- and there's lots of it these days -- is focused on the upcoming November elections and the potential change that could be in store. With Democrats now enjoying a solid majority in both the House and Senate, a change in voter attitudes could completely change the dynamics and direction in Washington...

It's time to make tough decisions (07/14/10)
The much-anticipated Deficit Commission is expected to report in December on steps needed to control our runaway spending economy in this country. There are early signs that the group will make some radical, though much-needed, recommendations on our economic future...

Kinder's efforts deserve support (07/11/10)
The residents of this state owe a debt of gratitude to Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder who this week filed suit to halt the federal health care overhaul shoved through Congress by the Obama administration. Kinder had promised to sue the feds over the plan and made good on that promise this week...

Border war: We must face issue (07/07/10)
Last week I addressed the apparent disconnect between the current administration in Washington, D.C., and the issue of illegal immigration. Either this administration knows something we don't know or they turn a blind eye to illegal immigration for other motives...

Gone but his pork is not forgotten (06/30/10)
Robert Byrd of West Virginia - the self-proclaimed "Big Daddy" King of Pork - never found it difficult to spend other people's money. The longest serving Senator in United States history died this week at age 92...

Time to address illegal immigration (06/23/10)
We watch with great concern each day as our country faces a toxic assault on our southern border. The daily flow is clearly devastating and yet a solution seems as distant today as when the problem first surfaced. But I'm not talking about the oil spill in the Gulf but rather the assault of illegal immigration from Mexico...

New book captures spirit of Sikeston (06/20/10)
I sheepishly admit I have had a sneak peek at the new publication, "Through The Years: A Pictorial History of Sikeston, Missouri," which is a sesquicentennial tribute to our fair city. The new book will officially be unveiled this Friday, June 25 during a 5-8 p.m. reception at the Historic Downtown Museum. Copies are available for $35 and especially for longtime Sikeston residents, this publication is indeed a treat...

Honest criticism lacking in politics (06/16/10)
Over the past two weeks - following a self-imposed sabbatical - I have had the time to more fully view the political landscape as presented by the mass media. Granted, it's impossible to get any honest assessment from watching the talking heads on television but I tried nonetheless...

Bad parenting costs taxpayers (05/26/10)
Lack of parental responsibility is a recurring theme of mine. I have long argued the obvious: many of the pressing issues in this country can be traced back to parents - more often than not a single mother - abandoning responsibilities that ultimately cost taxpayers more precious dollars...

Donation is big boost for town (05/23/10)
Years from now, Sikeston area residents can look back on this week as an important turning point in the history of our community. The donation of 40-plus acres of prime real estate property from the Matthews family to Three Rivers Community College will someday produce unimaginable benefits to our community and our region...

Consumers fail to learn lessons (05/19/10)
I suspect the key to economic survival is to live within your means. That basic premise of economics applies to your household budget but it also applies to state and federal budgets. The federal government - citing extraordinary times - has clearly abandoned the principle of living within its means. And here in Missouri, the General Assembly adjourned Friday while leaving much of the heavy lifting to Gov. Jay Nixon in terms of cutting state spending to balance our delicate state budget...

Some cases call for death penalty (05/16/10)
Just two weeks ago, I wrote about the ongoing issue of capital punishment in this country and how sharply divided our society is over sentencing someone to death. For those who oppose the death penalty, meet Nathanael Sloop. Sloop was charged this week with murdering his 4 year-old stepson near Salt Lake City, Utah. Police say he "engaged in a systematic and progressively more violent pattern of abuse toward" his stepson...

Food stamp use keeps on growing (05/12/10)
Food stamps will go to a record 40 million Americans this year. That translates into one in every eight Americans now rely on the federal anti-hunger program to supplement or provide for their meals. Of course the headline in this story deals with the record number. But the real story concerns why this massive segment of our population cannot provide for their own food needs...

Town's response is commendable (05/09/10)
You can't help but make some comparisons between the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the billion dollar flash floods that ravaged Nashville last weekends...

It's a scary world for today's grads (05/05/10)
For many in this area - and around the country - May is graduation month. It's a very special time when high school and college students end their formal education and enter the "real world." And right now, it's a truly scary time. We all want to be optimistic about the prospects for graduating classes. ...

Death penalty debate continues (04/28/10)
In April of 1985, Ronnie Lee Gardner shot and killed an attorney during a court appearance at the Metropolitan Hall of Justice in Salt Lake City, Utah. Though handcuffed, a female acquaintance slipped him a small calibre weapon and he fatally shot an attorney in court that day for a completely different case. Gardner was in the court room to discuss evidence in an earlier murder case against him...

