SPEAKOUT

Take the money

Mr. Gore says he is against rich and special interests, yet Mr. Gore has taken millions from big companies, big organizations, even the movie industry and the millionaire entertainers. And how about the special interests of the unions and the gays? He says big corporations are against him. Mr. Gore, there are thousands of stockholders and small investors in most of these companies. Welfare recipients can't donate big sums. You didn't get your millions from people who need help. Be honest. You even take money from other countries and even a Buddhist temple. I hope we finally get rid of eight years of lies, disgrace and filth we have at the top of our government next election.

Papa's boy

I would like to point out to people that George W. is a dutiful son. To this day he still does what daddy tells him to do. He is definitely papa's boy. Now if you approve of papa's thinking, why go ahead and vote for him. If you don't, you better change your politics.

He's a prophet

When the prophecies of Professor Journet bear fruit, it will be too late. Our world will be drowning in a irreversible tidal wave of pollution. Am I the only one who notices that far from a nutty professor, Professor Journet is the Nostradamus of the new and final millennium?

Figure it out

I just had to respond to the genius who commented about title "the party of the rich" and said that the marriage penalty, as with all taxes, that only affected rich people. If you are smart enough to figure out your taxes, you could obviously just check and see how far off you are. The marriage penalty affects every tax bracket, not just the rich. Do the math.

Repair the playground

I was wondering if anybody knows what happened to the children's playground at Capaha Park. It has been months now since it was damaged. The city has yet to repair it. Couldn't they possibly repair it for the children to enjoy this summer? There is somebody responsible, I'm sure.

Need cable answers

I agree wholeheartedly with the caller who was critical of the new rate increase from Charter Communications about our cable coverage. I have written the president of Charter. Others may want to do the same at 941 Charter Comm, St. Louis, Mo. 63017. Ask why we were not given the opportunity to stay like we were or to take the increased offerings of more channels. It seemed to me we had a contract, and we were not given any choice about changing that contract. I would like an answer from our City Council and or our television committee as to why we don't have the right to stay as we are.

Great writer

I want to voice my appreciation of the Kathleen Parker column July 22 about family morals. I just value reading her column. She is a great writer. I was wondering where she is from.

Kathleen Parker is a columnist for the Orlando, Fla., Sentinel, but she resides in North Carolina.

Deadbeat moms

I am calling to the response to the mother who said go after deadbeat dads. There are as many deadbeat moms as there are dads. I am tired of dads getting blamed for everything. I wonder how much of the money goes for cigarettes and alcohol.

In a slump

I hate to pile on because he is getting it from so many sides, but duty calls. Jack Stapleton recently wrote that before the St. Louis Cardinals build the new stadium, they might want to consider what the team would be like with out Mark McGwire. Jack, I though you followed baseball. Until this year the Cardinals had stunk up the place with Mark McGwire. They have been absolutely horrible. When are you going to break out of your slump, Jack.

Personal priorities

Janet Reno sided with Castro to return a child to a communist school of indoctrination. She sided with her political party not to investigate illegal campaign money from other countries, disregarding the wishes of the FBI and the law. Now she fights for the rights of homosexuals and discrimination suits. Her priorities seem to be personal, not the law.

Tough job ahead

After watching Mr. Gore, whine, lie and complain about anything mentioned on issue, I realized this is about the dullest, most obnoxious and arrogant person ever to run for president. His handlers say they are going to make him over to be more charismatic. I guess it is kind of like making a purse out of a hog's ear. Well, they have the ear, but they have got their work cut out on him.

Can't even dial

The last-minute rumor that Colin Powell was going to be Bush's running mate had me in an ecstatic state. When I learned the choice was going to be Dick Cheney, I immediately plummeted into a condition of catatonia. The most difficult thing about being in a catatonic state is trying to call Speak Out.

They really tried

In response to the comment about dental and health care, a caller asked where Mel Carnahan, Al Gore and Bill Clinton have been. Clinton had a good health-care plan. They called it Hillary's folly. They killed it. Remember? The good old right-wing self-righteous Republicans you elected in 1994. They all boast about how they were so glad to defeat that health-care plan. Carnahan just runs the state. He needs federal help if he wants dental plan and health plan in Missouri. I think he tried to get a health-care plan, and your good old representative in Congress was dead set against it. So where have these liberals been? They have been trying to fight you right-wingers.

