SPEAK OUT

Need identification

I'M GLAD the people of Mississippi voted by a large margin to keep the Confederate battle flag as part of their state flag, and I'm also glad to see the Confederate flag on cars and pickup trucks. As a Yankee whose ancestors freed their slaves shortly after the Revolution, the Confederate flag identifies the people that we disagree with and don't want to help or associate with. Mississippi in 1999 had the lowest per-capital income in this country, $20,506, while Massachusetts, where many of my ancestors came from, had a per-capital income of $35,733. So do you see why I'm happy to see these people identify themselves?

Restricting the flow

AS USUAL, the editorial staff of the Southeast Missourian got things wrong in its editorial when they told the value of the floodwall in the Cape area. You can't put 10 gallons of water through a system that is designed for five gallons of water. The levees on each side of the river do not allow for the water to move freely. To give added flow, it will be necessary to move the levee on the Illinois side back far enough to move the water through without flooding. According to a new report, the frequency and intensity of flooding will occur more often unless action is taken to increase the capacity of our waterways.

Get real, get fair

ABOUT DIVERSITY and the need to recruit more minority staff in our schools: Why should these people be sought out if they aren't being discriminated against? There was no mention of them being discriminated against. Why should someone go out and spend time and money to beg them to come take a job. If they're qualified, they're quite able to find their own jobs and know which jobs they would like to work at and ones they wouldn't. This is reverse discrimination. If you want to do such things as this, why not limit the number of minorities that can be on a basketball team, that can work in a black business? We don't hear any complaint about this unless it's the white race. If it's a minority, it's great. Let's get real and get fair.

We need protection

THE FOLKS who thought planning and zoning for the county was not for them, citing their freedom and way of life, are in for a shock. Most people are decent and caring, but there are always those who could care less for the environment, scenery or neighbors. We need responsible and fair laws, even in our rural areas, as the population invades our countryside and the unwashed move in.

Public housing

THIS INVOLVES the new public housing that will be built on Good Hope where the old St. Francis Hospital was. It's amazing. Cities will never learn. You're going to build public housing and build 500 units, and that won't be enough. Then you'll build 900, then 2,000. You never get enough. One of the worst things we can do is to keep building public housing. It turns into a lifestyle.

Cooperation lacking

OF COURSE there are only negative remarks from Democrats to any of President Bush's agenda. Democrats are still so mad because they didn't win the election. They are going to fight every inch of the way. This is not democracy in action. It is spite and not political honor. These Democrats were not elected to be petty agitators. They were elected to get the people's work done. Their lack of cooperation for the benefit of citizens will be remembered at the next election.

Governor's spending

IT'S VERY unfortunate that we have a new governor who spends money for his inauguration and wants to buy two new airplanes. My husband has worked for the highway department for 32 years. He found out that all state employees will not get a raise in their salaries this year. I am disabled, and we're trying to make it on my husband's salary. I think it's pretty dirty that things are going like they are. Hang in there, Senator Kinder, because I think you can beat them in the end.