SPEAK OUT

No-cost solution

I THOUGHT the newspaper story about the roundabout was helpful, especially the chart about possible solutions. I want to know, though, who the people are who are driving over the center apron. Are these people driving too fast at night? I haven't had any trouble, and I haven't seen anyone else drive over the middle. Let's not spend any more money on this thing and give the people here a chance to drive it. It's not that big a deal. Or put the radar up. The newspaper says that one doesn't cost anything.

Not my values

JUST AS soon as I receive my tax rebate, I plan to move out of this ultra-conservative area and retire. Who knows? Just maybe I'll be rich enough to turn Republican. No, my family values would never permit that.

Where are outcries?

I READ that George W. and Laura Bush have said their daughters' drinking problems are a "private family matter" and should remain that way. Now isn't that interesting? Where are the outcries from you holier-than-thou GOPers who were so critical of the Clintons? Let's hear it again about the party with family values.

I'll do it, but ...

TARA MILLER has proposed that Cape citizens participate in a voluntary rolling blackout from 7 to 10 p.m. June 21. What a wonderful idea. Besides demonstrating how well we can get by on less energy consumption, it would, as she said, be a fun event. I am committed to this cause and will certainly go along with it if, during that time, the Cardinals aren't on TV and the temperature is not above 72 degrees. The only other caveat would be that if the local utility company chooses to go along with the idea, as it should, I would hope an exception would be made for those street lights near the roundabout.

Real page-turner

JON RUST recently wrote a great column about demagogic politicians. I would estimate that if Rust thoroughly researched the subject, he could write a book that would be 350,000 to 400,000 pages long.

Stating the obvious

AFTER PRESENTING a series of columns that made him seem fair-minded, Jon Rust's attack on Gov. Bob Holden showed his true colors. He's a conservative firebrand just like everyone else at the Southeast Missourian. For a while there, I actually thought there might be a liberal, or at least a moderate, writing for you. Why get on Holden for attacking Bush and Big Oil when everyone is doing that? Only a blind man would deny that Texas oil is behind the energy problems, and Bush and Dick Cheney are in bed with Texas oil big time. So what if the governor says the same thing? He's stating the obvious.

Watch for petition

GET OVER it, Speak Out callers. Quit going postal over the fact that Heidi Hall mildly criticized the U.S. Postal Service in a humorous vein. Frankly, she had the courage to write what most people think, although in a style that only Heidi can do. If you keep on bashing her, I'm going to send Heidi a petition of support with loads of signatures, and I'll send it FedEx.

Now we go faster

THE RESEARCH is right. Four-way stop signs do speed people up. At least, it speeds me up. I used to drive 35 to 40 mph on Mount Auburn Road. Now I find myself barreling at 45 mph right to the stop, slamming the brakes to make a quick stop. Then I floor it to get right back to 45 mph, sometimes leaving a black mark or two in protest. I see others doing this too. Amazing how the city council approves something to slow us down, and we speed up in protest.

More auto racing

THE PERSON who called in about auto racing is absolutely correct. It needs more coverage in the Southeast Missourian. It's absolutely pitiful how the newspaper covers NASCAR and Winston Cup racing.