SPEAKOUT

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.

Other examples

APPARENTLY somebody is very upset about the fact that he may be taxed to pay for senior-citizen medications and thinks it is ridiculous that we would have to pay our taxes for somebody else's medication. He has a point. Single people have been paying school taxes for years. So let's let the folks who are having all these kids be the ones who pay for school taxes. And there are all kinds of people who have no car and no license who are paying road taxes, so let's stop taxing them for that. And sales taxes go into all kinds of things to support people who don't have enough money and have kids on welfare. Let's stop that too. Regarding the comment that seniors have plenty of money, he should take a real look at life. There are plenty of seniors out there who are paying $100 or $200 or even more a month for their medications that they need to survive. And most of those people are earning maybe $600 or $700 a month from Social Security. This guy doesn't have a clue.

Dumb animal

TO THE person who loves his cat and animals but turns them out at night to roam: What is the point? Is it that your dog gets along with your cat? Who cares if it still pollutes my garden and kills small animals which you supposedly also love? It is against the law to let your cat roam at night in the city, and it is not a squirrel or rabbit messing in my flowers and garden. It is this stinking cat. If you had any consideration for others instead of the selfish freedom of your cat, you would keep this animal which is born with the instinct to kill home. It is a dumb animal. But what is your excuse?

Simple test

THE TALKING heads of the Democratic Party already are demeaning and attacking the vice presidential candidate Mr. Bush picked who is a very decent and knowledgeable man with a great record. Before trying to trash him, ask yourself: Would you trust him or Mr. Clinton to protect and guide your daughter or your wife or your famous morality?

Iowa debate

A SPEAK Out caller who moved here from Central Iowa expressed surprise that the Southeast Missourian referred to a slab of concrete and a couple of benches as Riverfront Park. We are just as surprised that you guys waste time trying to convince us that the Iowa caucuses are important. If you are that offended by things around here, you can always return to Iowa and consort with the corn. P.S. Welcome to Speak Out.

Is he qualified?

WHY WOULD these no-good Republicans pick Mr. Cheney for a vice president candidate? He has almost as much stock as Al Gore, and he is against abortion. How awful to want to protect unborn children. I bet he hasn't even committed adultery or had oral sex with an intern. He's just not qualified.