[Nameplate] Fair ~ 75°F  
High: 79°F ~ Low: 55°F
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Administration fails to give us the truth (05/22/13)
A White House senior advisor said Sunday that it was "irrelevant" where the President was during the raid on the Benghazi compound where four Americans were killed. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked with great indignation "What difference, at this point, does it matter," when questioned about the "talking points" of the Benghazi raid...
New survey will help shape Sikeston's future (05/18/13)
There's a new survey out of importance to Sikeston and hopefully it will help the city to consider ways to move into the future. The survey - commissioned by the city Vision Implementation Committee - touches on a number of topics that either attract people here or convince people to move elsewhere...
More money will not solve poverty problem (05/15/13)
Much of the national dialogue for the past 50 years has focused on the issue of poverty. Wars have come and gone. Social issues have evolved and changed the fabric of society. Technology has advanced at break-neck speed. But poverty remains largely unchanged...
Have you thanked your mother today? (05/12/13)
Every day should be Mother's Day! But we set aside just one day a year to pause and honor the foundation of our society - moms. Society is so very familiar with the term single mother - so much so that we casually throw that label around virtually daily...
Minor event doesn't deserve the attention (05/08/13)
As the world knows by now, Jason Collins is a much-traveled, mediocre professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards - his sixth team. Until last week, Collins was far from a household name to put it mildly. But Collins - with much fanfare - announced he was a gay athlete which marked a "first" in men's professional sports for an active player...
Upcoming election important to district (05/04/13)
Don't look now, but in just one month voters in this district will pick a new congressman to replace JoAnn Emerson. In many respects, this race has remained somewhat under the radar screen. There was ample attention during the controversial committee selection to pick these two candidates. But once that curious process was complete, the race became a dash for funds and endorsements...
The economic pain could be avoided (05/01/13)
In his weekly radio address Saturday, President Obama promised more "pain" for the American people unless Congress approved his budget. Now this is the same President who was offered the option by Congress to make budget cuts in the wake of the sequester that would have minimal negative impact. But he declined that offer outright...
Gangs are in control of Chicago's streets (04/28/13)
By most accounts, Chicago, Ill., is a cesspool - a poster child for urban decay, violence, corruption and massive financial problems. Social historians can better explain the background of this failed urban trash heap, but the bottom line is that Chicago will serve as an example of what can go wrong when decades of poor decisions come home to roost...
Growing uncertainty is unwelcome in US (04/24/13)
We are now to understand we have a "new normal." If you haven't heard the term, you will. Whether it's the uncertain economy, the cultural shift to the left, the growing dependence on government or now the resurgence of terrorism at home, we have entered an age of this new normal...
Murderous actions hard to comprehend (04/21/13)
What a sad week this has been. When events unfold that we cannot understand, we first look for answers to the countless questions that swirl in our minds. Innocent people killed. Why? Political reasons? Pure insanity? Revenge for some act we know nothing about?...
Tax burden should fall on everyone (04/17/13)
I have to be honest. When I paid my federal and state tax obligation this week, I did so with a tinge of resentment. Granted, I recognize the importance and necessity of a tax obligation. I understand - as best I can - that these funds are what fuel much of our economy...
Brazen robbery is wake-up call for all (04/14/13)
The brazen armed robbery at the American Legion bingo night marks a new low in criminal activity in Sikeston. But it also illustrates the ongoing need in our community for adequate Public Safety personnel and the urgent cry for the citizens of Sikeston to wake up and realize these crimes could happen to anyone at any time...
No compromise? How about a trade-off? (04/10/13)
The possibility of compromise with a "Grand Bargain" on critical national issues seems more remote with each passing day. The reason is both simple and understandable. People compromise on paint color or dinner choices but balk when it comes to issues of principle...
Turnout by voters is a disappointment (04/07/13)
We just had a municipal elections in Sikeston and other communities in Scott County. I remind readers of that fact because 88 percent of the registered voters decided to sit out this April election. That's right - voter turnout this past Tuesday was a dismal 12 percent with some precincts slipping to around 4 percent turnout...
Fiery message only brings more division (04/03/13)
The President attended Easter services this Sunday. But it was the church minister who captured the spotlight when he seized the high-profile opportunity to share his views on the state of politics during the sermon. The minister - with the Obama family front and center - said "captains of the religious right want to put blacks back to the back of the bus, women back in the kitchen and immigrants back on their side of the border."...
