Readers SOUND OFF! on Bush, Obama, gas prices and more
Conserve gas. Shop carefully. Clean the air. Recycle. OK, but why do the manufacturers continue to make supplies in plastic and in disposable throwaways? Why not go into biodegradable research and use cardboard containers for juice?
Cowboy diplomacyPresident Bush's preconditions for talking to Iran are that the Iranians shut down their nuclear programs and stop sending weapons into Iraq. Why wouldn't Iran's preconditions for talking to us be that we suspend our nuclear programs and stop sending weapons and armies into Iraq? Where do these right-wing Republicans get their sense of self-entitlement? I hate the way they get up on their high horse, act holier than thou and insist everyone kowtow to their demands. England, with all its armies and navies, could not bully America into compliance, and Bush and McCain's cowboy diplomacy will not bully Iran into submission. It will only harden the Iranians' resolve.
Misery and suffering
If you voted for Bush and Cheney, you helped to cause all of that human misery and suffering from Iraq and Hurricane Katrina, period. How can you stand to look at yourself in the mirror?
Grass clippings
People who mow their lawns to make their homes look cared for spoil the whole effect when they leave the grass clippings on the sidewalk and street.
Oil exploration
On Wednesday, June 11, a House subcommittee rejected a Republican-led effort to open up more U.S. coastal waters to oil exploration. The Democrats continually stop us from drilling for oil that's all around us and under us, and yet they try to blame the high gas prices on the Republicans. When will the American public wake up and tell the Democrats to let us use what we have? Stop the bickering with the environmentalists. Let's take care of ourselves first and the environmentalists last.
Little support
I've noticed that very few callers to Sound Off! support Barack Obama. Maybe it's because they can't think of anything good to say about him.
Helping hands
Recently I have been using a walker or cane and wheelchair in Dierbergs Lafayette Center. Whether I'm at Westchester Cleaners, Walgreen's at Manchester and Baxter roads or Dierbergs, the employees and customers give you tons of helping hands and love. People are so nice to take their time and help you.
Politics and gas prices
I'd like to clarify a comment from the person who said the Democrat-controlled Congress for the past two years has been responsible for the gas prices rising. That is a serious misstatement once again by the Republicans and those who follow them. The fact of the matter is when Bill Clinton was president, gas was relatively cheap. Ever since your Republican, George Bush, took over in the Oval Office, gas prices have been steadily rising.
Voice volume
This is in response to the person who said people talk louder on their cell phones than they do when talking to someone right next to them: That is just flat-out not true. You obviously haven't been to many crowded restaurants, coffee shops, shopping malls or the like.
Finding fault
Everyone finds fault with President George Bush and the Iraqi war. No one, not even the liberal news media, mentions the senseless bombing in Serbia and killing of women and children that Bill Clinton ordered to take the attention off the scandal between Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.
Music and politicians
Why do you suppose the politicians adopt American pop music songs as theme music for their campaigns? That's easy. It's because American pop music is more popular than the politicians.
Chuck and Barack
Unless you've been paying strict attention, I'll bet you don't know that John McCain's campaign theme song has a St. Louis connection. The answer is "Johnny B. Goode." That song was recorded by Chuck Berry and Johnnie Johnson, famous rock 'n' roll musicians of good old St. Louie. If you ask, Chuck Berry will tell you he's voting for Barack Obama.
Remove the signs
I'm calling from Shrewsbury. Signs advertising businesses should not be allowed on front lawns for extended periods of time. If someone's home is being remodeled, it's OK to have a sign there while the work is being done, but not for months and years on end. Once the remodeling is done, the sign needs to come down.
Gas prices
Barack Obama said the price of gas was raised too quickly to $4 a gallon. It should have been raised gradually to $4. Boy, that makes me feel better. Keep George Bush.
Soda and airlines
What is an IFBP? Simple. In-Flight Beverage Purchase program. Now, for two bucks, some airlines will sell you a soda pop onboard an airplane, which used to be for free. Wow, that hurts.
Taxes and peanuts
We've seen MSD raise our sewer bill, Ballwin wants a property tax and Parkway is considering a bond issue. Where does it all stop? Wait a minute. If we have a Democrat president and a Democrat-controlled Congress, the local taxes above will seem like peanuts.
Expressing themselves
Regardless of whether you agree, disagree or couldn't care less with what is said by callers in Sound Off!, be thankful that numerous folks are expressing themselves, which is basic to the preservation of a democracy in our country.
Bizarre and tacky
If people can't afford gas for these ugly, giant SUVs they drive around town, they should get rid of them. Instead, they pack their kids in bathing suits, along with beach towels, and spend the day at a local strip mall water fountain. How bizarre and tacky. Don't they realize those fountains are not for public use and may present a health hazard to their kids? What strange neighbors we have in Chesterfield valley.
Obama and Kerry
Barack Obama is not even president yet, but he is not wasting time in showing poor judgment in his choice of friends and the hypocrisy of his flip-flops. It sounds like he studied under John Kerry.
Visitation dispute
One of my friends has been dealing with the court system. How can a judge force a child to spend time with someone she doesn't even know, has not been a part of her life in years and she is afraid of? How can this be in the best interest of the child?
Hillary and Obama
I kind of feel sorry for Hillary Clinton now that she is out of the presidential race. She seems so much more centrist next to Obama. Anyone who can make Hillary look middle-of-the-road must be a serious liberal with little redeeming value. Wake up, America. That's not what we need.
Courting death
Yes, they say seat belts save lives. But I have many friends who have had their lives saved because they were not wearing seat belts. Now, if this is a free country, why can't we have our own choice as adults? We should have freedom of choice. Not children, I understand they need to be in seat belts. My freedom of choice is not wearing seat belts. I don't care how many tickets I get. This is my expression of freedom, and I don't want to wear one.
Titles stripped
The old saying "Crime does not pay" certainly applies to the coach of the high school basketball team in St. Louis, where the team championship titles and trophies were taken away and the coach was dismissed, All due to rules being broken. Worst of all was the poor example shown to the players and the students of that school, as well as the community as a whole.
Too much salt
I was wondering why all these manufacturers have to put so much salt in their products. If you live alone, you usually eat a lot of prepackaged foods, and some of them have the total daily allowance of salt in one serving. They are giving people hypertension. It's not good for you.
Contract extension
I cannot believe the Rockwood School District Board of Education voted to extend the superintendent's contract when three of the seven board members were absent. To me, it certainly sounds like they were trying to pull something over when the other members were not available. What's up with that?
