Springfield News-Leader

The more I am educated, the more I realize I do not know!

There is a section in our society who are being forced to live paycheck to paycheck. It is the seniors and the disabled, and I bet most wish to participate in Black Friday for the great savings. Sure it is one of the finest days to shop, if you love the brawl, but we in society should consider ways of welcoming all shoppers, not just the capable bodies.

I contacted Senators McCaskill and Bond to ask them to oppose an attempt to bypass the Stupak-Pitts amendment which guarantees that abortions cannot be paid for using my taxes. In her reply, McCaskill repeated the often-used phrase that abortions should be "safe, legal and rare."

Response to Brian Zuzenak, Missouri Democratic Party executive officer (Nov. 16)

A rose and congratulations to the state workers and their bargaining agents who managed -- somehow! -- to maintain their doctors and providers at St. John's in spite of having contracted a network agreement with Cox.

I would like to thank Mr. Groner for his well-written editorial describing his distress over seeing an American soldier wearing a "backwards" American flag on the right sleeve of his American combat uniform.

As the abortion debate escalates and moves to consider "who's gonna pay for abortion," the recent U.S. House vote is evidence enough that abortion isn't and won't soon become a private matter as long as someone is looking to taxpayers for abortion funding.

A dearth of money for raises at Missouri State University has triggered the possibility of changing the way faculty are reviewed.

A look at key issues in the health care debate: The issue: Will there be enough doctors to provide care to millions of previously uninsured patients if health overhaul is passed?

A ROSE: To CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, for their work with abused, neglected children in Southwest Missouri. And another rose to Alternative Opportunities, Inc. for donating administrative office space to this worthy nonprofit agency.

Responding to Roy Blunt's attack on my earlier Voices article attacking public records as "patently false," Congressman Roy Blunt ironically confirmed my points in his recent News-Leader "Former Democratic delegate misleads..." (11/03)

When Springfield residents hear that 40-plus percent of the city's students scored below grade-level proficiency on the Missouri Assessment Program, they can be assured things are indeed that bad in local schools.

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of questions on health care reform that we've posed -- on behalf of readers -- to our area's representatives in Congress. We're planning to publish them as quickly as we can get answers.

Paul N. Sidio says ...

Missouri fatality crash totals as of Nov. 19: So far this month: 44 This date, last year: 52

A ROSE: To "Jim the Barber" who found my Visa credit card on the driveway of a gas station where I had filled up my truck. He researched my phone number, called my wife, described his truck and made arrangements to meet him at the station. When I saw a black truck with a Sport Clips sign I knew it was Jim. He wouldn't take a nickel. He never gave me a haircut, but I can vouch for his honesty/integrity. Thanks again Jim! God Bless!

A solution for the general funds problem that Springfield is having. Want to improve the bottom line on the general funds or the police funding? It is real simple to do. Start enforcing the traffic laws (all of them).

A refreshingly blunt opinion that appeared on one of our Voices pages Sunday deserves more attention.

While economists and government officials are saying that we are no longer in a recession, there are still many who are suffering. Yes, instead of shrinking, the economy is showing signs of small growth. So, by definition our country is no longer in a recession. However, economists are still predicting more job losses. For those who are losing jobs, experiencing a reduction in hours at work, or are still unemployed, it doesn't seem as though the recession is over. Families are being forced to live on shrinking or nonexistent incomes. Those who once lived the middle-class lifestyle have suddenly found their homes in foreclosure, their cars repossessed, and struggling just to put food on the table.

Recently, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, top U.S and NATO chief in Afghanistan, spoke out about sending additional military troops to Afghanistan if we don't want to be defeated in the war with the Taliban. I disagree. Using physical force is no way to win a battle with fundamental ideology.