Balancing the budget is difficult process (03/27/13)
I can't help but chuckle when the political tongues start waging about eliminating tax loopholes. In principle, tax advantages that favor special interests are easy to oppose. But loopholes have now replaced "waste, fraud and abuse" as the popular mystery revenue source to solve our economic woes...
Library's expansion needs your support (03/23/13)
The Sikeston Public Library is in the middle of an exciting and much-needed mission to raise funds for expansion. And it's impossible to argue the expansion is not needed. With a goal of nearly $500,000, Library supporters are asking for your help in improving and expanding the community room which serves as the hub of many Library activities...
What is the best way to help the poor? (03/20/13)
Let's talk about the poor. Most discussions - political or moral - touch on the issue of assistance to the least among us. Civilized societies have always appropriately put the needs of the poor as a high priority, though we quite often differ on just how to provide the needed assistance...
KRCC telethon helps miracles to happen (03/17/13)
The annual Kenny Rogers Children's Center Telethon rolls around again this weekend and from the looks of it, this may be the biggest and best telethon yet. Area residents need to fully appreciate the efforts that go into making this annual telethon such a success...
Is the economy really on road to recovery? (03/13/13)
Thank goodness we have arrived at the long-awaited Obama economic recovery. The seas have calmed, as Obama promised, and prosperity has returned to America. The record-breaking highs in the stock market - fueled by a cheap money policy which is unsustainable and a trillion dollar stimulus - must be a sign of recovery...
Solving the housing issue isn't easy task (03/10/13)
I had an opportunity this week to host a Cape Girardeau official to discuss housing issues. Like a lot of communities such as Sikeston, Cape Girardeau is experiencing the beginning of an erosion of neighborhoods, increased crime and violence and declining neighborhood pride...
Pursuit of trivia is just a Google away (03/06/13)
Back in the day, I fancied myself a fairly decent repository of trivial facts. When in college, we would while away study time by exchanging competing questions on trivial matters. Sports, music, current events, etc., all provided sources of unimportant minutia that would be debated over adult beverages...
Mandated 'training' is just brain washing (02/27/13)
When Rush Limbaugh said last week he was "ashamed" of this country for the first time, I cringed thinking of the all-too-predictable liberal backlash. But then a hidden nugget of pure lunacy crossed by desk. And I understand Limbaugh's frustration, disappointment and anger...
Missouri bill helps put a stop to fraud (02/24/13)
Because of far too many liberal interpretations, there are some Missouri workers who are fired from their jobs for stealing and still are granted unemployment benefits. By that very same liberal interpretation, there are some Missouri workers who are fired for taking drugs while at work and they are still granted unemployment benefits...
Obama's promises require more funds (02/20/13)
Did you notice the snafu in the President's State of the Union address last week? Even with our highly advanced technology, the President's teleprompter - of all things - skipped over one small paragraph in the President's address. After the President again repeated his desire for a new series of multi-billion dollar federal programs, he said the proposals would not add "a single dime" to the exploding federal deficit...
A new name won't change a bad idea (02/13/13)
The political left has this uncanny knack of renaming - rebranding is the current nom de jour - those issues they hold so dear. The latest salvo came this week during the committee debate on immigration reform. With great hubris, the Democrats warned Republicans against using the term "illegal aliens" during the hearing...
Community leaders fight misconceptions (02/10/13)
I must share a conversation I had this week with a Sikeston woman concerning the lack of jobs in our community. Now first let me tell you this is a woman whom I respect. She is an intelligent woman who has called Sikeston home for a number of years...
New gun laws won't tackle real problems (02/06/13)
David Axelrod, President's Obama's former senior advisor and patriarch of the Chicago connection with the White House, this week addressed the sad crime wave that engulfs the Windy City. And Axelrod said the words that Obama will not. Axelrod said there are upward of 150,000 active gang members in Chicago and those gangs are responsible for the 500-plus murders in the city last year...
Flood plain mess is nearing resolution (02/03/13)
The federal fiasco that erroneously placed much of Sikeston in a new flood plain designation may be nearing a resolution. The City Council this week heard engineering reports that indicated much of the prime real estate that had been included in a new flood plain map may soon be excluded. That is welcome news for homeowners and developers...
