SPEAK OUT

Defending a travesty

I WAS stunned almost beyond words by David Limbaugh's futile, failed attempt to reassure us that we should exercise patience when it comes to rebuilding our national defense and that a Reaganomics tax cut should take precedence. When it comes to our nation's sovereignty, we shouldn't be placing top emphasis on pandering to the masses with gimmicky, populist tax-cut proposals. Many of the military brass are said to be outraged at what they perceive as a Bush sellout. Please don't defend this travesty, Mr. Limbaugh. Please.

The sky is falling?

I AM so inclined to comment about the Chicken Littles of the world who say doom and gloom is coming. George W. Bush is in office, and the economy is declining. -- oh, my, the sky is falling. It is so ridiculous to think that the laying off of those 20,000 people mentioned in a recent comment were not all planned well before the end of the elections. Corporations never plan a downsizing that is executed in less than six months. It's almost too preposterous to comment about, but I had to.

No enforcement

I'VE BEEN reading all this stuff about the Jackson police not enforcing the speed laws, and it's time for me to put my two cents in. I drove through Jackson by a big four-wheel-drive truck. We both zipped right by a police officer getting ready to pull out of a parking lot. We passed right in front of him going 55 mph in a 40-mph zone. He didn't even bat an eyelash. We both hit our brakes. By the time we passed a couple more businesses, the truck sped back up to about 55 mph. I stayed at 40 mph. The police officer pulled out of the parking lot and passed me, but he didn't pull over the truck. No, Jackson police are not enforcing the speed limits. I'm living proof.

Full disclosure

I WANT to comment about Peter Kinder's attempts to warn women about the possibility of cancer due to abortions. I believe in full disclosure, that women should be given all the information, both psychological and physical, on abortion. Abortions have caused women to have nervous breakdowns and unbearable regret the rest of their lives. Women have suffered terribly because of abortions. It's made them where they feel like they have low self-esteem and self-worth. It's a terrible burden to carry around that you did this to one of your children. I support full disclosure.

Outstanding writers

WHAT A group of fine writers you publish in your paper. What a mind Paul Greenberg has. I have been reading his writings for a long time, but the Feb. 4 and 9 columns were outstanding. What a source of words they have, when I had to go to the dictionary to see the difference in principle and policy.

Natural gas crisis

WHY AREN'T we hearing President Bush's agenda to stop the economic disaster that's coming due to the outrageous pricing by natural gas companies? Missouri's natural gas comes from Texas. And Bush moved from there to the White House. He wants to give us a tax cut and pay our gas bills. So we get a tax cut. And it goes to natural gas. Where does soft money for campaigns come from? It'll be hard to find a smoking gun when thousands of dollars gets a direct vote. Soft money goes to elect the ones who will control the agenda in Washington as to what programs will get attention. Will our president let natural gas prices ruin our economy and then blame Clinton? I hope not.

A real crisis?

YOU SEE in the news about the power crisis, like the electricity problems in California, and now natural gas. Then you look in the financial news and see where natural gas suppliers' profits are up at least 60 percent. You wonder if there really is a crisis or if these increases are only to further line their pockets.

But not dentists

ABOUT THE article on Medicaid children who "worry" doctors: As a parent of adopted and foster children in Cape Girardeau, I'd like to compliment some of the medical clinics such as Cross Trails and MedStop which provide quality professional care to all patients. However, dental care is quite another experience. Please help if you know of an adequate dentist in the Cape Girardeau area who will meet Medicaid needs.