Take their plates, put them in jail, just get them off the road



Wow, I just realized I have been going at it all wrong. Our daughter was killed by a repeat drunk driver in June 1993. Since then, we have been doing everything we can to spread the word about what could happen when someone drinks and drives. According to "Decline a breath test, lose your license?" (Nov. 1), and other stories in a series on drunk driving, we have a one in seven chance to get a drunk off the road.

So let's raise taxes. Then people will have to decide if they want alcohol or maybe food for their animals. If they let the animals starve, we can call the Humane Society and have them arrested for cruelty to animals. They'll go to jail. And, because that apparently is easier than putting a drunk behind bars, we get them off the road.

The whole trouble is that it is no big deal to drink and drive. The police could start by enforcing the laws. Let it be known that drunk drivers will go to jail and will lose their drivers licenses. Police should take the license plates off the vehicles. Just make it as difficult as possible for drunk drivers to get behind the wheel and drive. No plea bargains.

If one of these prosecutors, lawyers or judges lost a loved one to a drunk driver, resources that are used for lesser crimes would be put toward getting drunk drivers off the road.

Do I have an answer? No. But I wish that in June 1993, one drunk was off the road. Jackie was just 18.

David Simon — Arnold



The backbone of society

Regarding "Rampage at Fort Hood" (Nov. 6): In 2008, the Associated Press reported that the U.S. Department of Defense changed a policy regarding security clearances. The old policy stated that both military and civilian applicants for clearances had to disclose past mental health treatment. The new policy eased that requirement when the treatment was for combat-related stresses.

However, according to the U.S. Army, 2008 had the highest incidence of Army personnel committing suicide in recorded Army history. In addition, post-traumatic stress disorder, as an editorial in the Post-Dispatch pointed out ("Failing the troops," May 23, 2008), is still a scourge. It is paramount that we take care of those who do so much to take care of us. The editorial may be dated, but the issue is not, as seen Thursday.

We do not need safe and healthy troops only to win wars; we need them because they are the backbone of our society, which was built on their blood and sweat. We need them to be safe because they may weather repeated deployments, lose buddies and fight medical maladies. If we do not stand for them, for whom will we stand?

Amid the partisan rancor that divides us, let us unite for those who give so much.

Jacob Nidey — University City



Mourning the loss

The Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis condemns the senseless attack on innocent military personnel at Fort Hood in Texas on Nov. 5. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and the families of the victims.

Again, we are left with the question of "why" after a massacre in the hands of a deranged person. It does not matter if this act is a psychotic rage, extreme anger or based on ideological differences; we never fully comprehend how a human being can be so cruel to humanity.

The Muslim community is with our fellow Americans in mourning the loss of our service personnel. We hope that the perpetrator is brought to justice quickly. We urge the community at large to stay calm and united in these testing times of our resolve to keep our country safe and peaceful.

Ghazala Hayat — St. Louis County

Chair Public Relations Committee, Islamic Foundation Of Greater St. Louis



City lacking compassion

The story "Official apologizes after homeless camp is razed" (Nov. 6) told of the destruction of personal effects of several homeless people by the St. Louis Park Rangers at Interco Park on Nov. 5. I cannot express my sadness and anger enough. How could these rangers be so cold and insensitive to these people?

The city of St. Louis should offer compensation.

Medicine and what little effects these people have were destroyed in a garbage truck compactor. Shame on those conducting this operation and shame on the officials ordering it.

In fact, those conducting the operation should be required to pay restitution, and those ordering it fired. Perhaps if those involved in this shameless act were to then find themselves unemployed and on the streets, they would then have a better chance of learning what compassion is. Shame.

Joe Marcucci — St. Louis



Sweet smell of revenge

I need to clear the air — cough, cough — on why I voted yes on Proposition N. Prop N did cross the line from a libertarian standpoint, and I usually endorse the libertarian point of view. But I vividly remember the smoke from my father's cigarette wafting my way at the dinner table. I remember meetings as a young engineer in small, poorly ventilated conference rooms in which many of the participants smoked impudently.

I remember, on a particular trek to Six Flags, sitting on the curb surrounding a big sand box watching my child play and being horrified when another parent disposed of her cigarette in the sand as if our kids were playing in a huge ashtray. And I remember the countless cigarette butts I see strewn on our sidewalks and on our streets on my daily walks.

I voted for payback. Revenge is sweet.

Gregory Pace — University City



Where were you?

To those 81 percent of St. Louis County voters who chose not to exercise their right to vote on Nov. 3 on two issues that will directly affect their lives: Shame on you.

Jim Paunovich — Calverton Park



United by beliefs

Regarding "Hints of 2010 in Tuesday's vote" (Nov. 2): The GOP might not be unified, but the principles that have brought the most success to the Republican Party never will fail in bringing people together. Issues that focus on the sanctity of life, the tradition of marriage (between one man and one woman) and a sense of fiscal responsibility are common beliefs held by the majority of clear-thinking Americans.

What the "scorecard" from this recent election cycle has shown is that we must hold our elected officials accountable for their reckless and misguided pursuits. With that in mind and based upon the results, it appears this time we made the right choices.

Dan Cressey — Kirkwood



Modern movement

Democrats thought they had nothing to fear from what the speaker of the House described as the "Astroturf" movement. But, outside the view of mainstream media, it morphed into "Pelositurf" and viciously bit Obama and his minions on and about the buttocks on Nov. 3.

You can put that on his teleprompters so he can swing his head from side to side like he's watching a tennis match from center court while he reads it.

Don Hart — Maryland Heights



Up and down the dial

The story "New-tech sinks radio 'names' " (Nov. 1), about the effect of Arbitron ratings changes on St. Louis radio, implied that J.C. Corcoran was fired. Mr. Corcoran was not "canned," but is under contract through next year. Emmis Broadcasting touted the move as a cost-cutting measure, but the station is still paying him. The station kept him under contract to prevent him from becoming a competitor.

Some morning a year from now, I will be doing a victory dance when J.C. Corcoran is on the air again. Thousands of listeners will change their dial to hear J.C., just as we always have.

Robert Hargis — Fairmont City