Tracks' removal is end of an era (04/25/10)
I already miss the railroad tracks running east-west through Sikeston. Though I have cursed them through the years, their removal this week is clearly the end of an era - though it could be argued their era ended long ago. Sikeston's rail connection through the heart of our community became a relic of bygone days. In the end the line served just two customers here and that apparently signaled the end to our rail...

Marshall is good choice for the job (04/18/10)
Our congratulations go out to former Sikeston Mayor Mike Marshall who was appointed to a federal post by President Obama this week. Marshall will be the new alternate federal co-chair for the Delta Regional Authority. That fancy title means that Marshall will have responsibility for hundreds of programs that benefit the Delta Region, an area along the Mississippi River running roughly from St. Louis to New Orleans...

We truly have a taxing situation (04/14/10)
For many of us, this week brings that special day when we pay our federal and state income tax. Notice I didn't say for most of us because the reality is that nearly half of all Americans actually pay no income taxes. Either these wage earners make too little or they receive enough credits and deductions to nullify their taxes and bring them a refund. Most of those refunds are triggered by the earned income credit, which has become a substantial source of income for many in this region...

This paper wants to keep it local (04/11/10)
There's a famous Norman Rockwell painting that hangs on my office wall entitled Country Editor. The painting portrays a small Missouri newspaper office during the 1940s. It illustrates the daily hectic pace of small newspapers, not unlike today's Standard Democrat in some ways...

Tiger is not out of the woods yet (04/07/10)
We pause from the ongoing discussion of health care, soaring deficits, higher gas prices and looming tax hikes to tackle a more important topic - the return of Tiger Woods to both the golf and national media stage. And what a return it will be! The Tiger Woods episode has truly been like a car wreck - you feel sorry for the victims but you can't help but stare as you drive slowly by...

The story behind our celebration (04/04/10)
Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. ...

The nation's bills keep piling up (03/31/10)
The past week's headlines were dominated by the ongoing debate over the health care overhaul and the upheaval that followed. President Obama and his posse hit the stump to play cheerleader for the health care overhaul and denounce the fiery rhetoric that followed passage of the bill. A dozen or more lawmakers reported threats directed toward them for their health care vote...

Tighter budget is ahead for district (03/28/10)
The stalled national economy has finally come home to roost. The Sikeston R-6 School District - like just about all other districts across the state - is facing revenue cuts because of the dismal state of the economy. Revenues for this school year are projected to be down $1.3 million from the prior school year and that will pose problems for the district going forward. And that is not necessarily the end of the story...

Getting counted is getting costly (03/24/10)
It can be assumed by now that you have received your 2010 census forms. Just over 120 million households should have received the forms in the mail sometime last week. And by now, a substantial portion of American households have already filled out the simple, 10-question survey and returned it in the postage-paid envelope...

Earmarks prove to be tough issue (03/17/10)
Federal budget earmarks - those well-hidden local pork projects - generate as much negative public reaction as just about any antic undertaken by our lawmakers. When the public hears horror stories about million-dollar fruit-fly projects or equally expensive swine-odor projects, there is virtually universal opposition...

Debate begins on immigration (03/10/10)
And now comes immigration "reform!" For a federal government that is stalled on health care, financial reform and creative ways to boost jobs, it seems an odd time to be talking about something as complex and incendiary as immigration reform. Yet in the middle of the chaos comes talks this week on ways to reform the crucial problem of illegal immigration in this country...

Moving Wall's return welcomed (03/07/10)
This week's announcement that the Vietnam War Moving Wall is returning to Sikeston is especially welcome news. The emotional tribute to those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War will highlight a week in September as part of our sesquicentennial celebration...

Cost controls can save the budget (03/03/10)
Though the concept is certainly not original, our federal government needs only to look at the private sector to find the answer to our fiscal crisis. Two dozen major national retailers last week reported financial data and guess how they turned around their lagging business?...

Different ways to fight blight (02/28/10)
Though I assume most readers don't follow the politics of Detroit, I have been following some developments there on their plans to regain control of problem neighborhoods. Please don't make any comparison between Detroit and Sikeston because none exists. Yet there are some similarities between two completely different communities trying to address specific housing issues...

