SPEAK OUT

Things to remember

WE NEED to remember one thing: There were very few volunteers in the Vietnam War. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney were not two of them. Cheney said he had other things to do. Bush went to the National Guard. Bill Clinton did not want to go. I had two boys who went in the National Guard, and I am glad they did. I feel sorry for those who had to go. Let's not forget the debts of the Reagan-Bush administration. Don't forget Iran-Contra and the 142 Marines who were left in Lebanon.

Responsible voting

MY LATE father was a staunch Democrat and a man of integrity and character. Had he been alive to vote in the last three presidential elections, he would not have voted for Clinton or Gore because of their lack of principle and values. Rather than vote Republican, he probably wouldn't have voted at all. Honesty, integrity, character and principles were the No. 1 priority for my father. All other political issues were secondary. What is saddening today is not Clinton and Gore's lack of values, but the fact that about half the voters in this country either don't regard morals as being important or simply are too ignorant to exercise their voting rights responsibly.

Turkeys or children?

THIS IS just in regard to Clinton's Thanksgiving Day pardon to save a turkey. I just have one thing to say to him: Pardon a turkey, kill a child.

Tickets cost too much

CONCERT TICKETS for the Sheryl Crow concert at the Show Me Center are slow because it takes a family of four anywhere from $100 to $120 for an hour-and-a-half to two-hour concert. That is ridiculous. It is very expensive for a family to go out and see that kind of a concert. That is why there are low attendance numbers at the Show Me Center. Even quality acts like ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd don't fill the center. And Vince Gill and JoDee Messina are excellent performers winning numerous awards for their performance abilities. It is simply because the Show Me Center wants to charge high prices, and a typical family in the area can't afford to do that. Mr. Ross wants to point out that the reason why ticket sales are slow is because of the uncertainty around the presidential election. Give me a break. Reduce ticket prices so that a family of four can go see a rodeo or a decent concert without paying through the nose.

He went to help

I WOULD like to complain about those people who thought Clinton's trip was wrong. At least he went there to help those people and not kill them.

He's out of touch

I WOULD like to thank all the county voters who soundly defeated planning and zoning. I think we should now concentrate our efforts on ousting the obviously out-of-touch presiding commissioner, Gerald Jones.

What is happening?

I WOULD like to share with the people in our area this quote: "Those who cast votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." That statement was made by Joseph Stalin years ago. People in the United States, please take heed and ask yourself what is happening. Is our constitution on the way out?

All about pregnancy

GORE, WHO is pro-choice, says that a pregnant woman does not hold a human life. If that is true, then a pregnant chad certainly does not hold a vote for Al Gore.

They know who won

YOU DYED-in-the-wool Republicans are so certain George W. won that the very thought of a recount scares you to death. I find this most interesting. Or is it that you really know who won the popular vote as well as the electoral vote?