LETTERS: ASHCROFT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THREAT OF HANCOCK II

To the editor:

I would like to suggest some alternate headlines for Jim Grebing's article, "Wheat: Hancock II bad for law enforcement." How about "Hancock II and John Ashcroft bad for law enforcement"? Or "Hancock II and John Ashcroft bad for Schools ... bad for families ... bad for senior citizens"? Or better yet, how about "Hancock II and John Ashcroft bad for Missouri"?

Just as Alan Wheat "urged all candidates for office in Missouri to join with him in opposing Amendment 7," I would like to urge all voters to join with me in opposing both Hancock II and John Ashcroft. I am not sure which poses a greater threat to Missouri. Between Hancock II and John Ashcroft, all progress in Missouri could be brought to a grinding halt. Alan Wheat wisely cautioned that if Hancock II passes "Missouri will become a "less compassionate state, with far less capacity to provide help to those who need it." The same words of caution apply to the possible election of John Ashcroft. If John Ashcroft is elected to the U.S. Senate, our government will be less compassionate, less helpful, less able to combat crime, less able to educate young people, less able to compete in a global economy and less able to fight for democracy and progress.

U.S. Senate candidate John Ashcroft doesn't seem to understand the threat Hancock II poses to Missouri's ability to provide citizens with critical services, but that is no surprise. As governor John Ashcroft did not understand that Missourians wanted good schools, well funded law enforcement and corrections departments, or welfare and health care reform. John Ashcroft doesn't understand what Missouri families need and expect from their leaders. He never has.

The passage of Hancock II would result in the same kind of short sided and callous budget cuts John Ashcroft made as governor. The election of Ashcroft to the U.S. Senate would result in the same kind of do-nothing, backward representation John Ashcroft provided as governor. We can do without it.

Please remember, this will be electing a senator for six years. This nation can not and will not be able to withstand six years of John Ashcroft working to reduce the quality of education, reduce the quality of law enforcement and reduce the quality of health care while trying to compete in a global economy as he did as governor. Ashcroft put Missouri on a track of regression as governor. Ashcroft and Hancock II will send Missouri back in time. Ashcroft in the U.S. Senate will send the entire country backwards in time. John Ashcroft can take us backwards a long way in six years. Think about it.

On Nov. 8, we should all vote no to Hancock II and no to John Ashcroft. Then on Nov. 9, the Southeast Missourian can run articles with the headlines, "Wheat victorious in U.S. Senate race", "Hancock II defeated" and "Missouri Wins!"

DAVID, CONNIE SEABAUGH

Jackson