Can our problems really be solved? (02/24/10)
I've spent the last few hours reading two dozen Web sites from all across the land. First, I guess I had too much time on my hands. But it's fascinating what makes the headlines across this great country. So the question is this: What is the most pressing problem facing this nation. It seems a highly appropriate time to be asking this question...

Rural areas are losing impact (02/14/10)
As I watched one of the dozens of "political" talk shows on television this week, the host jokingly said that the record snowfall and wintry weather was not a news story until it struck New York City...

Here's a solution to health care (02/10/10)
Over the weekend, it hit me like a ton of bricks. We're going about this national health care crisis all the wrong way. We don't have a health care crisis. We have a health crisis. Duh! Instead of stealing money from those who have adequate health care coverage, we should instead manage health itself...

Cap-and-trade bill will only boost our utility rates (02/07/10)
If you liked your utility bill this month just wait until the feds approve new cap and trade legislation. You ain't seen nothing yet! Utility customers throughout the region are shaking their collective heads this week with the arrival of January electric bills. A combination of higher rates and a prolonged cold spell is forcing many consumers to dig deep just to pay their utility bill...

Big budget hard to comprehend (02/03/10)
If the new Obama administration federal budget unveiled this week has accomplished anything, it is this - school children will soon know how many zeroes are in a trillion. Just like your household budget, the federal government each year charts income and expenses. To put it mildly, it ain't pretty this year. And it won't improve to any great extent until at least 2020...

Political divide keeps growing (01/20/10)
The political polarization of America has reached new heights. And through years of monitoring the political landscape of this great nation, I have never witnessed anything remotely comparable...

Building blocks of local progress (01/19/10)
If you want to see progress, just look around. Construction projects in Sikeston/Miner are welcome signs for our area and there's no shortage of major projects under way. The Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities is well under way with the construction of a new 30,000 square-foot headquarters in downtown Sikeston that is bringing renewed progress to the area. ...

Racism remains a thorny issue (01/13/10)

He's a poet. But does Jay know it? (12/30/09)
For the second consecutive year, I am throwing my hat into the literary ring as a candidate to be Missouri's next poet laureate. I even consulted a dictionary to assure I knew what a laureate was. I can't hide my bitter disappointment over Gov. Jay Nixon's snub last year. When Nixon announced a year ago that Missouri was seeking its first poet laureate, I assumed I had a fighting chance. Turns out I was wrong...

Economic future remains in doubt (12/16/09)
I cornered a small businessman in St. Louis over the weekend and asked the question probably heard before: "How's business?" With honesty not always afforded to a stranger, he told me that his business was "off" slightly from the past but that his current sales were not his prime concern. He said he was afraid at what lays ahead...

Campaigns ignore the toughest issues (09/07/08)
Living in Chicago is more dangerous than living in Iraq or Afghanistan. Well, at least that's the case given some fascinating numbers released this week. Depending on what official statistic you use, it appears that more people were killed in Chicago this summer than in Iraq and Afghanistan combined...

After the election, we work together (07/30/08)
With the election season upon us, political pundits of all stripes are pontificating on the merits of their candidates and the shortcomings of their opponents. This is nothing new by any stretch of the imagination. I have written about the world of politics for many years. ...

Statewide election impacts local vote (07/27/08)
Even staunch Republicans privately acknowledge that this election cycle does not bode well for the GOP. Of course, as is so often the case, predictions made in the summer can prove embarrassingly inaccurate in the fall. There will be countless twists and turns before voters cast their ballot in November. But first comes the August primary elections...

Many responsible for city's success (07/20/08)
Someday, future Sikeston residents will look back on this week as an important turning point in the history of this community. The announcement of a new industry here is not just welcome news, it's the type of news that can jettison a community to a higher quality of life...

Gambling loss limits should be voted out (07/16/08)
It now appears likely a measure will be on the November election ballot in Missouri that will end the $500 loss limit at Missouri casinos and put a moratorium on the number of casinos in the state. A challenge to the proposal was ruled in favor of the measure this past week and that should set the stage for the November vote...

Politics can be a deadly game (06/18/08)
One of this summer's favorite pastimes is called "political bashing." It's a simple game where you wait for a politician to make virtually any comment and then you play Monday-morning quarterback and bash the politician's position. It's a equal-opportunity game played by both Democrats and Republicans...

November initiative deserves support (03/30/08)
For 30 years of writing this column, I have consistently said the topic of race was the most pressing and most dividing issue in this country. We talk about political differences, religious differences, rural/urban differences and a host of other issues that surface in the daily dialogue. Yet, despite our denials, we all too often return to the topic of race...

