Sikeston Standard Democrat: Opinion

Housing proposal is undergoing scrutiny (02/04/12)
A Sikeston City Council committee created a bit of a firestorm this past week with their proposal to give away lots acquired by the taxpayer-funded Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority to potential developers. Our phones have been ringing nonstop since the plan first surfaced. The opposition stems not from the desire to redevelop lots where former condemned properties were located. It's the plan to give the lots free that's created the brouhaha...

Housing issues still remain in Sikeston (01/22/12)
It comes as no surprise that Sikeston still has a problem with substandard housing. By now, everyone knows the background in the housing issue locally that resulted in the formation of the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority. The LCRA was charged with the responsibility - funded with a sales tax approved by voters - to address the housing problem and begin the task of removing problem properties...

Some questions for the candidates (01/11/12)
It's impossible to conduct our daily lives without some discussion on the political climate during this election year. And if you think we're experiencing political overkill now, just wait until this fall. As you would expect, with this avalanche of political coverage, there is both substance and silliness. I watched in amazement earlier this week when one respected left-wing commentator (that term may be an oxymoron) took time to comment on the bluejeans worn by one Republican hopeful...

U.S. Postal Service is a casuality of change (12/11/11)
Like so many other things in our world, the once-essential United States Postal Service may someday go the way of the buffalo. The Internet and massive labor costs are forcing the Postal Service to consider drastically reducing services or face bankruptcy...

Don't get caught up in presidential spin (12/07/11)
Let me state the obvious: This is shaping up as an election based solely on the economy. Other usual presidential topics trend toward foreign policy and social issues. Obviously they will be an important part of the presidential dialogue. But nothing will frame the election nor the outcome more than the economic mess we're in...

Is anyone willing to make tough cuts? (11/30/11)
With the imminent failure of the Congressional Super Committee, it should trigger the automatic spending cuts in the Department of Defense and the Medicare program. These two spending giants were targeted because that's where a huge chunk of the federal spending is aimed...

Time for occupiers to fold up the tents (11/27/11)
The "Occupy" movement thought Black Friday would be yet another opportunity for the rag-tag movement to snag a little additional media attention. By protesting in front of major retailers and impeding shoppers from spending their money, the Occupy crowd thought somehow this would widen their message...

Eliminating fraud is not an easy task (11/16/11)
If there's one issue on which all politicians can agree - and that's a big "if" - then surely it's the topic of waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending. A desire to eliminate or address fraud, etc., is about as bipartisan as you can get. We're told that every problem has a solution but I am skeptical. Some problems actually defy a solution because the cure may be worse than the disease...

Crisis of confidence is facing Americans (10/26/11)
With President Obama's latest round of stimulus spending gaining absolutely no traction, the President is now launching a series of executive orders to implement small portions of his latest Jobs Bill package. Despite massive lobbying and arm-twisting galore, the Jobs Bill drew bi-partisan opposition last week. And in the current federal culture, if you can't get it one way, you get it another...

Let's take the time to count blessings (10/23/11)
I ran into an old friend at the grocery store this week - a girl from my high school years. And yes, even at age 64, they are still "girls." We spent a few moments catching up on mutual friends - those usual stories of illness, grandchildren, retirement, etc. A fairly common conversation at this point in our lives...

Politics of baseball (10/19/11)
To heck with politics, let's talk baseball! The action begins tonight when our beloved St. Louis Cardinals take on the Texas Rangers. Even if it does nothing other than to lift the spirits of the Cardinal fans, it's simply wonderful that Missouri's favorite team has made it to the big show...

Community needs a safe movie theater (10/16/11)
The city's decision to close the Malco Trio Cinema over a laundry list of code violations is generating some heated opposition. The shutdown caught most of us off-guard, though it really should come as no great surprise. During a recent public hearing concerning a tax proposal to fund improvements at the Malco, a representative of the company acknowledged openly that the Malco was a "dump" in need of substantial repair...

Media should shine light on the protests (10/12/11)
The Occupy Wall Street folk are getting their fair share of attention - though most Americans must be confused with just exactly what these people are protesting. Despite their laundry list of grievances, the protesters are basically attempting to call attention to the "greedy" Wall Street bankers and other faceless corporate rascals...

Let's take the pledge to remain united (10/05/11)
"One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." "Indivisible?" You know the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. Despite the efforts of some progressives who seek to remove "under God," it's the word "indivisible" that should be the focus...

Problems exist: It's time to fight back (10/02/11)
It has now been a month since the Sikeston Department of Public Safety joined with state and federal drug agencies to bust a major drug ring centered in our community. The drug operation stretched from Mexico through Texas and Arkansas before reaching the doorstep in Sikeston...

Country suffers from a lack of leadership (09/21/11)
Given the current state of this great nation, I am beginning to wonder how anyone in their right mind could vote to re-elect this President. I can understand perhaps why some would vote for his re-election because they believe the current crop of GOP candidates would be no better...

Time for real action not more speeches (09/07/11)
Got a problem? Give a speech! Problem solved!!The President will address a joint session of Congress this week with his latest jobs plan. He'll undoubtedly tell us that the current unemployment crisis is not his fault and that, but for his superb leadership, we'd be in a much worse mess...

It's time to promote more self-sufficiency (08/31/11)
Two news items crossed my desk recently. Both seemed to make perfect sense to me - and since both were universally panned by liberals - I find even greater benefit. Let's start in Michigan. The fine state of Michigan has a unique program that allows nearly all college students, regardless of their financial status, to qualify for food stamps...

Ray Clinton's legacy is found throughout community, region (08/28/11)
Ray Clinton was laid to rest this week. The longtime Sikeston businessman died a week ago leaving behind a host of family and friends. It's really unfair to call Ray Clinton a businessman. He was so much more. He was a quiet leader and benevolent citizen of our community. But even that does not touch the impact that this one man had on Sikeston...

Let the adventures of learning begin (08/14/11)
Dear Chloe: It was 30 years ago - though it seems like yesterday - that I wrote a letter to your mother on her first day of school. And soon you will follow the same path as you begin the adventure that will surely shape your life. Recently a friend shared a worn, black and white photo taken when I was in the third grade. I glance at the faces of those kids and treasure the fact that many remain among my closest friends to this very day...

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