SPEAKOUT

God let us use our brains

I OVERHEARD some grumbling in the church because we were closed in the big snow. I think God gives us a brain to use, people. He probably doesn't want us out risking life and limb even though he's going to call us home in our due time. So instead of grumbling, maybe we should be humbling.

Kelso needs an exit

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT of Transportation: Why isn't there an exit at Kelso? It would hurt Scott City. But it would save lives. Think about it. Half the people getting off the interstate and on the interstate come from Kelso, New Hamburg and the surrounding area. The bottom line: It would hurt Scott City.

Officials take best parking

WHEN I went to the polls to vote in the sewer-bond election, there weren't any voters there, but I couldn't find a place to park because the election workers had taken all the prime parking spots. I think election officials should ask these workers to park out of the way so voters can have easy access when they go to the polls.

Good idea for interchange

THIS CALL is about the traffic problem in Scott City and accessing I-55. I wholeheartedly agree with the plan to divert the traffic to James Street and building an access to I-55. My question: How quickly can the state and federal highway departments implement this plan? I think it's a great plan and less expensive than any other plan that's been considered. Go for it!.

That's not in the Bible

EACH DAY when I read the Southeast Missourian, I always read "Today's Prayer." Recently it said, "When we are angry and bitter, O God, help us to calm down. Amen." Any time that you see something written for public use, it's usually a scripture from the Bible. This is nowhere in the Bible. It's not even close to being a scripture from any book in the Bible. That was my opinion.

This will get good support

I LIKE the new idea someone has for solving the traffic problem in Scott City. Now you politicians, get the job done and you get our vote.

Chief isn't fully appreciated

I WANT to comment on Chaffee's chief of police. I just wondered if the people of Chaffee realize what his solve rate is. You notice that whenever anything happens in Chaffee, the chief gets on it and solves it. He spends a lot of time on the job. People complain because he's enforcing the law. I wonder if they really appreciate him.

Let the father do his duty

I HAVE a comment about the little Cuban boy that America seems to be wanting to keep. I don't understand why we don't give the child back to a father who's willing to support him, since we advocate paying child support around here. We can't even get our deadbeat dads around here or the child support enforcement to make them pay. This man is willing to support this child. For God's sake, give him back.

It gives them a bad name

GARY RUST asked a question, truth or creative fiction, regarding the NASA scientists and the missing day in the universe. It's creative fiction. To be able to find the missing day you'd have to know the position of the planets before this was supposed to have happened. Then compare that to today. But since we don't know what the positions were back then, this claim that they found a missing day is a bunch of crap. It's stuff like this that gives science and religion a bad name.

Don't lump us together

I'M CALLING to comment on Kathleen Parker's column about pain medication. I also want to commend her for writing that column. I have done extensive research regarding the use of opiates to treat chronic non-malignant pain, and research shows that it can be a very viable and successful mode of treatment for chronic pain. The problem is, doctors and health-care professionals are not educated about the difference between addiction and physical dependence. They do not understand that with a chronic pain sufferer, if you took away the pain, you could take away the pain medication. Unfortunately, there are people out there who abuse and misuse pain medication, and that makes it harder for the people who really need it to obtain it. Doctors, please, do not group all patients into one category. Look at the patient as an individual and his pain as an individual. Please realize that suffering with chronic pain can be worse than death.

Attorneys take the loot

IT'S MY belief that if anybody gets involved in one of these class-action suits, nobody wins but the attorneys. All of the money those tobacco companies had to pay to the state of Missouri, who got the money? The attorneys. You didn't get any of it, did you?

We need county P&Z

WE NEED planning and zoning in the county. Let's keep residential areas residential only. No pig farms or trailer courts or apartments. Separate these. Build streets that are accessible and make rules to maintain streets.

More TLC in south Cape

I'D LIKE to thank you for printing this. I think that the south part of Cape should be cleaned up more. I believe that all of Cape is beautiful except that part, and it needs a little more TLC.

Dad was right, after all

AFTER LOOKING at all these politicians who live in the pages of the Southeast Missourian, like Peter "Ashcroft" Kinder, Gary "Limbaugh" Rust, people like that, it goes back to something my father told me a long time ago. He said "Son, if you can't make it as anything else, you can either be a cop or a politician." After taking a good, serious look at the police department here in Cape Girardeau and the stupidity that they display, and the politicians that Gary Rust and his regime support, I can see where dad was coming from. It makes a lot of sense.

No new Bush

AS USUAL, the Republican Party hacks are trying to put a real lightweight on the ballot. The system used in New Hampshire allows crossover by independents and gives a much truer picture of the opinion of the general public, and it's more fair than the system used in most states that requires voting in your declared party. With the New Hampshire system, George Bush got less than 20 percent of the total vote and was beaten by John McCain by 18 points in the Republican slate. The author of a new book about George Bush, when asked to give a one-word description of Bush, said "arrogant." This is the opinion of many reporters. They are just waiting for a few more gaffs to compare him to Dan Quayle.

It's still a tax increase

I JUST read your article concerning the financing of the new high school. It sounds like it was written by Bill Clinton. Let's see if I understand this: The tax levy is scheduled to go away after seven years as it presently stands, but in order to build a new school, the tax levy must be continued for three years. And if taxes remain the same, then that is a tax increase over what the planned tax arrangement is. Am I missing something? I think the taxes are going to increase. Even though it's going to be down the road a piece, it's still a tax increase. Somebody's got to pay it. I can't understand how the Southeast Missourian can report this this way.

Offer some water too

IN THE arrogance of the Show Me Center, if they're going to carry Pepsi products instead of Coke, they should offer courtesy cups of ice water at a reasonable rate. The university, as a place of higher learning, should be promoting good health vs. getting cavities.