Obama fails to focus on the real problems (01/30/13)
You can imagine my delight when I read that this week's Presidential radio address would focus on "irresponsible behavior." Hallelujah! I have long believed that irresponsible behavior is the underspoken issue that politicians largely ignore. At long last, this administration would finally address irresponsible behaviors like the explosion of single-parent households, the problem of school dropout rates and the high crimes in urban war zones that account for half of the murders in this country...
Government's greed is taxing its citizens (01/27/13)
Phil Mickelson is a professional golfer and a classy guy. He has enormous respect among both fans and his peers on the golf course. Mickelson generated headlines in the golf world this week when he said the tax rate in California - his longtime home - were so high it might force him to move. Actually he didn't say those exact words but that was the clear message he conveyed...
Address real issues behind gun violence (01/23/13)
By all means, let's ban assault weapons and reduce to a sane number the amount of bullets in a weapon's clip. Absolutely mandate and increase background checks on gun purchases. And certainly, let's monitor those with mental health issues to assure their access to guns in prohibited...
Dilapidated buildings sap community pride (01/20/13)
Just a few short weeks ago, I was bemoaning the lack of progress on removing the massive amount of condemned houses from our community. The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) - of which I am a member - had been stalled by limited funding and new federal environmental regulations...
Gun control becomes 'mandate' for Obama (01/16/13)
The Obama administration keeps referring to the "mandate" given by voters to pursue their big-government agenda. Health care, higher taxes, more regulation, entitlement expansion and now gun control. A review of election returns shows a slim majority for this administration but far from a mandate...
Keep the spotlight on area drug dealers (01/13/13)
Just a few short weeks ago, Sikeston Public Safety officers conducted a day-long roundup of primarily drug offenders. Last week, it was Mississippi County's turn. And this week, Cape Girardeau County. Nearly 100 suspects were arrested on a variety of drug-related charges in the three roundups...
Unchecked spending may cost too much (01/09/13)
Today's America has become an "instant gratification" society. That singular fact is not even in dispute. Technology has driven much of that change but greed is the overall contributing factor. We want what we want and we want it now. The political atmosphere has, too, adopted this short-term approach. We fix today what needs fixing and we worry about tomorrow tomorrow. Or down the road. Or never...
Political dealmakers failing constituents (01/06/13)
I am reluctantly joining the ranks of those who genuinely feel our politicians are simply not up to the job for which they were elected. And this growing frustration is shared in equal parts for both political parties. I had hoped that columns for this new year would focus on issues other than the political arena. But given the divisive nature of this current President and the apparent weakness of my party - the GOP - it appears that politics as usual may once again dominate...
I'm clearing the way to start a new year (01/02/13)
Though not prone to rituals, I do have an annual routine to occupy the time between Christmas and New Year. I carefully empty my office desk and discard those countless items that were ignored or postponed over the past 12 months. But I don't discard willy nilly...
A few predictions for the upcoming year (12/29/12)
With 2012's clock ticking rapidly toward midnight, it's either time for New Year's predictions or resolutions. I do poorly on both! There's actually a study out - aren't you sick of studies? - that says almost half of us make New Year's resolutions but just 8 percent actually achieve their goal...
Time for a national dialogue over guns (12/19/12)
My original plan today was to write a humorous column on the end of the world prophecy some believe is coming our way this Friday. But the truth is, the tragic event in Connecticut this past week has removed humor from the national conversation. If there's one common national theme right now, it hinges on the question of "why?"...
Tackling local blight must be a priority (12/16/12)
I'm guilty of worrying disproportionately about the housing concerns in Sikeston. Call it a personal crusade or a personal obsession. But, as I have tried to explain in this column countless times, we have had and continue to have far too many condemned properties and far too little money to address the issue...
Resignation is loss for Eighth District (12/12/12)
My first reaction on hearing of Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's sudden resignation was to send an obscenity-laced email to the state GOP headquarters. Granted, it was a tad bit over-the-top knee-jerk reaction to the announcement. But I felt betrayed. Like many political observers in our little corner of the world, it was the timing of the resignation that stoked my frustration...
Find peace and joy from within yourself (12/09/12)
In an ideal world -- and right now, we're far from it -- the Christmas holiday season would bring absolute joy and peace. But as is abundantly obvious, our world is not ideal and for some, there will be no joy and for others no peace. If you're worried about your economic problems or those of your kids, then it's hard to generate joy as you face the upcoming obstacles...