Good economy?

I JUST received my phone bill, and found out that the federal end user common line charge was increased from $3.50 to $4.35 per month. This says so much for Clinton's good economy. I'd like for someone to tell me whether the economy is good and inflation is under control. My insurance has gone up. My medicine has gone up. My phone bill has gone up. Gasoline and grocery prices have gone up. So tell me more about Clinton's good economy. It's just about ready to fall through, with gasoline being as high as it is. If these people would let these people open up these oil wells in our country, we wouldn't have a gas shortage and high prices.

Beyond the pale

I'M CALLING in regard to the AmerenUE's unconscionable increase in rates. To think that our public service commission has gone along with it doubles the pain. There are people who cannot afford to heat or cool their homes as it is. Many people are going to suffer because of this. I think the public should be screaming its bloody head off. This raise is absolutely beyond the pale.

School days

THERE'S A nice article about R.O. Hawkins Junior High School in Jackson being overcrowded. I live in the Jackson School District, and I support the schools. But the article caused me to think about my school days. I'm 71 years old and went to school in Sikeston. We had two school buildings, grades 1-6 and 7-12. We had 30 to 35 students in each class. We had one week of vacation at Christmas and no spring break. We walked to school. In my senior year there were only seven students who drove to school. In the athletic department we had the same head coach and one assistant who coached football, basketball and track, yet we were successful. Students and teachers respected each other, and teachers dressed nicely, not like they do today. Finally, we got by with no air conditioning, and we did not get days off when the temperatures were hot. My generation made it just fine without all the amenities which are given today. Good luck to all, and keep smiling.

Affects everyone

SOMEONE CALLED and said that people would only pay more taxes if they were rich and there's no marriage penalty for the average working man and woman. That's not true. If you have a man and woman each making $15,000 as single people, their tax bills would be less than if they were married. If they were each making $15,000 and got married, they would pay over $200 in additional federal income tax. That's for people only making $15,000 a year. So obviously this is something affects not only the rich, but the middle-income people also. It should be changed so that you're not penalized on your taxes just because you choose to get married.

We spend money

I'M READING where someone said they thought that, because Illinois had to borrow money from Missouri to get the bridge built, each motorist going over that bridge should have to pay a $5 toll one way. If it wasn't for Illinois people going to Missouri, I don't think they'd have too much business and their taxes over there would go up. Watch how many Illinois cars go over to Missouri to shop and spend money. You ought to thank God that Illinoisans are spending money in Missouri and paying sales taxes.

Get your money

I'M CALLING about the lady who needs child support. The number for the local child support office here in Cape is 290-5720. You'll need your case number or Social Security number ready, and be prepared to call these people at least every other day or every week religiously. They have over 600 people on their caseload and are very busy. They'll easily forget that you even exist. You have to stay on them. It can take up to three months or longer to get your child support. I hope the father of your child is working at a job that withholds taxes. As long as he is, they can get your money.

Restricting freedom

WHEN I read Speak Out, I'm always amazed by the callers who want to restrict the liberties of others by putting video cameras at intersections. I'm completely of the old school. If the cop doesn't catch you, you have no business being handed a ticket. I don't want Big Brother peeping over my shoulder. I hope the day this comes to Cape Girardeau people will pick up rocks and break those things. We mustn't allow our civil liberties and freedoms to be infringed upon. Then there are the people who want to stop others from having abortions because they personally are happy with their lives and want their babies. They give no thought of other people's situations, which could be unfavorable to having a child. I wish people who want to restrict others' freedoms would just shut up.

Better land use

I SAW on the news where the old St. Francis Hospital building is going to be torn down and public housing put there. All of us taxpayers here in Cape should be outraged at that. That land should be used for a business or something that will benefit us all, instead of having another drain on society from public housing. It's awful these so-called city leaders are using our tax dollars that way. Everyone should call and tell them what we think. That land should be available for a business or factory or something.