Let Al quit too

THIS IS a response to the Speak Out caller in Thursday's paper who thinks George Bush should resign as governor of Texas. I guess if we use that logic, then Al Gore should resign as vice president of the United States so he can run an campaign.

You can walk or bike instead

IN REGARD to the recent announcement of MoDOT's $300,000 expenditure on the hiking and biking trail in Cape Girardeau, I'm assuming that since the roads have sunk into a state of disrepair and neglect, it will soon be necessary for people to hike and bike to work.

Mixed reaction on Pepsi deal

I'M A Southeast alum and a season ticket holder. The recent agreement by the university to give Pepsi-Cola exclusive marketing rights within the Show Me Center is one on which I have very mixed reactions. On the one hand, the $200,000 is a great deal of money, and I'm glad to see the Show Me Center get it, and I hope they use it wisely. On the other hand, my gut reaction is that I feel that I have two big thugs fighting over me to see which one gets to beat me up first.

Put monster trucks outdoors

I WAS rather upset. We're fairly new in town. We were reading in the paper about the monster trucks and thrills at the Show Me Center. I think that is more of an outdoor sport or entertainment. The Show Me Center should have a little bit more class than that. Besides, it can tear up a building. I think it's best that they limit themselves to other activities.

He doesn't have to resign

AS A liberal Democrat, in all fairness to Bush, no way should he have to resign as governor of Texas because he's running for president. There's nothing in the Constitution that says he has to do so. I believe that if Bush is not a Texan, he's close to it, because his father moved there after WWII. Bush vowed to the people of Texas that he would run for governor and it would be for only one term. So I think it's bad if a man wants to abandon ship like Dole did. It showed that Dole didn't give much thought to his Senate seat he was elected to.

Learn some shopping manners

WHEN SHOPPING this week, I encountered the rudest people. I was shopping at a major store. I found people visiting in the middle of the aisles, and they wouldn't get over to let other shoppers through. When I checked out my purchases, the lady behind me could not wait till I paid for my purchases. She rammed her cart into me while I was paying. Shoppers, I was taught manners. And I'm sure you were too. Why don't we all use them? If we don't have manners for each other, think how our children and grandchildren will grow up. I hope you see yourself here.

Enjoyed that column

I ENJOYED Gary Rust's column last week, especially the list about getting old, and the real ads found in classified. Best laugh I've had in a long time. I'd like to read more like that. I also enjoy Sam Blackwell and Joe Sullivan.

Clinton didn't do it

I GET tired of hearing people call in Speak Out and praising Bill Clinton for the good economy. They couldn't be further from the truth. This good economy is the result of Alan Greenspan and the news media. If you'll just notice how liberal these news people are, you can see it on TV every night. As far as people starving to death when Ronald Reagan was president, I'd like to remind the caller who said this.. You get a little 2.4 percent increase in Social Security, then everything else goes up, especially your prescription drugs. Don't tell me Bill Clinton is a good president.

A good deed in the park

I'D LIKE to say thank you to the nice lady who walks around Capaha Park every morning for coming to my rescue. She was kind enough to lend me her scarf on a bitter cold morning to take care of an emergency. Again, thank you, from the runner on the loose.

No, it's not OK

I'D LIKE to comment about the Pepsi at the Show Me Center. I don't think it's right for anyone to force us to drink Pepsi when we don't really like it. That's one of the things that bothers me in restaurants. If you ask for Coke and the restaurant doesn't serve Coke products, the waitress will ask, "Is Pepsi OK?" We've got to start saying no, Pepsi is not OK because it's not Coke.

Not there to drink it

AS FAR as the Show Me Center offering only Pepsi to drink, I guess the last thing I'd been to over there was the Bob Hope show. A long time back. Other than Ronald Reagan and graduation ceremonies. Not going to miss much. Rodeos and wrestling. Hope everybody enjoys the Pepsi. I'm not there.

Waiting for the Democrats

I GET so tired of watching these committee chairmen. They're all Republicans chairing everything. It will be such a refreshing change to see a Democrat chairing some of these committees. These horrible, greedy Republicans are running everything. It'll be so refreshing when, after the next election, the Democrats will have control of the House and Senate again and can get something done for the poor people and the people who need help, and old folks instead of these greedy Republicans wanting to give everything away to the rich people.

He sounds like a Democrat

IF THE presidential race boils down to John McCain and Al Gore, I'll have to vote for McCain simply because he would be the lesser of two evils. However, Republicans need to realize that John McCain's position on the issues sounds more Democratic than Republican. He promotes class warfare with his tax proposal. A classic Democratic strategy. His campaign-finance reform puts limits on business contributions but none on union contributions. But, most importantly, the liberal media loves this guy. Even Geraldo Rivera and Rosie O'Donnell are singing his praises. This should throw up a red flag to all thinking Republicans.

Booster extortion

There is a rumor that there's a pending plan to further gouge the loyal boosters and supporters of SEMO basketball. When the Show Me Center was being constructed and the planned moved to Division I was in its infancy, the loyal boosters were asked to buy our seats, to pay several hundred dollars premium for the privilege of purchasing tickets each year for a certain seat in the Show Me Center. We did that. We slowly built our program and set attendance records every year. Then they started raising the ticket prices until we had the highest priced tickets in the OVC conference. We still set attendance records. But we finally managed to make a name for our program and have a quality product that we've had all these years. The newest plan to gouge the boosters is to charge a premium of several hundred dollars more for the privilege of sitting in certain sections of the Show Me Center, regardless of the fact that we already pay for our tickets and own the rights to a seat in that section. When will this gouging stop? What is next? A fee to park while we go to the games? A surcharge of a dollar or two when we come through the turnstiles? This is really getting sickening.