Man's greed ruins generous gesture (12/05/12)
An Internet photo went viral last week showing a New York police officer giving a $100 pair of boots to a homeless man on the streets of New York. The photo came just in this for the holiday season and provided a classic Christmas tale of helping those less fortunate...
Irresponsible choices should not be funded (12/02/12)
There's a new study out this week - already disputed - that says low-income families (those making an average of $14,000 annually) spend on average $1,100 each year on scratch-off lottery tickets. Now if this study is true - or even close to true - the issue of poverty in this country is clearly a larger issue of personal responsibility...
Just the ticket to real financial prosperity? (11/28/12)
Like many this time of year, I'm balancing appropriate Christmas shopping with a realistic "new normal" budget. With one eye on the economy and the other on Santa's wish list, I doubt I will join those optimistic shoppers who plan to spend more this year...
I'm in search of my lost Christmas spirit (11/24/12)
My father has always said he enjoys going in the middle of holiday shoppers at least once each season to help put him in the Christmas spirit. And I, too, once thoroughly enjoyed the crowds along with the sights and sounds of the season. But I tolerate these hurried throngs of shoppers less and less with each passing holiday...
Americans have much to give thanks for (11/18/12)
Although this space should today probably be used to convey some thoughts on Thanksgiving, I'm in no mood to tell anyone what they should be thankful for. The truth is, giving thanks - and I mean the sincere, heartfelt, dear God thanks - is far too personal to put into some generic category...
The election reveals urbanizaton of US (11/14/12)
In the afterglow of last week's election - better known as deep depression - I've tried to learn some lessons. Here's what I think I learned. We can all look at the same set of numbers and have starkly different "take aways." It's easy enough to see the obvious racial divide in the election results. And it's equally easy to see the different political preferences in dozens of demographic breakdowns, i.e., age, religion, gender, etc...
Support those who battle for us (11/04/12)
I start this day with mixed emotions. There's a sense of relief that this long election cycle is finally coming to an end. But there's an equal amount of concern that the national election results could spell enormous problems and issues that may well plague this nation long into the future...
Mitt Romney is best choice for president (10/31/12)
A week from now we should know. But given the closeness of this presidential election, there's a slight chance a week from now this election outcome may still remain in limbo. I feel a sense of frustration that the circulation of this small column will reach readers already a solid majority in support of Mitt Romney...
A closer look at the state's ballot issues (10/27/12)
When Missouri voters cast their ballots Nov. 6, they will be faced with more than candidates for office. Also on this year's ballot are one Constitutional Amendment and three statewide Propositions. Down ticket measures on general election ballots generally garner far less attention than they should. The wording is often confusing to voters and their impact pales in comparison on the important decision of which leaders we will elect to take us into the future...
Candidates map out their 'ground game' (10/24/12)
Two weeks to go and we political junkies are like kids in a candy store. Everywhere you look there's a political nugget that captures your attention. Then in the blink of an eye, another hidden morsel of news surfaces and your attention shifts to a new candy counter...
Acceptance of vote is part of democracy (10/17/12)
Why would people threaten to riot if Mitt Romney is elected president? Why would other people promise to leave the country if Barack Obama is re-elected president? Both attitudes reflect our nation's extreme polarization and division. And both attitudes provide an insight into the radical reactions to an outcome other than what they want...
Akin just can't shake those two little words (10/14/12)
As much as I would like to change the topic, I find myself drawn to political discussions for a variety of reasons. But, as you can expect, that's the nature of the newspaper business. Or so it would seem this time of year. I suspect I need no disclaimer in the political arena because I am proudly conservative. Not a new convert to the conservative movement by any means...
Obama's first debate performance lacking (10/10/12)
As much as I hesitate to admit it, I made a mistake in this column two weeks ago. I predicted that regardless of the outcome, President Obama would be declared the clear winner of last week's Presidential debate. Given the track record of the liberal national media, the prediction was no great stretch...
Hard work makes Carnival a success (10/07/12)
I realize that Sikeston's American Legion Cotton Carnival is now history but a couple of items need to be mentioned. For starters, thanks go to the Legion members, Auxiliary and volunteers who staged yet another outstanding event. From the fish sandwiches (always my favorite), to the midway, the parade, the cute kids and lovely young beauty contestants, this annual event is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all of those involved...
