In regard to “American Ramp proposes skate park at Schifferdecker” (Globe, June 2), about a $60,000 park for $29,400. Just because it’s “on sale” does not justify doing it. I can’t afford you.
Joplin City Council, I am not against the youth, I am not against the skate park. I am, however, sounding an alarm. You are positioning the city for some of the federal stimulus which is borrowed from China. Trillions! You are positioning yourselves to borrow from the Shoal Creek filter plant and, essentially, we have no say in it.
Is there anything you won’t borrow for? Please, stop. If I can’t afford it, neither can you because we are where you get your money! My Social Security and pension are for my wife and I to live on — sparingly. By the time Obama gets the “value-added tax” and you get your pet projects off the paper, do you understand (or care) what that has done to my family budget? Probably not!
To add to the problem, Empire Electric wants a rate increase. Missouri Gas Energy wants a rate increase. American Water wants a rate increase. Joplin is proposing a 50 (or 30) percent increase for Shoal Creek plant renewal. Somehow, government puts forth the thinking that you and I have loads of money that can feed its “habit.”
Maurice Filson
Joplin
Opinion
Voices: "I can't afford you'
- Opinion
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Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
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Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
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Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
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Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
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Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
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Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
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Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
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Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
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Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
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Our View: Victims should come first
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