SPEAK OUT

Profile got it wrong

THE ASSOCIATED Press profile of state Sen. Peter Kinder was abominable. Far from a haughty, intolerant solon, Kinder is gregarious and personable. He understandably puts on elitist airs only when in the company of uppity types in the Cato Institute, the American Conservative Union, high falutin' members of the Heritage Foundation, William F. Buckley Jr., William Kristol, Kate O'Beirne and, possibly, Augusto Pinochet.

Surely they can

AM I worried about the economy? Of course not. George W. Bush and members of his party had all the answers for the last eight years, remember? Surely they can handle anything.

Start a fund

TO THE person who said anybody who has MC-plus or Medicaid, the physician or dentist should say "Patient, heal thyself." That person should start up a fund to pay for people who are not insured. Doctors and dentists write off numerous amounts of money to cover what insurance forces them to write off. They write-off for patients who can't afford to pay because they are sincere and heartfelt. So before you start making comments when you're incredibly uninformed, check it out first. There are many physicians and dentists who don't routinely accept Medicaid, but they make numerous exceptions. They also pay for cabs for patients and phone calls. These things are not covered in the overhead.

Finish some projects

WHEN WILL the city fathers ever learn about road construction? Instead of starting several major projects and having the city all torn up and inconveniencing everyone, why not start and finish two or three, then begin some more? That makes more sense. Just drive down Broadway and see what I mean.

Hit by medical bills

I SAW red when I read the item of people on fixed incomes. I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me. I worked from the time I was 16. Had a few rather well-paying jobs and was able to save a little. But at 59 I was diagnosed with cancer and spent 45 days in the hospital. The job I worked for didn't offer sick leave. I did have medical insurance, but my cost after the insurance paid was $160,000. I had to wait six months for my disability Social Security, so I had no income at all. I lost my home and my car. My checking account was confiscated to pay medical bills. Now I live in a rented house and drive a 15-year-old car because my credit is ruined. I live on $800 a month and pay $200 a month just for heat. Now I ask you: Is this disadvantaged?

It's a con game

OUR SCHOOL boards and administrators spend money like drunken sailors on shore leave. Then they run out of money and start crying about having to be on an austerity program, setting the public up for a tax increase so they can return to their old ways of doing business. It's a pattern we have seen time and time again. All of us, including the Southeast Missourian, need to support public education. But I do resent the Southeast Missourian being an active participant in this latest con game.

Take charge

WHY ISN'T President Bush raising Cain about the rising cost of natural gas? If anything's going to trip up the economy, that's it. But I don't hear a thing out of him, no plans or no agenda about putting a stop to this rape of the American people. The natural gas is out there. We don't make it. You need to take control, Mr. President. Deregulation doesn't work for everything.

Confusing parking

I WISH they would repaint the parking spaces at the Jackson Post Office. They're very confusing.

Leave us alone

IT SEEMS there are still some in Cape County who are trying to clean up the county and impose all kinds of restrictions. It sounds like you folks live in either Cape or Jackson. Why don't you take care of what's going on in those two towns and leave the county and rural people alone? There is enough garbage and weeds in Cape and Jackson that should be taken care of. Don't stick your nose in other people's business.