Do you understand issues in election? (10/03/12)
Like many on the right, I remain dumbstruck over how many voters continue to support this administration. And I'm not referencing the "impartial" polls that show skewed results to drive opinion. I recently read Mitch Albom's new book "The Time Keeper" as a diversion away from politics...
Don't count on national media to shape opinion (09/26/12)
In a Presidential election that should clearly be a referendum on the economy, the race this year has been anything but. Perhaps by now, we're immune to 8.3 percent unemployment. Perhaps a $16.3 trillion deficit is of no concern. So what if 47 million Americans must turn to food stamps to feed their family...
LCRA progress slow and frustration ensues (09/23/12)
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) was established overwhelmingly by Sikeston voters nearly 10 years ago to acquire and remove rundown and dilapidated properties in Sikeston and make way for redevelopment. I proudly serve as a commissioner on the LCRA Board and can assure you that the Board is both dedicated to our mission and involved in the ongoing process...
As deadline nears, failure is looming (09/19/12)
One Hour Before Deadline: Well here I sit with a deadline looming to write this column. And yet nothing has truly piqued my interest. Or at least enough to waste precious ink and newsprint. But as with all things in the newspaper business, deadlines wait for no man...
My country is now on my prayer list (09/12/12)
Having written this column for nearly 35 years, I'm reminded that my tone was not always political. No Carter bashing in those early years. No Reagan fawning. Even Bill Clinton's drama went virtually unnoticed - at least in the world of this minor column...
Can we meet needs of nation's hungry? (09/08/12)
I listened to a report this week about hunger in America. The report indicated that literally millions of people - the emphasis being on children - go to bed hungry in this country every day. Now I have no way of disputing this report. But as with many "reports," I hesitate to take it as gospel...
Not all our changes are for the better (09/05/12)
As my 65th birthday approaches, I'm constantly reminded just how out of step I am with modern society. For example, I can't remember the exact moment that I fully abandoned today's musical offerings but I suspect, that may have been the first signal of societal withdrawal...
Extremists will make this election critical (08/29/12)
While all of the national focus is squarely on Election Day, Nov. 6, the important day is Nov. 7. That day we'll know more clearly how our personal lives will be impacted and how the future will likely unfold for our children and grandchildren. So let's look beyond Election Day and peek into the future...
Don't let the national news do your thinking (08/26/12)
Peaceful protests are part of the history and fabric of this great nation. If we disagree with something, we have the right to voice our opposition. But I fear the national media will use the backdrop of protests to focus the spotlight away from this week's Republican National Convention and instead put the media attention on the protesters...
Akin's comments will prove to be costly (08/22/12)
If you thought Joe Biden's "put them back in chains" comment was stupid, it pales by comparison to Todd Akin's "legitimate rape" comment this weekend. With one stupid slip of the tongue, Akin may have well assured that the Democrats will remain in the Senate majority...
Obama's game plan for his re-election (08/15/12)
With this week's announcement of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's vice presidential choice, the countdown has officially begun. We've seen the opening act and the full cast of characters is now in place. If you paid attention, the campaign began Sunday with the usual suspects on the political talkfests...
What the election results can tell us (08/11/12)
I'm not at all certain what we can take away from this week's primary elections other than the voters are the ultimate authority and though we may disagree with the outcome, it truly is what it is. Granted, there's nothing profound about that statement. But it's the truth - in elections you have those who win and those who lose and that process is how we select our leaders whether you agree or disagree with the outcome...
Playing the blame game in our society (08/01/12)
Though I obviously have no formal training, I suspect one of the more difficult aspects of human nature is the ability to accept blame. Few among us relishes the prospect of admitting fault. Perhaps it runs against the grain of human nature. But our society has either gone full-tilt on shunning blame or I'm just paying closer attention...
Busy times ahead for the newspaper (07/28/12)
In the newspaper business, we have busy news days, slow news days and then dreadfully slow news days. Thus is the nature of small-town newspapers. But as our Managing Editor so accurately pointed out, we are approaching a "perfect storm" in local newspaper reporting...
Here is how small businesses are built (07/25/12)
Like millions of other small business owners, I'm confused by the President's statement last week that somehow, I didn't build a business alone - someone helped me. The clearly unscripted remarks sent shockwaves through the private sector community...