How will sacrifice of 4,000 be seen? (03/26/08)
Sometime over the weekend, halfway across the world, an American soldier became the 4,000th death recorded since the war in Iraq began in March 2003. It's still uncertain how history will treat this war. Let's just pray that we'll never write a story about the 5,000th victim...

A delicate balance of faith, democracy (03/22/08)
Today is a day of great significance in the Christian world - the day the Bible tells us of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a day of foundational belief in the Christian world where we are directed by faith to accept the words of the Bible and to believe in the forgiveness of sins. ...

Culture of violence must be stopped (03/19/08)
When I was 17, I had just graduated high school and was facing the same questions about my future that, I would assume, strikes most 17 year olds. Now granted, it was 1965 and the world was different. But the truth then as it is now, at 17, I lacked the life experiences to make exact judgments on what I wanted or where I wanted to go with my life...

It's time to delete the issue of e-mails (03/15/08)
When Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt shocked virtually everyone by announcing he would not seek re-election, his reasoning was that he had accomplished his agenda and reached his goals during his first term so why seek another term. Since there was no other evidence to the contrary, most observers accepted Blunt's explanation. And most still do...

Corporate leaders forgot business rule (03/12/08)
As an avowed capitalist, I take pride when I witness someone rise from virtually nothing to extraordinary financial heights. Like most of us, I put a premium on those who have the talent, skills or intellect to do what few others can. And I believe those rare individuals should be rewarded at whatever level they can achieve. Let's just call it the American Dream...

City should walk away from trail (03/09/08)
I see where the Sikeston City Council this week approved spending $400,000 for a new walking trail to connect the kindergarten to the Sports Complex. Now let me say from the beginning, I think our community is blessed with an effective and pro-active City Council that is extremely attuned to the needs of our community. But sometimes even good people make bad decisions. The walking trail fits into that category in my opinion...

Reality apparently eludes candidate (03/05/08)
I believe you get the true measure of a politician not from a prepared text but rather from an off-the-cuff comment or quick answer to a question. That is what struck me this week in a brief, passing and humorously-intended comment by Barack Obama. Obama was in Texas in a run-up to yesterday's primary there and deviated from his prepared remarks. ...

Continued efforts, time needed for new bridge (03/01/08)
It's been a while now since talk of a new bridge spanning the Mississippi near Charleston has been in the spotlight. That doesn't mean the subject is forgotten nor does it mean that efforts are not continuing between the states and communities involved. But the lack of discussion does illustrate one thing - the prospect for a new bridge in this region is a marathon, not a sprint. If anyone expects action in the next decade, it's just wishful thinking...

Speakout serves an important role (02/27/08)
Long before there were bloggers, long before the Internet opened countless venues for public discussion, and long before there was easily accessible portals for venting and thought sharing, there was Speakout. If I'm doing my math correctly, we're approaching the 35th anniversary of this once-unique public discussion forum in Southeast Missouri...

A license to govern should be priority (02/23/08)
As with any elected body, the Missouri General Assembly gets its fair share of criticism. In a touch of irony, the legislature is blamed by some for what they do and by others for what they fail to do. But then again, this should come as no surprise...

Conservative ideals are still necessary (02/21/08)
Dang it's a tough time to be a conservative. Let's face it, every political column from Hoboken to Keokuk is singing the same refrain. The conservative movement revolves around two central issues - low taxes and small government. But this presidential cycle offers some awkward choices for those among us who call ourselves conservatives. ...

Power efforts paid off following storm (02/16/08)
If this week has taught us anything it should be the obvious - we cannot control the weather. Now granted, this is simply stating the obvious but sometimes, it's the obvious that seems to elude us. February in our neck of the woods is supposed to be exactly what we're experiencing. Yet when Mother Nature strikes, for some reason we seem surprised and woefully unprepared. You'd think by now we would have learned a lesson...

A shared day but very different lives (02/13/08)
Today is an important day in my small world. Today my father turns 82 and my son turns 30. We've always taken some level of pride in these shared birthdays. You can never truly plan such a coincidence so that makes it all the more special when it occurs...

Can generous gifts be better spent? (02/12/08)
When Bill Gates announces yet another multi-million grant to help starving children in Africa, his heart is most definitely in the right place. You simply can't argue with someone who uses their enormous riches to help those in most desperate need...

