SPEAK OUT

Short memories

I can't believe anyone with a memory thinks the economy was improving in 1992. We were going downhill with every aspect imaginable. The debt was the highest in history. Unemployment was at an all-time high of 15 percent. Social Security was in danger due to Republicans borrowing from it. Education was at a standstill and going downhill. No jobs were readily available, Crime was at an all-time high, Drugs were at an all-time high. School drop-outs were all too frequent. Foreign relations were at an all-time low. The change was initiated by Clinton-Gore's l993 budget with not one Republican voting for it. They did not vote for it due to the fact that Clinton threw out the failed Reagan-Bush economics.

Put snow in street

YEARS BACK we had a city manager from one of the northern states who knew how to handle the snow. He didn't plow it against the curbs where it piled up and iced up. He had it plowed to the center of the streets, then it was loaded up and hauled away. To me, that makes sense. I don't know why we can't do it that way now. In front of our building we have snow and ice piled three feet high at the curb. Nobody can park, and the streets are getting narrower.

Recipe for the birds

FEED THE birds birdseed and toasted bread, not dry bread.

Partisan, not patriot

IN RETROSPECT it is clear to most thoughtful observers that more people cast their votes for Al Gore in Florida than for Bush. But we were denied the opportunity to get a complete count by two justices appointed to the Supreme Court by one of the candidate's fathers. Normal judicial ethics would have required them to recuse themselves from this case. Anyone who can take any satisfaction in an American election being decided in this manner just because their candidate was awarded the presidency is certainly more partisan than patriot.

Electric problems here

I READ with interest the editorial concerning California's inability to provide proper electricity to homes. I think we should look at our electricity problem here in Cape Girardeau. Our power is out again. This happens frequently along with brownouts. If we're going to criticize California for how they handle their electric utilities, I think first we should look in our own back yard.

Balance could change

BEFORE THE Republican senators get too cocky and overbearing, there are some things they should remember. There are six Republican senators in states in which the governor is a Democrat. The two most obvious of these is Strom Thurmond who is 98 years old and Jesse Helms who's known to be in poor health. So any time we could have a shift in the control of the Senate. Trent Lott would then be the minority leader. And the Democrats would control the committees and the agenda. In addition to this, Al Gore had over 300,000 votes more than George W. Bush, so Bush really doesn't have a mandate. This is the first time in over 100 years that the candidate with the majority of the popular vote lost the election. The ballots in the Senate could change at any time.

Whopping utility bill

HOW MANY people went into shock when they got their utility bill this month? I cannot believe I used four times as much gas than I did the previous 30 days. But the utility company doesn't budge. It says it's my bill and I have to pay it. I hope this next month won't be quite so much more, because I don't know how I can handle anymore.