Economic numbers don't always add up (07/18/12)
Following a friendly discussion with a pro-Obama voter recently, I came to the conclusion we've entered the age of the New Economy. I was told in glowing terms just how the economy was improving. Unemployment, gasoline prices, interest rates, home foreclosures and a whole host of improving metrics were touted with great pride...
Webcasts offering a look at candidates (07/15/12)
For the past two weeks, the Just Saying webcast on the Standard Democrat website has focused on political races for the 148th Missouri House seat that are heating up in our area. Bart Ziegenhorn and Mike Marsh, the two seeking the Democratic nomination for the post, were featured over the past two weeks. And the response to these two candidates was substantial...
Behind the failure of education reform (07/11/12)
With nary a whimper, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) education reform law has all but slipped into history. The controversial 2002 law was a well-intentioned plan to monitor teaching and school accountability. It established learning benchmarks for all schools in critical areas of education - reading, math and science...
Honor the sacrifices made for our freedom (07/01/12)
We'll gather this week to celebrate the July 4th holiday with the usual array of food and fireworks - though I'm a bit old for the fireworks hoopla. But that's the way we celebrate to mark the independence of this great nation and to celebrate the freedoms that this independence has brought...
Birdwatching offers some lessons on life (06/27/12)
It will come as no surprise to many of you, but I have officially gone to the birds. Some who don't share my political views are surely not surprised. With a couple of bird feeders, I have a newfound "hobby" of feeding birds and watching their antics...
The conservatives still have work to do (06/13/12)
Warmed by the glow of a decisive victory for fiscal sanity in Wisconsin last week, some conservatives are giddy over the prospects for November. Put that giddiness aside my fellow conservatives. There's work to be done. The conventional wisdom says unions will be lukewarm to President Obama because of his no show in Wisconsin...
Looking at source behind the giving (06/06/12)
The Pope last week proposed that rich families should help poor people in other countries. His charitable message was well received. But surely he wasn't speaking to the United States. Through our foreign aid program, the United States is hands-down the most charitable country in history. Our nation provides well over $55 billion in annual foreign aid and most of that is for economic support to help feed those who cannot feed themselves...
OMG! We're losing the art of conversation (06/02/12)
It's just a sign of the times, I assume. I find it ironic and somewhat concerning that the United States Forestry Service is running public service announcements asking people to quit tweeting and texting and whatever else you can do with our new emerging technology and instead get out in the real world...
Finding agreement on political spectrum (05/30/12)
To my liberal friends: As the presidential election comes ever closer, are there some areas - any areas - on which we can agree? Let's agree that the Bush-era Medicare drug plan, plus the cost of two military conflicts brought on by the Sept. 11 attack, put our country in a financial tailspin?...
Keep our elections free from fraud (05/23/12)
Were it not a serious issue, I'd get a laugh out of the news from Florida this week that 53,000 deceased Floridians have been uncovered - no pun intended - on the current voter registration rolls in that all-important state. Let me quickly point out that I don't hail from the conspiracy school of politics. This latest revelation from Florida is not some Democratic Party scheme to steal an election in the Sunshine State...
America's division stems from politics (05/16/12)
Presidential campaigns are a contact sport. There may be a phony facade of friendly rivalry but beneath that veneer is a deep disdain and distrust. And I'm not talking about the candidates. I'm talking about the American public. Every four years, it seems, we divide ourselves along purely political lines to choose the most powerful leader in the free world...
Ask some questions before you go vote (05/09/12)
Every four years during the Presidential election cycle, we're urged to ask the question, "Are you better off today than four years ago?" The catchy line made famous by President Ronald Reagan during a 1980 debate with President Jimmy Carter has already surfaced this year. You'll likely hear it often...
Local flood plain expansion is wrong (05/06/12)
All too often, actions by the federal government simply leave you scratching your head. Take this week's example of a new flood plain map for Sikeston that puts much of the prime ridge land in our community in a new flood plain designation. The implications of this new federal designation are costly...
Real agenda behind the OWS movement (05/02/12)
As May arrives, we are once again greeted by the ever-popular Occupy Wall Street crowd, which is little more than a union-financed political street theater designed to deflect attention away from a stalled economy. The theory behind the OWS gang is to highlight the disparity of income in America. But it takes little work to see the true purpose - which is clearly to rally some odd support for the Obama administration especially in the wake of the Tea Party success...
