SPEAK OUT

Parental responsibility

THE PARENT who called in about the change in the Jackson Band Festival said it was changed in such a way that the children couldn't attend the parade. That's not true. The parade was at 3:30 p.m. School was let out at 2:30 p.m. Parents could have taken their children to the parade had they chosen to. Or, they could have had them go with a friend whose mother didn't work or something like that. The bottom line is, the parade was an extracurricular activity. It's your responsibility to take your children to extracurricular activities. It's not the district's responsibility. In the past, all these elementary schools have taken their kids up there, and the kids have run wild. It's ridiculous that you expect the school to do everything for you. You raise your child. If you want your kid to go to the parade, take an hour or two off work and take them. Why is it the district's responsibility?

We need county planning

I'M CALLING about planning and zoning. The people are complaining that they're against it. Frankly, if they had to live next door to the trash that I've lived next door to for eight years, they might change their mind. People say the school tax ought to be passed. I think the planning and zoning should be passed, and leave the school kids alone. I don't think the school tax should pass. I survived it when I went to school there, and so did my kids. Planning and zoning is what's needed.

Return our money

THERE IS a large surplus in the treasury from the taxes that Americans have paid. The Democrats want to use the money for more government programs. The Republicans want to give it back to the people. Let's think about this. It's like a person going to the store for a new TV. He pays $300 for the TV at the store. When he gets home, the store calls and says the price was really $200, but since he had already paid $300, the store would keep the extra money and use it for modernization, since that was their policy on all overpayments. Is this wrong? Yes. What would be the honest way? This money belongs to Americans who have worked hard. It should be returned. Please wake up, dear people.

Uninformed voter

THE PERSON who called in about uninformed people in Speak Out made the comment that Gore rented out the Lincoln Bedroom. I think the caller is way off base. Nobody rented it out. Gore didn't even live there to begin with. He needs to be better informed, too. He's another uninformed voter, the way it looks to me.

Lost credibility

I HAVE been driving 65 years, and have had numerous tires to go bad on pickups, station wagons, autos, Blazers and Suburbans, front and rear. And none of those bad tires caused the vehicle to swerve or turn over. That leads me to believe not only Firestone tires are defective, but also the Ford Explorer. Ford has completely lost its credibility. Also the Ford Lincoln bad tires are Continental General owned by the Germans. Firestone is owned by the Japanese. Both Germans and Japanese couldn't care less about your lives, only your dollars. Wake up, Americans, and buy from U.S. companies and keep your dollars in the U.S.

Practice your preaching

SENATOR ASHCROFT says God called him to preach forgiveness and salvation to the lost. But he got the urge to try his hand at politics. He was attorney general, governor and is now a U.S. senator. He did everything within his power to bring down the president. He even solicited funds to pay a lawyer to defend Tripp, whom he knew was guilty of taping hours of the telephone conversation illegally. He then voted to impeach the president, but that failed. The Bible says it is an awesome thing to incur the wrath of the living God. Ashcroft, practice what you preach before you lose what little credibility you have.

Get what you deserve

ABOUT TWO years ago, the Democrats in the U.S. Senate tried to get a bill passed to increase the loan on soybeans to $7. All Republicans, including both your Missouri senators, voted against you. Now if the Democrats were in the majority in the House and Senate, you soybean farmers would be getting $7 for your beans today. So keep on voting Republican, and you will get what you deserve.