SPEAK OUT

Support for teens

I SUPPORT the teen-ager who called about teens being nice. This thing with the shootings how can you blame it on all teens when it's just a small amount of people influenced by the media. You don't know everything about teens.

Thanks for fireworks

THE FIREWORKS over the river were absolutely beautiful. I hope it becomes a yearly tradition for Cape. Thanks to the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and to all the sponsors who donated. Thank you.

Bring back Riverfest

I THINK it would be good to revive Riverfest. I think Cape has grown and changed. I think it needs people who can bring in some top acts. There's no reason why our town couldn't have Chuck Berry come perform. That would draw tourist dollars. There's no reason why you couldn't have oldies groups come perform some years, like the Coasters, the Temptations and the Four Tops. Riverfest wasn't bad. As far as I was concerned, there were no performers to knock myself out to go see, and a free concert for everyone would be a good thing to draw tourist dollars. That would just be a great thing to have over the Fourth of July.

A form of socialism

IF PETER Kinder were a true conservative, he would fund the Cardinals stadium by means of donations. However, baseball is a business. By using tax money in this business of baseball, he is a socialist.

Beautiful flags

THE FLAGS at Cape County Park were beautiful on the morning of the Fourth of July. As I sat next to my dad's flag, I looked across the road to Memorial Park and I could almost see the veterans standing at attention, saluting all the flags. Thanks to all the people who put them out.

Political monks

I THINK it's about time the news media cut back on their coverage of private lives of people in Washington. Just because some official wants to play around a little, I don't think it should be broadcast for weeks on end. I'm a senior citizen, and years ago a person was allowed to have a close friend of the opposite sex and it wasn't all over the news. We probably won't be able to get people to go to Washington if they're expected to live like a bunch of monks.

Nothing done yet

I LIVE in Jackson. My daughter asked me today to drive her by the junior high campus where she will be going this fall. Why is nothing being done with this building? We passed that bond issue last fall and were told things would be done right away. They're not working on it yet. So now they're asking for a tax levy. I am not voting for another thing until you start moving as quickly as you say you need to.

A wonderful man

I STRONGLY disagree with the Speak out caller who characterized David Limbaugh as hypocritical and hateful. Limbaugh's political philosophy may be woefully wrong-headed, but he is a wonderful man. End these awful ad hominem attacks.

Can you hum the tune?

CURRENTLY, MY favorite song is "Schism" by the band known as Tool. I think the reason is that the oft-repeated refrain, "I know the pieces fit," is of benefit to me as I attempt to puzzle my way through the pontifical paroxysms of Peter Kinder, decipher the political divinations of David Limbaugh and synthesize the seemingly contradictory screeds of the Southeast Missourian editorial staff.

No influence now

I JUST read Peter Kinder's column about your governor's executive order regarding collective bargaining for state employees. Having moved out of state two years ago and with the sale of our property in Cape closing the end of this month, I'm glad Holden will have no influence on me or my property in the future. My best wishes to the many friends we left behind when we moved.

More than a label

IN RESPONSE to the Jim Jeffords-Benedict Arnold comparison: This person is assuming that all Republicans in Vermont voted for Jeffords and that Republicans voted for him simply because he was Republican. If this is the case, then I feel sorry for those voters, because Jeffords stated numerous times that, while he was a member of the Republican Party, his stance on many issues coincided with those of the Democrats. Jeffords had the heart of a Democrat with a Republican label stamped on his head, and he merely made a logistical change.

Rebates, flat taxes

THE CALLER who made a vigorous argument for the progressivity of tax rebates is likely a vehement advocate of a regressive "everyone should pay the same percentage" flat tax.

Taxing contribution

I AGREE. Others do need help. When the "Back the Blue" campaign was in full swing, I made no contribution. I had already made a nonvoluntary contribution a few months before in the form of taxes and the ticket that had to be paid. That adds up to be a donation in my book.

Clamp down on campus

I AM a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, Class of 1997. I feel I am qualified to question the wisdom of spending all that money on the River Campus. Several individuals have tried to point to problems such as parking and the housing situation, as they should. Southeast needs to take care of its current operations and assets instead of trying to be a big, glamorous state university, which is something it is not nor is it something the people of Cape Girardeau probably want. To the residents of Cape Girardeau and the surrounding region: Please don't let SEMO get too big for its britches.

No supportive data

TWO QUOTES from columnist Jack Stapleton: "We automatically make our kids smarter and better equipped by spending more on the institutions that provide them with assistance." And, "Missouri can achieve better schools overnight by spending more of our tax dollars on public education." I continue to admire Stapleton for his commitment to causes, powers of persuasion and rhetorical skills, particularly in instances like the above where the data to back up his grandiose claims are nonexistent.