Musing about local, state, national races (04/25/12)
As the coffee shop conversations turn to politics these days, lost in that discussion too often is the race for governor and senator in Missouri. That's not to say that there is absolutely no dialogue on these important Missouri races. But facts are facts, and these key races in our home state are not on the minds of most Missourians...
Another US tax day has come and gone (04/18/12)
Well yet another tax day has come and gone. And to be honest, it's not the most pleasant day of the year. But not all of us view tax day with hesitation. Some in fact, recognize that tax day is their financial bonanza of the year. When the final figures are compiled, it will show that nearly 60 million Americans were non-payers on tax day. Most of those folk - 96 percent in the most recent calculation - made under $50,000 annually...
Healthcare program forced on Americans (04/11/12)
With a Supreme Court decision on Obamacare looming large in the background, this current administration is running full speed ahead to implement as much of the controversial law as possible, despite a host of political and legal objections. Just last week, the Obama administration - with no fanfare - quietly funneled $300 million to the Internal Revenue Service to hire new agents to help implement the new law. ...
Casting an informed vote is now more important than ever (04/04/12)
Why would someone not vote? I can understand someone taking a powder on an unopposed local election. But I've had recent conversations with voting age adults who proudly proclaim they never vote. Never vote?! A road district commissioner vote might determine if your road gets repaired. A presidential election can determine your children's future...
Is there a leader who can unite us? (03/28/12)
If somehow magically we could ignore the political jabber that dominates the news, I think we might find a more troubling trend just below the surface. If you don't pay close attention and connect all of the dots, you'll miss the single greatest challenge facing this nation...
Politics shouldn't be just a name game (03/25/12)
Politics have been on my mind quite a bit lately. But then - given the national and state climate and the vast differences in this great nation - it's understandable that politics would be an important issue for all of us. You don't have to be a faithful reader of this column to know that I am a staunch conservative. ...
Obamacare pricetag just keeps on rising (03/21/12)
It was just two years ago that this current administration was able to push through Obamacare - the proposed national health insurance that was designed to solve the financial and access problem of health insurance. The questions that circled that ambitious program involved the forced mandate that will compel millions of uninsured to enter the market. One of the larger questions was the lack of available medical providers to cover this new emerging market...
Don't put your trust in political polling (03/14/12)
Polling has become big business in the political arena. And perhaps, never as scrutinized as this election year. Political polls are a combination of art and science. There's always a mathematic component that gauges the depth of the outcome. But there's an equal issue with the wording of the poll questions...
Democrats reveling in Limbaugh's gaffe (03/10/12)
Rush Limbaugh is an interesting character. As the outspoken voice of the conservative movement, Limbaugh has countless supporters and an equal number of opponents. And when Limbaugh says something, it becomes news. That simply is the power he commands...
There's real double standard in politics (03/07/12)
We have entered into the "double-standard" era of politics where righteous indignation is appropriate for one end of the political spectrum but clearly not the other. There's simply no other explanation. To fully implement a "double standard," first and foremost you must have a compliant media. And no one can argue we lack a liberal-media bias unprecedented in our nation's history...
TV sitcoms' language goes down the gutter (02/29/12)
My television-viewing habits would best be described as eclectic. Sprinkled between the never-ending news cycles and the obligatory sports menu, I find welcome escape with sitcoms. Sitcoms are like popcorn - light, non-filling and easily consumed. Talk of deficits, wars and political stalemates all seem to evaporate for a brief, 30-minute snack on a sitcom diet...
It's time to find ways to improve Sikeston (02/26/12)
How do you grow a community? That's a legitimate and timely question facing Sikeston. Granted, we're not alone in our quest for an expanded population. But every community focuses their actions on their own personal set of wants and needs. Sikeston is no exception...
Fraudulent claims hurting truly needy (02/22/12)
I'm not one to generally say "I told you so" but in this case, well, I told you so! Two weeks ago I said to start paying attention to the explosion in disability claims because for far too many, this lucrative federal program has become the new cash cow to supplement or replace other taxpayer-funded programs...
A little competition can be a good thing (02/18/12)
I am both surprised and somewhat disappointed that upcoming municipal and county elections in our area have such little competition. The number of uncontested local races seems much higher than normal. This lack of interest in local offices is a result of: A. Voters are highly satisfied with their current representatives and thus, no opposition. Or B. Voters are generally apathetic and have decided to sit on the sidelines and let the chips fall where they may...
Michael Jensen
Michael Jensen