LCRA is making a difference in town (02/10/08)
For a number of years there has been an ongoing discussion in Sikeston about the future of our community. More specifically, there has been a discussion on how to reverse a trend toward decline in our community. The subject took on added emphasis a couple of years ago when voters here overwhelmingly - and I mean overwhelmingly - approved a measure to help fund the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority...

Improved roads will require more taxes (02/07/08)
We can sympathize with Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn. The transportation guru told Missouri legislators this week that his department is more accountable, the state's roads are better and annual roadway deaths are lower than they have been in a decade. And by the way, the public wants nearly $20 billion more in roadway improvements than funds are available...

Emerson's decision benefits Bootheel (02/06/08)
It will probably go unspoken but this region owes a debt of gratitude to Rep. Jo Ann Emerson on her decision to seek re-election to her House seat instead of entering the GOP battle for governor of Missouri. Perhaps Emerson felt her chances were a long shot. ...

My vote is for none of the candidates (02/05/08)
I am somewhat ashamed to admit I did not vote in today's Missouri presidential primary election. Under virtually any other circumstance, I would have been among the first in line. But for a variety of reasons, this year is different. I know, I know...even those of us disenchanted should always take this privilege of selecting the person we want to hold the highest office in the land. ...

The political twists are tricky to follow (02/02/08)
In a span of less than two weeks, the Missouri political landscape has taken more twists and turns than a John Grisham novel. The opening chapter captured our attention with the stunning announcement by Gov. Matt Blunt that he would not seek re-election. A running theme throughout this novel will revolve around why Blunt made the surprise announcement. Why at this time? Why no prior notice apparently to anyone? Why, why, why?...

Ralph Nader is past prime as candidate (01/31/08)
Ralph Nader is considering another bid for the White House and said he would decide within a month whether to enter the campaign once again. There are countless readers of this newspaper who have never heard of Ralph Nader. So that may forecast his prospects...

Pork-barrel politics must come to end (01/30/08)
At long last, the spotlight is finally starting to shine on the warped policy of "earmarks" - those hidden little Congressional secrets that keep incumbent politicians popular at home while spending billions of your tax dollars without public input or discussion. President Bush - albeit too little and far too late - finally addressed the issue of earmarks during his State of the Union address this week. He pledged to veto the pork and rein in reckless spending...

Stimulus package fails in the long run (01/29/08)
If the economic stimulus package currently under consideration in Washington is the best we can offer, we're in sad shape. The prospect of a $300 rebate check coming in the mail will have such a small impact on the economy it will simply go unnoticed...

Reading between the political lines (01/26/08)
OK, so let me chime in on the sudden and unexpected political bombshell that incumbent Gov. Matt Blunt would not seek re-election this November. The fact is that political junkies are having a feeding frenzy on the Blunt withdrawal but, for most people, they unfortunately have more interest in hearing about Heath Ledger's death. ...

Senator's proposal doesn't rate well (01/24/08)
Have you ever heard an argument where both sides were right? Well that - to me at least - is exactly what's under way in the Missouri General Assembly concerning a proposal to create a rating system for early childhood education centers in Missouri...

Crop of candidates is just uninspiring (01/23/08)
I've followed the presidential election process in this country for a number of years. Because of my particular career path, I suspect I have followed elections closer than most readers. That most certainly doesn't make me any smarter on the ebb and flow of the political process; it just makes me a bystander who has followed the game closer than most. Let's just leave it at that...

Death penalty does fill a role in system (01/22/08)
There is not an equal divide in this country or this state over support for the death penalty. By any measure, residents here and across the county show strong support for capital punishment. And well they should because volumes of evidence support the fact that the death penalty is a deterrent for crime...

Candidates have very different views (01/19/08)
This much we know: Gov. Matt Blunt and Attorney General Jay Nixon are already in full campaign mode as they take center stage in what is sure to be a heated contest for the state's top office this November. Conventional wisdom says this year may be a good time to challenge an incumbent Republican governor since the national picture currently bodes fairly well for Democrats...

Federal government toughens policies (01/17/08)
Just when you thought there was no good news around comes an announcement by federal authorities that they plan to increase the deportation of 200,000 immigrants in American prisons and jails. This new effort is designed to help reduce the cost of housing immigrant criminals here on the federal, state and local levels. And it marks a substantial increase from the 64,000 immigrant criminals deported in 2006...

Our economic hole includes doughnuts (01/16/08)
Just like you, I read daily about our faltering economy. Oil prices are at record levels, subprime loans are threatening our financial foundation, our largest banks are being sold to foreign interests, etc. The economy is not on life support but some experts see that coming just around the corner...

