SPEAK OUT

It's not welfare

LET ME get this straight: A tax break means you do not have your money taken by the government to pay taxes. So how in the world can that possibly be a welfare program if the government doesn't take your money?

Rich deserve a break

I'M GETTING sick to death of hearing all these people complaining about the tax breaks being just for the rich. I wish I had the specifics at my fingertips. The top 10 percent of the population pays something like 85 to 90 percent of all taxes. If they don't deserve a break, who does? Lower-income people pay almost nothing in taxes, and a lot of them pay nothing because they're living off of the government. Who do you think deserves a tax break: the rich or the poor? The rich are paying everything. Maybe they ought to get a break once in a while.

Some are dumbfounded

TO THOSE callers who use such words as "cherish" and "decent" and "honorable" when referring to George W. Bush, I want to remind them that many of us out here are dumbfounded.

At least be honest

AND THE Dumb and Dumber Dunce Award for February goes to Republican U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, who thinks repealing the estate tax won't reduce philanthropic contributions because she thinks man is altruistic and generous by nature. Don't tell me many individuals aren't motivated to give to charity because of estate-tax breaks. Making the rich richer may be a good idea, even at the expense of charitable contributions, but Dunn needs to be intellectually honest in making the case.

More coverage

I WANT to thank the Southeast Missourian for its coverage of the Daytona 500 and the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt. I usually find your Nascar coverage very limited, but I was pleased to see the increase in articles over the past week. Keep up the good work. This fan appreciates it.

Time for change

I WOULD like to remind all Jackson School District voters that we have an election April 3 for two school board members. I urge everyone to get out and vote for two new members, as it's time for a change.

School parking lots

THIS CONCERNS the parking and traffic problems at the Jackson Middle School. Bus drivers have been complaining about parents coming through the back lot to get to the parents lot. Now that access has been chained off. Why were the lots connected in the first place? The back lot is reserved for teachers and staff. So why do we have several of them using the front lot? They are taking space away from the parents causing more traffic on the highway. We need someone out there to direct the traffic.

Hotel presentation

I WAS at this week's Cape Girardeau City Council meeting, and I was very impressed with the group of students there on behalf of the Marquette Hotel. Jeremy Wells, in particular, gave an excellent presentation about possible uses for the old hotel with specific, highly researched examples and a lot of no-nonsense information about the cost of fixing it up. I'm sure his comments left quite an impression with our councilmen. He is to be commended for his effort to educate us about making use of the Marquette.

A moral president

I LOVE my president. I respect my president. It is so wonderful to have such a moral president and one who stands his ground. Praise the Lord!

Mail is opened

IN REGARD to the Speak Out comment, "Damaged mail": I have also received a number of opened letters in the mail. Recently I received a piece of mail in a plastic bag with a handwritten note from the Phoenix post office claiming it was damaged in the machinery. When I opened up the little plastic bag, my envelope was in perfect shape except that the stamp had been canceled. It was a bill that I was paying. That caused me to get a finance charge on my credit card bill because it wasn't in on time. I always wonder if somebody in the post office is reading my mail.

Drop the Clintons

THE POOR rich. The cartoons on the Perspectives page Sunday were in very poor taste. Let's leave the Clintons alone and concentrate on Bush's future behavior, mistakes and inexperience.

Saving democracy

PRESIDENT BUSH, in the first 30 days of his presidency, has shown remarkable leadership and has sent a powerful message to those who are threatening democracy and its constitutional form of government. Peace through strength and the determined desire to uphold and defend democracy and its heritage of values is the only way to save democracy. Thank God for President Bush and his very capable Cabinet officers for their strong convictions and determination to save democracy.

Count and recount

THIS IS about Louis King's letter to the editor in which he said the Bush election was corrupted. How many times were the votes counted in Florida? The votes always came out in Bush's favor. This is an insult about Jeb Bush. He stayed out of it more than anyone else would have.

Great neighborhood

WANT TO know the best-kept secret in Jackson? We have the most wonderful neighborhood up here in the 1100 block of Greensferry Road. I'd just like to tell them thank you and God bless you for everything.

Need turn arrow

THE STOPLIGHT at Clark and Broadway is great, but why in the world didn't they install a green arrow for a left turn? There'll be a lot of wrecks. That's a very busy intersection.