Political games can tire out the public (01/15/08)
The upcoming presidential election appears to be about Martin Luther King and Ronald Reagan. As best I can tell, every candidate in both parties is desperately trying to invoke the name of King or Reagan at every turn. Barack Obama, who is black, and Hillary Clinton, who is not, both drop the King name as if they stood by the civil rights' leader on that crowded balcony in Memphis 40 years ago. ...

Being an American in today's world (01/12/08)
I am an American. Those are proud words though they once held much more pride across other nations than they do today. But those words still speak volumes to the millions of faceless and nameless world citizens whose lives are better today because America came to their rescue in one form or another...

Take pride in your town and don't litter (01/10/08)
Sikeston Mayor Mike Marshall got on a bit of a rant during Monday's city council meeting over the issue of trash in our community. Hizzoner told assembled Public Safety officers to get tough on the trash issue here and he made his impassioned plea in unmistakable terms...

Political times have passed McGovern by (01/09/08)
Someone needs to tell former Senator and presidential candidate George McGovern that he is no longer relevant. McGovern hails from the left fringes of the left wing in this country and always has resided there. Perhaps that's why his defeat in a bid for the White House in 1972 was such a landslide. And things have not changed since...

Illegal immigration is state issue, too (01/08/08)
Sometimes I agree with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and other times I disagree. The business lobbying group is always active in legislative affairs and its voice carries some impact down the halls in Jefferson City. The Missouri General Assembly returns to work tomorrow and, by most accounts, the upcoming session may best be described as lackluster. ...

Little changes chip away our identity (01/06/08)
What if one day you awakened to learn that everything you thought you knew was no longer true? What if those who want to revise history simply changed the rules and right was wrong, up was down, left was right? What if a lifetime of learning was instantly wiped out and those who advance political correctness won the day?...

Tax dollars wasted on needle exchange (01/03/08)
Washington, D.C., is far from the ideal community to serve as our nation's capital. The city is near the top of the crime list and near the bottom of the education achievement category. And now our nation's capital has yet another honor - it has reached "modern epidemic" status for the explosion in AIDS cases...

Greed put housing market in trouble (01/02/08)
Let's start off the new year by revisiting a headline from the old year. The crisis in the home lending market - especially for sub-prime loans to marginal borrowers - hit the fan in 2007 and will cause an additional financial crunch this year. My concern now, as it has been all along, is that trustworthy borrowers who make their payments on time and who follow the rules may well ultimately pay for this manufactured crisis...

Farewell to 2007, welcome to 2008 (12/29/07)
Well, the time has come for some year-end pithy thoughts on 2007 and some equally pithy predictions for the coming year. Actually, I just wanted to use the word pithy for some strange reason but now that I'm stuck with the introduction, I have little choice other than to sum up the year...

Some numbers are out of this world (12/20/07)
The scientific community is all abuzz this week over the discovery of a "death star galaxy" that is blasting a neighboring galaxy with deadly radiation. NASA said this week that telescopes had witnessed this new outer-space "violence" for the first time. This black hole apparently nuzzled up to a nearby galaxy and zapped it with radiation and energy. Eventually the blasts will eat away at the second galaxy, like a knock-out punch in a prize fight...

Holiday compassion not always deserved (12/19/07)
This time next week, Christmas will be behind us. The gifts will be opened, the food consumed and Santa will be back at the North Pole preparing for next year. But the reality is that those who asked for help this Christmas will likely find themselves in the same position next year. I've come to the sad conclusion that there is little we can do to change that...

Burn those pounds: just move around (12/18/07)
We are by any definition an obese nation. Just look around and you'll find ample evidence to support the claims. And some of the fastest growing industries - naturally - are those which promise to take off those pounds and restore that youthful figure, assuming you had a youthful figure in your youth...

Brighter future will require work for now (12/15/07)
Give Sikeston Mayor Mike Marshall and State Rep. Ellen Brandom credit for bringing much needed attention to the issue of a new bridge over the Mississippi River to replace the aging bridge that spans between Illinois and Missouri. These two elected officials and civil leaders joined state officials this week in touring the bridge in question with the hope of generating support for a new bridge...

Network media adds slant to its news (12/13/07)
I watch more than my share of television news because that's my business and, even if it were not, I think somehow we have a passing responsibility to stay informed. Without information, we're prone to make poor decisions. Without information, we're left to guess at solutions instead of thinking them through...

Michael Jensen
Michael Jensen